Just to clear things up

I liked the film more than you, but still: Well said!

I especially thought the nicotine link was weak. It's like they had a clever idea on paper, but didn't quite know how to make it an integrated part of the film. The car dialogue about dying of cancer, for example, made me want to fast forward. And it's supposed to be an important part of the film... That didn't quite work for me.

I really like Diego Luna, however, so to me it's always a pleasure to see him in a film, even if it wasn't his best performance by far.

Everything is fine! I was just swinging from a chandelier without a seat belt.

You can't expect a film of this caliber to be as whitty and clever as Snatch. As far as the jokes being taken from dumb american movies, I would have to disagree with you. The humor is typical mexican humor that you find in everyday life. It might not strike you as "clever" or "hilarious" but it gives the movie an added touch of reality. I personally thought the film was actually quite ambitious but it could have been better. I found the cinematography to be on the higher end than your usual foreign films. The plot has several holes and the stories could have been polished up and given more depth, but the acting was decent. Not one of Diego's best performances, but decent nonetheless. I also thought the whole "nicotine" campaign was a little too present and obvious with a weak attempt to be clever. Other than that I would have to agree with you on everything else. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see something different than what's usually on.

Well, let's see, "Nicotina" certainly it's not a rip-off from "Snatch." or "I soliti ignoti" and italian movie from the 50's directed by Monicelli that influenced Guy Ritchie's movies.

But we cannot deny that Guy Ritchie and even the film by Monicelli (That if I am not wrong in english was translated as "Big Deal at Madonna Street"), have influenced to some extent the storytelling and the visual style of director Hugo Rodríguez.

Now about the jokes: as the above poster have already told you, they ARE NOT borrowed from cheap yank films. The black comedy is typical from mexicans long before USA even exists.
You gotta watch some mexican pearls to realize that.
Films like "Macario" "La ilusión viaja en tranvía" "Mecánica Nacional", etc.

or even newest titles like "Morirse en Domingo". Then you will realize how authentic is the mexican black humour in the movie. Of course it cntains an argie touch because the screenwriter it's argentine although he has lived in México for many years. Same case about director Hugo Rodríguez, who is what you'd call an "argenmex" a term to denominate the hundreds of thousands of argentineans or children of argentineans who lives in México.

Finally, the casting was great. Rosa María Bianchi (Carmen), another "argenmex", it's superb in her role just as her "husband Goyo" played by the great comediant Rafael Inclán.
Jesús Ochoa (Tomson) is great as usual, same about Daniel Giménez Cacho(Beto)

IMO the only weak links were Diego Luna(Lolo) and in particular Lucas Crespi(Nene) who were both miscasted. Diego Luna simply doesn't looks like your typical nerd.
In the case of Lucas Crespi is even worse, he doesn't look at all as a thug, instead he looks really "nerdy".
Perhaps if Lucas crespi could have played the role of "Lolo" and viceversa, Diego playing the role of "Nene", then the movie could have worked better.

Nonetheless the movie accomplish its goal: To entertain the audience to which it was aimed. It's a well done black comedy, a farce that I really enjoyed for what it is. Not a MASTERPIECE but a well rounded and crafted comedy.

8/10