How to Be a Latin Lover

{{Infobox film

|name = How to Be a Latin Lover

|image = How to Be a Latin Lover film poster.jpg

|caption = Theatrical release poster

|director = Ken Marino

|producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

|writer = {{Plainlist|

Chris Spain
Jon Zack

}}

|starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

|music = Craig Wedren

|cinematography = John Bailey

|editing = John Daigle

|studio = 3Pas Studios

|distributor = Pantelion Films

|released = {{Film date|2017|4|28}}

|runtime = 116 minutes{{cite web|url=https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/how-to-be-a-latin-lover-51236|title=How To Be A Latin Lover|website=AMC Theatres|date=April 28, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2021|archive-date=June 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603191940/https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/how-to-be-a-latin-lover-51236|url-status=live}}

|country = United States

|language = {{Plainlist|

English
Spanish

}}

|budget = $10-13 million{{cite web|title=How to Be a Latin Lover (2017) - Financial Information|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/How-to-Be-a-Latin-Lover|website=The Numbers|accessdate=August 15, 2021|archive-date=August 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806201404/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/How-to-Be-a-Latin-Lover|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|date=August 2018|title=2017 Feature Film Study|url=https://www.filmla.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2017_film_study_v3-WEB.pdf|journal=FilmL.A. Feature Film Study|page=24|access-date=2018-08-09|archive-date=2022-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005181820/https://www.filmla.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2017_film_study_v3-WEB.pdf|url-status=live}}

| gross = $62.6 million

}}

How to Be a Latin Lover is a 2017 Mexican-American comedy film directed by Ken Marino, written by Chris Spain and Jon Zack and stars Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Raphael Alejandro, Raquel Welch, Rob Riggle, Rob Huebel, Rob Corddry, Renée Taylor, Linda Lavin, Kristen Bell, and Rob Lowe. This was also Welch's final film before she died in 2023.{{cite web |title=Raquel Welch, legendary bombshell actress, dies at 82 after brief illness |url=https://abc7.com/raquel-welch-dies-actress-fantastic-voyage/12820214/ |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |access-date=15 February 2023 |language=en |date=15 February 2023 |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215211503/https://abc7.com/raquel-welch-dies-actress-fantastic-voyage/12820214/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Raquel Welch, 1960s film star and sex symbol, dies at 82 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/02/15/actress-raquel-welch-dead/ |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 15, 2023}} The film follows a man who has spent his whole life married to a rich old woman, and must learn to make it on his own when she kicks him out. It was released on April 28, 2017 by Pantelion Films and grossed $62.6 million worldwide.

Plot

Having made a career of seducing rich older women, Maximo marries a wealthy woman more than twice his age. Twenty-five years later, spoiled, out of shape, and bored from waking up next to his now 80-year-old wife, he is surprised when she dumps him for a younger McLaren car salesman.

Forced out of his mansion and desperate for a place to stay, he contacts Rick, another pampered gigolo. He crashes into the upscale playhouse of the woman's granddaughter, which does not go over very well. He soon moves in with his estranged sister, Sara, and her nerdy son, Hugo, in their small apartment.

Anxious to return to the lap of luxury, Maximo uses his nephew's crush on classmate Arden to get to his new target: her grandmother, Celeste, a widowed billionaire that Rick is also targeting. Maximo tries to reignite his charm as a Latin lover but fails at it miserably. Sara discovers her brother's scamming and kicks him out. While teaching Hugo some tricks he thinks work on women, Maximo finds himself bonding with his nephew, and this opens his heart to being less selfish and more thoughtful of others.

Eventually, Maximo becomes a gigolo for the woman Rick used to live with, and he patches up the relationship with his sister and nephew.

Cast

Eugenio Derbez as Maximo, an aging playboy who loses his life of wealth and luxury, and schemes to get it back
Noel Carabaza as Young Maximo
Vadhir Derbez as 21-year-old Maximo
Salma Hayek as Sara, Maximo's estranged sister
Manelly Zepeda as Young Sara
Raphael Alejandro as Hugo, Sara's nerdy son and Maximo's nephew.
Rob Lowe as Rick the Gigolo, Maximo's equally wealthy friend.
Kristen Bell as Cindy, a lonely and single woman, who works at a frozen yogurt shop and lives alone with her dozens of cats.
Raquel Welch as Celeste Birch, Maximo's target and Arden's grandmother, whom Maximo tries to seduce in order to live a life of luxury once again. This was Welch's final film role before she died in 2023.
Linda Lavin as Millicent Dupont, the wealthy woman whose gigolo Maximo finally becomes
Renée Taylor as Peggy, Maximo's wealthy, but elderly, wife. She leaves Maximo for an unattractive, but younger car salesman.
Rob Riggle as Scott
Rob Huebel as Nick
Rob Corddry as Quincy, Celeste's chauffeur
Mckenna Grace as Arden, Hugo's crush.
Mather Zickel as James, Sara's neighbor and love interest
Michaela Watkins as Gwen, Sara's boss
Michael Cera as Remy, a sleazebag car salesman who seduces Peggy
"Weird Al" Yankovic as himself{{cite tweet|number=857275916828893184|title= The lovely & talented @KenMarino's new movie #HowToBeALatinLover is out Friday. It's funny and charming and I'M IN IT (for a few seconds)! |date=April 26, 2017 |last=Yankovic |first=Al |user=alyankovic}}
Ben Schwartz as Jimmy
Jeffrey Scott Basham as Valet
Omar Chaparro as Rafa
José Eduardo Derbez as Drink Waiter

Production

On June 5, 2015, it was announced that Eugenio Derbez and Benjamin Odell's Santa Monica-based production shingle 3Pas Studios and Televisa/Lionsgate joint venture Pantelion Films had bought an untitled original comedy script from Chris Spain and Jon Zack, with Lionsgate releasing under its first look deal.{{cite magazine|last=de la Fuente|first=Anna Marie|title=Eugenio Derbez Buys Comedy to Star in, Direct (Exclusive)|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/eugenio-derbez-buys-comedy-to-star-in-direct-exclusive-1201513393/|magazine=Variety|date=June 5, 2015|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230005040/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/eugenio-derbez-buys-comedy-to-star-in-direct-exclusive-1201513393/|url-status=live}} On October 26, 2015, Ken Marino was attached to direct the film, starring Derbez.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/los-cabos-eugenio-derbez-sets-latin-lover-as-instructions-not-included-follow-up-exclusive-1201640866/|title=Los Cabos: Eugenio Derbez Sets 'Latin Lover' as 'Instructions Not Included' Follow-Up (EXCLUSIVE)|date=November 14, 2015|magazine=Variety|last1=Hopewell|first1=John|last2=Fuente|first2=Anna Marie de la}}{{cite news|last=Busch|first=Anita|title=Ken Marino Set To Direct Eugenio Derbez In 'Latin Lover' For Lionsgate's Pantelion|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/eugenio-derbez-latin-lover-lionsgate-first-english-language-starring-role-director-ken-marino-1201594103/|access-date=August 15, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 26, 2015|archive-date=September 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915225309/https://deadline.com/2015/10/eugenio-derbez-latin-lover-lionsgate-first-english-language-starring-role-director-ken-marino-1201594103/|url-status=live}} On April 28, 2016, Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell, Raquel Welch and Rob Riggle joined the film's cast along with others including Renée Taylor, Rob Huebel, Michaela Watkins and Linda Lavin.{{cite news|last1=Busch|first1=Anita|title=Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell Join Pantelion Comedy 'How To Be A Latin Lover'|url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/rob-lowe-kristen-bell-raquel-welch-joins-lionsgate-comedy-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-1201745318/|access-date=August 15, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 28, 2016|archive-date=September 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915225201/https://deadline.com/2016/04/rob-lowe-kristen-bell-raquel-welch-joins-lionsgate-comedy-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-1201745318/|url-status=live}} On May 11, 2016, Mckenna Grace joined the cast.{{cite magazine|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=Eugenio Derbez Comedy 'How to Be a Latin Lover' Casts McKenna Grace|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/eugenio-derbez-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-mckenna-grace-1201771835/|date=May 11, 2016|magazine=Variety|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=June 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602194814/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/eugenio-derbez-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-mckenna-grace-1201771835/|url-status=live}}

Release

The first trailer was released on December 21, 2016.{{cite news|last=Perry|first=Spencer|title=Eugenio Derbez in How to Be a Latin Lover Trailer|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/797359-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-trailer-eugenio-derbez|access-date=August 15, 2021|work=ComingSoon.net|date=December 21, 2016|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430025101/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/797359-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-trailer-eugenio-derbez|url-status=live}} The film was released on April 28, 2017 by Lionsgate's Pantelion Films.{{cite news|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|title=Lionsgate Dates 'Granite Mountain', 'Wonder' & 'How To Be A Latin Lover' For 2017|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/granite-mountain-release-date-wonder-how-to-be-latin-lover-liionsgate-1201769015/|access-date=August 15, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 8, 2016}}

=Box office=

How to Be a Latin Lover has grossed $32.1 million in the United States and Canada and $30.4 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $62.6 million, against a production budget of $10–13 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=howtobealatinlover.htm|title=How to Be a Latin Lover (2017)|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-date=September 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915230625/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1350469121/|url-status=live}}

In North America, the film was released alongside The Circle, Sleight and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, and was projected to gross about $7 million from 1,118 theaters in its opening weekend.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-the-circle-thursday-1202402675/|title='How to Be a Latin Lover' Edges Tom Hanks' 'The Circle' at Thursday Box Office|date=April 28, 2016|magazine=Variety|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=December 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227145235/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-the-circle-thursday-1202402675/|url-status=live}} The film ended up grossing $3.9 million on its first day and $12.3 million over the weekend, finishing second at the box office behind The Fate of the Furious. 89% of the opening weekend audience was Hispanic.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/emma-watson-the-circle-fate-of-the-furious-weekend-box-office-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-1202079002/|title='Latin Lover' Sets $12M Pantelion Record, 'Baahubali 2' Mighty With $10M+, 'Circle' A Square As 'F8' Leads Listless Weekend|date=April 30, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2021|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|work=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170910174144/http://deadline.com/2017/04/emma-watson-the-circle-fate-of-the-furious-weekend-box-office-how-to-be-a-latin-lover-1202079002/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-latin-lover-the-circle-fate-of-the-furious-baahubali-2-1202404074/|title=Box Office: 'Latin Lover' Tops 'The Circle,' 'Fate of the Furious' Rides to Third Straight No. 1|first=Seth|last=Kelley|date=April 30, 2017|magazine=Variety|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804083735/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-latin-lover-the-circle-fate-of-the-furious-baahubali-2-1202404074/?|url-status=live}} The film grossed $5.1 million in its second weekend (a drop of 58%) and $3.9 million in its third (dropping just 25%), finishing 4th and 7th, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/king-arthur-snatched-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2-weekend-box-office-1202091662/|title='King Arthur's Head cut Off With $14.7M Opening As 'snatched' Swims To $17.5M In A 'Guardians'-Ruled Mother's Day Weekend|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 15, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2021|archive-date=May 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515162505/http://deadline.com/2017/05/king-arthur-snatched-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2-weekend-box-office-1202091662/|url-status=live}}

=Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 40% based on 30 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The website's consensus reads, "How to be a Latin Lover inspires a few laughs from its talented ensemble, but it raises the question: Is bad representation better than no representation?"{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_to_be_a_latin_lover/|title= How to Be a Latin Lover (2017)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=May 20, 2025}} On Metacritic the film has a score 54 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/how-to-be-a-latin-lover|title=How to Be a Latin Lover reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-date=September 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915225206/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/how-to-be-a-latin-lover/|url-status=live}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.

Joe Leydon of Variety wrote: "There are some very funny bits and pieces scattered amid the proceedings, along with a few darkly comical gags that appear to belong in a different movie, but are more than welcome here."{{cite magazine|date=April 28, 2017|last=Leydon|first=Joe|author-link=Joe Leydon|title=Film Review: 'How to Be a Latin Lover'|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/how-to-be-a-latin-lover-review-1202402476/|magazine=Variety|access-date=August 11, 2019|archive-date=August 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811144749/https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/how-to-be-a-latin-lover-review-1202402476/|url-status=live}}

=Home media=

How to be a Latin Lover was released on Digital HD on August 1, 2017, and was released two weeks later on Blu-ray and DVD on August 15, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/8236/how-to-be-a-latin-lover|title=How to Be a Latin Lover DVD Release Date August 15, 2017|website=DVDs Release Dates|accessdate=August 15, 2021|archive-date=June 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617080538/https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/8236/how-to-be-a-latin-lover|url-status=live}}

''Acapulco''

Remake

A French remake entitled How to Be a French Lover (Just a Gigolo in French-speaking markets) was released in April 2019. The film was directed by Olivier Baroux, co-written by Baroux and Kad Merad, and stars Merad, Anne Charrier, Pascal Elbé and Thierry Lhermitte among others.