The Right Juice (2014)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

A Major Disappointment

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I loved this movie! It was clever and funny and sweet. The setting was so beautiful! We had never considered visiting Portugal but we think we will start planning a trip! The film has a positive environmental message without being heavy handed. Loved the message that it's never too late to start over - And follow your dreams! This film won an award at the Edmonton International Film Festival. Well deserved! I think it will win many more awards. It was very well received here and the director told us lots of funny stories afterwards. His passion for Portugal and the Algarve was inspiring. It's a fun movie, beautifully filmed, with a great message. What more can we ask in a film? We were a group of four and everyone enjoyed the film.

I had great expectations when I went to this movie with my friends yesterday. We all live in the Algarve and we all agreed after watching the movie that the whole story was just embarrassing. The Portuguese people or the Brits are not this stupid. I cannot understand how the film maker also could ignore the beauty of the Algarve and make most of the film in an environment that is not at all typical for the Algarve. And the cast was very mediocre. I had read reviews on this film in local papers and on the internet and just could not believe that it was that same movie that I watched yesterday. I had looked forward to recommend this film to friends, but I definitely will not. Sorry. Maybe I had looked forward to something similar to One Year, with Russel Crowe, a movie that makes you want to move to the country where the story is told. I hope that most people who watch The Right Juice have been to the Algarve and only see this movie as something that is just a mistake, and knows that Portugal/Algarve is fantastic (and that the people do not drink Medronho all the time.)

If you are a shallow viewer than you will see a film about some poor farmers who are forced to sell their land to a rich real estate developer who wants to turn it into something really commercial. A story that already has been told a 1000 times.But if you are a sharp viewer you will see a fantastic movie about the difference being happy or having a lot of possessions. It is a comedy but it really made me think about the things that are important in my life. It is a nice movie to watch with your lover an talk about the things you enjoy in live. So i say 9 points for this think about yourself comedy.

A sincere, light footed funny and visually enticing movie. I came to the movie theatre with a slight fear in my heart for I often find the genre comedy abused by directors who seem to have a 'x jokes per minute quota'. Do they, I wonder. I loved the subtlety of the jokes, and sincerity of the story. Recognizable and therefore credible characters, make for a charming story. Though I must say that the protagonist is a a bit of a blue eyed boy scout and his nemesis is very clearly the bad guy..but then again, they seem to have opposite views of life so it might be befitting. The directors apparent knowledge and love for the Algarve region shines trough the scenes and is highly contagious. The music was very much in tune with the story and helped introducing the Algarve and its inhabitants to the viewer. I've never been there but now it feels as if I have. Enjoyed it thoroughly.