El peor día de mi vida

Julio Cabrera, an unemployed actor, has seen better times; twenty years ago he became famous as a leading character in a popular soap opera, but he is now forgotten. He makes ends meet (barely) doing small roles in commercials. He hopes against hope that success will knock on his door again, and faces dire cash flow problems that put a strain in his marriage.

The worst day of his life is his 50th birthday, where he faces some stressful new problems, among them finding a destination for his brother's ashes. What follows is a series of episodes, some funny (in a black sort of way), some dramatic, some emotional, some fantastic. There are some predictable Hollywood cliches here and there, but the script is generally witty. The movie rests on the shoulders of Javier Lombardo, who is on screen most of the time. He has charisma and a natural delivery and does an excellent job. Most of the other actors are at the same level. Direction is fluid, and the result is a very watchable film.

Argentine nostalgics will instantly recognize the iconic can of Bizcochos Canale (Canale Toast), a staple of Argentine breakfasts for most of the 20th. century.