Family United (2013) Poster

(2013)

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6/10
Fun and uplifting Spanish comedy with emotion , amusement and absurd situations
ma-cortes23 June 2014
This is another Spanish comedy romp , it is a bemusing story that contains lots of humor , entertainment and binge . Nice and attractive Dramedy (comedy along with drama) about the close relationships among the members of a particular family . This is an amusing picture about a Spanish family formed by 5 boys (Quim Gutierrez , Antonio De La Torre , Roberto Alamo , Patrick Criado , Miguel Fernández) and their ill father (Héctor Colome) . One of them (Patrick Criado) about get married and they then celebrate a peculiar wedding in a bucolic outdoor . Involving these five brothers are their girlfriends (Verónica Echegui) and friends . Then their father suffers an acute stroke and problems crop out , it results in the celebration is turned upside down . Meanwhile , television is broadcasting football world championship (real scenes taken from 2000 World Cup) . Get ready for the match of your life!

This is a slightly funny film with entertaining events , giggles , emotion , plot twists and triangular love stories . The film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable , with more traps the viewer resists any kind, and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few embarrassing . The flick gives a short description about lives of people of middle classes , dealing with a special family under the focus of a classical film ¨Seven brides for seven brothers¨ by Stanley Donen . It's an agreeable , moving film , perfectly acted and concerning the narration about the relationship among five sons , fiancée , bride and sick father . The tale narrated in sensitivity and intelligence and are treated some ethic and moral issues developed in a puerile sense and little ductility . The film attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , with its amusing sides and dark areas . Not trying to be unrealistic and make everything as in a fairytale but giving way to mirth and humor . In addition , the film gives us a nice panorama about a middle-class family , its pity , goodness, sacrifice , fraternity , work , companionship and various situations happen in its existence . This is a typical Spanish comedy from the 2000s with the usual ingredients such as enjoyable humor , social habits and close relationships among people . My feelings are extremely mixed but I must admit there are things I haven't been able to stop thinking about , the first part is played mostly for laughs but the ending part turned into a touching drama plenty of sensibility and fairness . A few of the scenes are amusing , they elicit chuckles but no serious laughter . The movie tries to expand some fine sense about this great family such as brotherhood , help and love , including its funny aspects as well as thought-provoking sides . The roles in this film are all lovable despite being rather pathetic and silly . Sympathetic performances from main cast such as Quim Gutiérrez , Antonio De La Torre , Veronica Echegui and Roberto Alamo playing a mentally-handicapped young . Support cast is pretty well such as Raul Arévalo , Pilar Castro , Sandra Martin and Héctor Colomé . Colorful cinematography by Juan Garlos Gomez ; being filmed on location in San Agustin De Guadalix, Madrid, Somosierra, Madrid, and Oliva, València, Comunitat Valenciana . Special mention to musical score filled with wonderful songs composed and sung by Josh Rouse .

Daniel Sánchez Artevalo tries to mix genres ranging from comedy to melodrama in its ending segment with some offbeat touches ; furthermore he takes parts from American films of the fifties , particularly those of Frank Capra plenty of emotional and family feeling in which solidarity triumphs and humor despite the blackness . Daniel Sánchez Arévalo was born on 1970 in Madrid, Madrid . He is a writer, known for ¨Primos¨ , ¨Azuloscurocasinegro¨ (2006), and ¨Gordos¨ (2009)and this ¨La Gran Familia Española¨ or "Family United" (2013) .
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6/10
Not Sánchez Arévalo's best effort
sara-martin-112 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I was quite disappointed by 'La gran familia española' which was just nice to see but not a film to remember, or revisit. Too many elements are pushed together onto a plot that is too close for comfort to old-fashioned Spanish 'costumbrismo'. If this is your introduction to Sánchez Arévalo you run the risk of missing much better films by him, like the super 'Azul Oscuro, Casi Negro', the excellent 'Gordos' and the very funny 'Primos', a much better comedy than 'La gran familia española'. I'll grant, though, that the cast is very solid, with Arévalo's fetish actors Antonio de la Torre and Quim Gutiérrez doing their best, with interesting performances by Verónica Echegui and the younger actors.
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7/10
Fun, dysfunctional, Spanish comedy!
mefische-253038 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This Spanish comedy is definitely one to check out! This movie has is all, there are ups, there are downs, there is romance, and there is drama (a whole lot of it). This is a movie about five boys who in the movie are called, Benjamín, Adán, Efraín, Caleb and Daniel. Then there are the two sisters, Mónica and Carla. The movie starts with the wedding between Efraín and Carla but has to be paused once the boys father has a stroke in the middle. As they are tending to the father everyone gets distracted watching the Spanish soccer game on the television. This is a very important game because it is the World Cup game! The father starts to get better but now the groom is not sure if he wants to be with his fiancé (soon to be wife) or his fiancés sister who he has also known for a long time. This wedding turns out to be the most disastrous wedding that could possibly happen. Spain ends up winning the world cup and magically everything is ok again, the father is stable and the couple has turned into a love triangle.

This film has some moments where it is funny, emotions, plots twists and unexpected entertainment. This movie kept my attention the entire time which is something I usually struggle with while watching movies. It was all of the events happening at one time that kept me engaged. There is a love triangle, lost wedding rings, a sick father, and a horny bridesmaid. There are so many shockers in this movie that looking at your phone for even a minute would cause you to be confused later.

The director of this film is Daniel Sánchez and this film, La Gran Familia Española or Family United came out in 2013. This director has directed and written about 20 films. Some of the popular ones are Dark Blue Almost Black (2006), Gordos (2009), and Traumología (2007). This had been thought to be one of the best comedies Spain has seen around the time when it came out. Everything from the location of the film, the writing and the actors included.

The main theme in this film would be family. You can tell that family is extremely important to these people although it is insanely dysfunctional. All members are tested at one point or another and they never get get mad at each other but they accept each other and grow closer. As a Spanish major this movie was a great one to watch. It is easy to follow and so fun to watch. I do with that we could have seen the outcome of the wedding and watch them get married after everything. Maybe there will be a sequel!
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3/10
TV sitcom as movie
kvatter12 December 2014
If Garry Marshall were to make a Spanish movie, this would be it. It is filled with those kind of stereo-typed characters that only exist in movies and TV shows. We have the aunt that smokes cigarettes while requiring an oxygen tank (it's supposed to be funny, don't ya know). The slow-adult that spouts words of wisdom that are supposed to makes us all sigh at his deepness unencumbered by thought. There's the little girl who is smarter than her father (isn't she just so precious). Each character is once removed from reality and each is dealing with their own particular problems which are all neatly resolved at the end. All this against the backdrop of a wedding, which itself is against the backdrop of the world cup. It's all cute and entertaining to a degree but really never fully engages you because you always know it's not real and could never be. Like watching a TV sitcom. For example, a wedding procession which occurs early in the film introduces many of the characters by having them dancing down the isle. It is preparing you for what is to come and it will make you squirm.
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10/10
Awesome
a_vitto23 September 2013
Fantastic ! Very human, funny, witty and sad at times... Everything mix with typical Spanish customs ... Love love love this movie. The movie is about an Spanish family of 5 boys told by the youngest boy. Efrain the youngest is planning to get married he same day that Spain plays the world cup. The wedding is held at the farm where they grew up until their mother leaves them. The movie happens all one day, but what a day full with surprises, laughter, tears, and everything that could happen on a wedding. Its very Spanish full of stereotypes, but tastefully represented. One of the brothers is slow but so kind, innocent and so funny that basically makes the movie very special . I will watch this again !
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1/10
felt like a bad TV pilot on the big screen
fellini_5870121 April 2015
Not necessarily a bad film but not a film I am impressed with, five brothers come together for a wedding during the 2010 world cup, Dad falls ill on the wedding day. The wedding gets put on hold and everything in between falls apart and everybody's personal issues comes in focus and gets resolved in 95 minutes its a bit melodramatic over written lacks wit or chemistry between the characters it felt like i was watching a Spanish TV pilot remake of Brothers & Sisters on the big screen.

I tried to like this film but the characters became a bit annoying after 20 minutes of watching this film.
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10/10
Ótimo
teofilo219 April 2014
Highly recommend watching and be touched by this beautiful story involving these five brothers. In each of them we can identify someone of our family or any known family. In a bucolic landscape comes a little bit of everything. Joy, sorrow, struggle, melancholy and even a final of the World Cup. The message he is passing as some people sacrifice themselves for the happiness of others. Some people have a vagueness about the love between two people, I mean, a clear vision of what love is, and this is another ingredient of this beautiful movie. The representation of human feelings is shown throughout the movie. Practically secured tears in the end ... Do not miss!
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10/10
Great movie about Spanish culture and family
ssalomon-115837 May 2017
La Gran Familia Española is a Spanish movie that was created in 2013 by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo. It is based around a family of five brothers and their father, who live in country outside Madrid. The family cares a lot about being close to each other and celebrating love. The movie begins with the family watching a movie called Seven Wives for Seven Brothers, which is what they base their lives off. This movie is about a large family that consists seven sons that want to get married and live happily ever after. Throughout La Gran Familia Española, the viewer realizes that this is not the case with this Spanish family. The son's father and mother get a divorce and this causes many problems. The movie is about one day in the life of this family, the wedding of Efrian, the youngest of the five brothers, and his pregnant girlfriend, Carla. This is more than just a wedding, it is held at the family's farm and all their family and friends come, except for their mother. Along with the wedding, the final round of the World Cup is happening and it is an important year for Spain because they end up winning. Throughout the day a series of events occur that show the viewer how the lives of these 5 brothers have changed over the years and how their relationships have evolved. Their father has a heart attack mid-ceremony, the true love of one of the brother's starts seeing one of his other brothers, and Efrian begins questioning his love for his girlfriend. These events are happening throughout the course of one day, on the family farm, with many people there, while everyone is watching the soccer game. I believe this film showcases many important aspects of traditional Spanish culture. It includes the importance of family for people in Spain, the love of soccer as a countrywide sport, and the value of living close to home. While using these details to make this movie a comedy, Arévalo makes it very easy to follow for someone who is not Spanish. The humor is light at times, but also hits home on many important life problems that this family faces. He connects the movie to midlife depression with the character Adan, the young love and misunderstanding of life in the character Efrian, and the need to escape your family and problems in the character of Caleb. Arévalo includes these important life lessons in the humor surrounding a disorganized family wedding. The soundtrack perfectly complements the movie because all the songs are very lighthearted and enjoyable, even when there are important detailed scenes the viewer can hear the music of the celebration in the background. I believe this sends the message that even in such an amazing celebration, there can be problems. I have seen many Spanish movies from all different parts of history, but in my opinion this is one of the best I have seen. It holds the viewer's attention while explaining many details. The actors are perfect for their roles and very accurately depict the types of people they are trying to be. I also enjoy the details the viewer learns about Spain as a country and Madrid as the capital. The Spanish pride and love for their country is very apparent in this film and I believe this movie should be at the top of everyone's must see lists. It is a laugh-out-loud comedy, but will make you cry at the same time. It perfectly shows the inner workings of a large, all male family and the troubles they have, funny and serious. I enjoyed viewing this movie and would see it again in a heartbeat.
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9/10
A bittersweet comedic film
krmello-0041211 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This Spanish comedy, is similar in content with many telenovela story lines, as there is a plethora of comedic, dramatic, and absurdly sad situations which culminates itself into a great film. The film closely follows a family that consists of a single father and five sons. The sons vary widely in age and personality, the oldest, Adan, is a single father and is depressed which causes him to disassociate from others, while Benjamin has special needs, which causes him to blurt out things that may not necessarily be appropriate, Caleb had left his family behind for the last two years and returns for the wedding, Dani is in love with Caleb's ex-girlfriend and is insecure about his place in the situation, and the majority of the plot surrounds the day of the youngest son's wedding, who is named Efrain. The wedding quickly falls a part as a result of many things; a lack of true love between the couple, the heart attack of his father at the beginning of the ceremony, a fake pregnancy, and much more family drama. Although it appears that everything is falling apart in the family, the sons become closer throughout the plot of the film, despite the condition of their father. The comedic anecdotes and revelations between characters allows the viewer to understand the complexities of each presented person which expands the meanings presented in the final parts of the film. In the end, everyone seems to find their way, Cris and Dani get engaged, Efrain realizes that he may be too young to know what he truly wants in life, and in the end the boys all come together to comfort their father. Overall, I really enjoyed this movie as it showed how family's can come together to act in their own collective best interests.
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