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Victor Rasuk, Judy Marte, Melonie Diaz, Altagracia Guzman, Silvestre Rasuk ... see more see more... , Krystal Rodriguez , Kevin Rivera , Wilfree Vasquez , Donna Maldonado

Victor (Victor Rasuk), a horny teenager living on Manhattan's Lower East Side, has an afternoon rendezvous with a girl known as "Fat Donna" (Donna Maldonado). When his sister, Vicki (Krystal Rodriguez... read more read more...), finds out about it, she spreads word throughout the neighborhood, severely damaging what Victor thinks is his reputation. Then he and his best friend, Harold (Kevin Rivera) visit the public pool, where Victor spots the lovely Judy (Judy Marte), known locally as "Juicy Judy," and he decides to salvage his good name by pursuing her. While Judy is standoffish, Harold has better luck with her friend, Melonie (Melonie Diaz of Double Whammy). Judy's shy younger brother, Carlos (Wilfree Vasquez) agrees to help Victor get close to Judy if Victor will introduce him to Vicki. As Victor clumsily, but doggedly pursues her, Judy decides to let Victor think he's her boyfriend, in the hope that his presence will discourage neighborhood boys from harassing her all the time. Victor's strict grandmother (Altagracia Guzman) is furious when she learns that Victor introduced Vicki to a boy, and she also worries about his influence on his goody-two-shoes younger brother, Nino (Rasuk's real-life brother Silvestre). Writer/director Peter Sollett's feature debut is an expansion of his original short, Five Feet High and Rising, which featured many of the same actors. Sollett had his mostly non-professional cast improvise much of their dialogue. Raising Victor Vargas was shot by Tim Orr, who also lensed David Gordon Green's feature debut, George Washington. Raising Victor Vargas was shown at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and at New Directors/New Films. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Flixster Users

80% liked it

5,607 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

106 critics

R, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Peter Sollett

Release Date: March 28, 2003

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DVD Release Date: August 26, 2003

Stats: 357 reviews

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Raising Victor Vargas Donna Maldonado
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Flixster Reviews (357)

  • fb634552688
    September 8, 2011
    fb634552688
    Much like it's main character, it charms you until you love it.
  • Tomassgringo
    February 17, 2011
    Tomassgringo
    Wonderfully acted coming of age story for a small family that learns living life has to be taught to the matriarch of the family first. Cute story told from a different perspective than most have live but still a story many will relate to.
  • paulsandberg
    December 2, 2010
    paulsandberg
    Perhaps because I came to this film with very high expectations (96 on the Tomato-meter) I ended up very disappointed, at times wondering, in spite of the very nice performace by the lead, why this film was made?
    I mean, what did it have to offer that was original or inventive... read more? Nada.
    The film had so much of a been there, seen that, aspect that I became only vaguely interested in the blossoming love story, or in that of any of the other peripheral charactors.

    Though real for the most part, I didn't like the way Victor was ridiculed for hanging with a "fat girl", and how Victor later kept making references to his younger sister as "she got fat" said with real derision. While perhaps culturally accurate, perhaps the script would have been better served if the point was for Victor to rise above the obvious - but that would be a totally different (though perhaps better) film.

    There were some nice and true moments - the way the female lead used Victor as a "beard" to ward off the advances of other over-agressive males; or the side story of both leads best friends slowly exploring their physicality. However, what is the point - haven't we seen all this before?

    It has been said that this film is a "revelation" as far as its portrayal of NYC burough kids - but again - been there, seen that - for example - Summer of Sam.

    I dunno, I just couldn't get behind the film. There were too many kind of huh? moments - for example, what the heck is beer doing in the home of Victor's strict grandma - not likely would be an understatement - especially when the apartment only has grandma and three underaged children living in it.
    Then there's the family reconcilliation scene where they all go to church and pray that the family stays together - I get the message, you don't have to show grandma and ALL THREE kids buying a candle - boy did that slow down the pacing.

    This leads to the ending where Victor tells his girl that the reason he invited her to "his" place for dinner with the family was because he wanted to show her that his family was "who he is"... hmm, ok, I'll buy that, but again, it was just another flat scene that somehow didn't deliver the emotional punch that it should have. Ditto for the entire film unfortunately.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    August 8, 2010
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    After watching this film for the second time, my opinion really hasn't changed; still REALLY overrated.
  • dreamfaeries
    August 9, 2009
    dreamfaeries
    Cute and weird. But worth the watch.
  • ceWEBrity
    July 9, 2008
    ceWEBrity
    I'm sure this movie has been called "honest" or "authentic" like five million times, but it's an excellent descriptor for it. It is a simple film, but avoids the Independent Cinema Delusion of substituting meaning for inertia. It's inventive and fun, allowing its drama to be temp... read moreered with a sense of humor and light yet believable characters.

    Man, I wrote a much better review of this for class. Fuck this shit.
  • Redlats
    March 29, 2008
    Redlats
    Teen hormones and love in hot New York. Victor has to balance his desire to seduce Judy with the fact that his Grandma will kick him out if he tries any funny business. The fact that the actors are amateurs results in a very moving film.
  • fb1144932598
    June 25, 2009
    fb1144932598
    Interesting, slow paced film about some Latino kids struggling to find their way through a world foreign to this viewer's experience. This is a coming-of-age film that treats its subject matter with a genuine heart to get it right. The actors are refreshingly honest, if slightly ... read moreunpolished. The story didn't need polish, however. What it had going for it was a strong sense of the family as the central unit of this society and a brutally honest portayal of life in the barrio in New York City. At times painful to watch, the characters still had the power to engender pathos for their situation and the fumbling toward relationships. Learning to trust means occasionally getting hurt, and these kids know this in a way that few of us can comprehend.
  • SunilJawahir
    March 29, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    A great indie movie about summer love in the Lower East Side.
  • trisarahtops22
    August 19, 2007
    trisarahtops22
    Surprisingly sweet film about the awkwardness of teens gorwing up while trying to be cool.

View All Raising Victor Vargas Reviews

Critic Reviews

Geoff Pevere
July 5, 2003
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

A marvel of closely observed, intimately captivating moments. Full Review

Terry Lawson
May 30, 2003
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

It is throughly involving, depicting the real and recognizable frustrations of teenagers and the grown-ups who have responsibility for them. Full Review

John Anderson
May 28, 2003
John Anderson, Newsday

Real, sweet and often really sweet. Full Review

Jay Boyar
May 16, 2003
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

In Raising Victor Vargas, everyone has feelings.

Jeff Strickler
May 15, 2003
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

The narrative is thin, but the little-known cast (who helped writer-director Peter Sollett develop the characters) bring an element of realism to roles that defy stereotypes and pigeonholing. Full Review

James Berardinelli
May 7, 2003
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

A satisfying motion picture that wins its audience over because the characters are allowed to be themselves. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
May 2, 2003
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

For those sick of the tired conventions of 'rom-coms' (as Hollywood wags call romantic comedies), Vargas is a refreshing cure, frank about healthy teenage curiosity and sexuality in ways that don't ma...

Eric Harrison
May 1, 2003
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

Every frame of this movie feels real. Full Review

Mike Clark
May 1, 2003
Mike Clark, USA Today

Raising Victor Vargas has landed exactly the right actors for a script that already gets points for respecting its teenage characters. Full Review

Kathy Cano Murillo
May 1, 2003
Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic

The film offers a realistic and funny slice of life.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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