Review of Moon Over Parador

I never cease to be amazed at the underwhelming reviews of this heartwarming and hysterically funny movie. I have watched it numerous times. It hits all the familiar buttons about American intervention in Central and South America countries and the comic opera buffoons with Nazi leanings who used to run tinpot dictatorships in that part of the world. Raul Julia plays the sinister chief of the secret police to perfection, Sonia Braga is magnificent, and Richard Dreyfuss welds the whole thing together perfectly. The minor players - such as the ménage of butler, cook, etc who cater to the dictator - are perfectly drawn cameo roles. Shame on the so-called "experts" who have found so little to appreciate in this little gem. The apparently banal opening and closing of the movie with Dreyfuss lining up with other minor actors for a chance at a part contrasts wonderfully with the fact that he gets to play the greatest role in his life in impersonating the dictator of Parador. Heck, another reason why this movie succeeds is that we've all had the fantasy of being a powerful or influential person - even if only for a day.