User Reviews

One of the best Argentine comedians of all time (if not the best) stars this picture, mighty ALBERTO OLMEDO who died in 1989.

This is his top alone movie (not counting the ones that made with JORGE PORCEL); it´s about a common man that is tired of being treated as stupid, and start treating the other people like that, saying that he is a Brazilian "manosanta" (person that cures people´s problems).

You cannot ask anything else for this type of comedy. The jokes are simple and effective. Lots of women barely nude. Some bad acting that contributes to the hilarious plot. The movie is so improvised that in some "dramatic" scenes you can see the actors laughing. And features a legion of excellent Argentine comedians (including Javier Portales, el "facha" Martel, Divina Gloria, etc)

What else could you ask for??? Just watch it and get your own conclusions.

I rate this movie with a 7 out of 10.-

Impossible not to recognise much of the idionsincrasy of the Argentinian people in Olmedo's characthers, in addition I would say he was one of the few who actually foresaw one of the darkest periods in the recent socio-economical history of Argentina. Among "Esperando La Carroza", "La clinica del Dr. Cureta" and others of this genre, El Manosanta is a must see.

I do also believe that people tend to think Olmedo was only a public clown but his sense of humour and accuracy to represent the Argentinians to cinema was an ability shared by a very very few number of people. In that sense, I also think the posterity has misregarded him as a valid exponent of what it should have been more than a laugh about themselves.

This film is the cinematographic adaptation of one of Alberto Olmedo's best characters: "El manosanta". Those of us who grew up watching "Don't Touch the Button" know that this character is one of the most beloved and deserved a movie. We then have the adventures of a tireless job seeker who goes through various problems to the point of requiring the help of a santero who is obviously a swindler. The character of Vicente La Russa is notable and serves as an inspiration for Olmedo, who makes his entrance into the esoteric world as a deceiver with an unmarriageable sexual appetite. The cast is perfect: Javier Portales, always masterful, the Uruguayan César Bertrand as his friend, Facha Martel as his love rival, the enormous Horacio O'Connor who offers a unique and hilarious character trying to seduce a transvestite Olmedo. The vedettes are not left behind: the beautiful Silvia Pérez, Susana Romero, Adriana Brodsky, Beatriz Salomón and Divina Gloria along with others who are not left behind in charm. It is a film that represents the best of Argentine cinema of the eighties with a careful direction by Hugo Sofovitch. Whoever sees the movie knows exactly what he is going to find and will be totally satisfied. Perfect movie.