‘THE VALET’: A CUTE BUT MOSTLY MEDIOCRE COMEDY FOR HULU
Chasing outlets like Netflix or Prime for original content creation, Hulu has a comedy The Valet; featured as one of their newest releases. Being the good little movie reviewer I am (and yes, this is debatable), I decided to watch it.
The Valet (2022) Film Review
When it comes to being productive and having a full life, things are more than a little depressing for Antonio Flores (Eugenio Derbez); he just coasts through the day as a lowly valet at a prestigious restaurant. All of this he does while feeling the pain of separation from the only woman he’s loved, his wife.
Privileged and yet miserable is Olivia Allan (Samara Weaving). The current “it” girl of Hollywood, Olivia’s latest film promises to be a winner. Trouble is, America’s good girl has a secret. Having an affair with a rising business man who happens to also have a controlling wife is anything but good for her image.
Through a series of awkward events, Olivia and Antonio are thrown together; all with the idea their faux-ship may benefit both of them.
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When it comes to heartwarming comedies, I am a fan. I love discovering new films that have heartwarming vibes and a solid story too. While this does have those vibes, I’m probably the only person on the planet who didn’t love this film. The plot is adorable and while not new, it’s one of those films that tugs at you. However, two things really annoy me and I think because of this, I just can’t get on board with adoring this one.
‘THE VALET’: A CUTE BUT MOSTLY MEDICORE COMEDY FOR HULU #HULUCOMEDY #MOVIES #COMEDYMOVIES #HULU #THEVALET #MOVIES #MOVIEREVIEW Share on XFirst being Antonio is literally, in personality, a doormat. And I know this is part of the story, but the guy lets everyone say to him what they want (whether it’s his friends at work or his ex) and he just takes it. It’s like, DUDE, stand up for yourself. Again, I know this is part of it, but I wish it hadn’t been quite so glaring and painful. Secondly, I personally find the subtitles super distracting as I have in any production when it’s not just a passing, brief conversation. In this, many conversations that are important are in Spanish and as a result, I find it way more distracting trying to pay attention to visuals and words verses charming.
All that said, if none of this bothers you, The Valet is sweet. It’s not a romance, but has a solid thread of goodness and even friendship throughout. All of these are good things about the film. In the end, characters find their voice, which I respect but it feels sad in-between. I like that Olivia is not quite as stereotypical as we assume, and that we also see Max Greenfield (from Veronica Mars) in a role too. Plus, there are some genuinely good scenes between two of the characters. All in all, the film is a fun time that also takes an unexpected bittersweet turn. Not a favorite (I’d rather watch something like the re-make of Overboard), but fun to enjoy on a rainy Saturday night.
You can find The Valet exclusively on Hulu.
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Content: This one has sexual humor, including a whole fake sex scene (she undresses and straddles him before he slips beneath view). There’s also conversation about an affair, and one of the early scenes has a couple in bed together. There is some profanity, but nothing out of the PG-13 norm. A character dies which leads to some bittersweet and emotional reactions.
Photos: Hulu
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