It is no strange thing that my first review of 2024 is of a show that was released in 2023. And by the time you finish reading it, you will know the reason behind the same.
The Manny is a Mexican sitcom that has ten episodes and is described on Netflix as a charming, heartfelt, and feel-good show.
Its total length is a bit over five hours. Scroll down to find out how does it fare.
The Manny Synopsis
When all the nannies leave citing her kids’ mischievous behavior, Jimena is forced to hire a male nanny whose charming looks become an instant attraction. But there is more to the story since the guy has a hidden agenda to fulfill.
Created by Carolina Rivera, The Manny stars Sandra Echeverria (Jimena), Ivan Amozurrutia (Gabriel), Anthony Giuletti (Leo), Alexander Tavizon (Santiago), Cassandra Iturralde (Sofia), Moises Arizmendi (Rogelio), and others.
What Works for The Manny?
The idea of a male nanny is alluring given the sitcom nature of the series. It sets up really well in the initial stages to have your emotional attention.
Within that, the infusion of family dynamics and the impact of a change in parents’ relationship status on kids adds a serious side note to The Manny.
Furthermore, the storyline is also quite decent if we give it some slack.
Gabriel’s motive of finding the truth about his father’s ranch, the office dynamics in Jimena’s life, and her three kids trying to discover themselves with the help of Gabriel are the likable layers.
Overall, the Mexican show has its moments, especially toward the end.
But for a ten-episode long series, consistency is the key, which isn’t the case here. More about the downsides in the latter part of my review.
How are the Performances?
Sandra Echeverria plays Jimena, a responsible, self-sufficient woman in The Manny. She leads the series with her lovable presence.
The calm she brings along allows the heartwarming vibes to set in the narrative. Her expressive side is pleasing to the naked eye. Specifically, when she hides the brewing love for Gabriel.
Ivan Amozurrutia in the titular role adds a lot of innocent charisma to The Manny. His character is somewhat uncanny in nature, probably too righteous to believe in.
Still, he grows on you as the story moves forward. Ivan’s zealous writing sketch is the key since it will decide whether you form a connection with him or not.
Anthony Giuletti is the sweetest and the most impressive performer of The Manny. He is a child artist who plays Leo, Jimena’s youngest son.
Every action he does on the screen touches your heart and makes you smile in awe of Giuletti.
I don’t know who has dubbed his voice in English, but it further enhances the brilliant work done by the actor.
Alexander Tavizon and Cassandra Iturralde are the other two stars of The Manny. It is the kids who make this Mexican series bearable to some extent.
What Doesn’t Work for The Manny?
Despite a beautiful idea that’s inherently catchy, The Manny feels bland. It’s too simple to sustain beyond the first few episodes.
When the effects of the concept start fading away and the turn for the storyline arrives, the show begins to recede in impact.
Simply put, The Manny cannot utilize the platform it sets for itself initially.
Another downside is the series, though described as a sitcom, cannot rise beyond trite attempts at situational comedy.
Fun and laughter are entirely absent from The Manny. What the show strives to do is blend fun into the tale.
Instead, it should have done the opposite. From a viewer’s perspective, unless a sitcom is unconventional in approach, it mostly fails to arouse chuckles.
Better writing was the need of the hour.
Mostly, I finish a series in a day or two even if it isn’t as engaging but in the case of The Manny, it took me over four days.
Had the humor department been proactive, things would have turned out differently.
Stream or Skip?
You can skip it, in my opinion.
Leave a Reply