From Prada to Nada: Movie Review
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From Prada to Nada
Runtime- 1hr 47min
Air date- January 28th, 2011
Director- Angel Garcia
Writers- Fina Torres, Luis Alfaro, Craig Fernandez
Filming locations- Mexico
Where to watch- stream on Roku, Tubi, Pluto TV, or rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video
Starring Camilla Bella as Nora Domingez and Alexa PenaVega as Mary Domingez
A Brief Summary
Two sisters living life in luxury tragically lose their father on his birthday. To top it off the girls are in for a surprise when they find out that their father was in severe debt and that they also have a half-brother. Kicked out of their own home, and the financial shock leads them to live with their aunt, finding jobs, all while attending University. Despite the stress and pressure, love finds a way to creep into their lives.
Thoughts
On my first watch-through of this movie, I was pleasantly surprised. I think, so far, that this is the best modern Sense & Sensibility adaptation out there. It is only really in competition with a few other modern adaptations, but they all seem to be on the looser side of loyalty than the book. You do have to give leeway since I always have said that there is a challenge to adapting a book heavily based on society from the early 1800s to the modern-day 2000s. This movie has all the core moments from the novel Sense & Sensibility translated and adjusted to a modern movie.
Now for the nitpicking. Even though I do love the movie and admire the creative translation from novel to modern adaptation. There are a few characters with traits that I feel might of missed the mark a bit. Now I should not expect a carbon copy of each character from the novel and put into a creative interpretation of that novel to film. But I do like and appreciate when the said character holds and maintains the essence and dynamic development of the original character from the book.
Elinor
The Elinor character, named Nora in the movie is not like what I mentioned above. Played by Camilla Belle, I thought she was a great representation of the character in personality and looks. I did see her with her hair pulled back and her character stylized I thought she might be the actress who also played Aurelia in the movie Love Actually. But no, both characters are played by different people.
Marianne
Marianne’s character Mary, played by Alexa Penavega was a little different. Mary did showcase the disconnect and difficult adjustment to drastic financial change similar to Marianne. However, Mary does not show interest or care for things such as poetry, until a handsome man shows obvious interest. It seemed like Mary loved the idea of the romantic humanities rather than genuinely adoring them on her own accord. This isn’t like Marianne, she loves everything with such great passion and is set on her own opinion, not too easily swayed.
Colonel Brandon
Colonel Brandon is Bruno in this movie. Played by Wilmer Valderrama. I was not too crazy about this character portrayal. They had Bruno’s personality come off as apathetic, a little aloof, and a bit intimidating. I guess it could be purposely shown from the perspective of the two sisters who just moved in with their aunt, but Bruno’s personality stayed consistent for most of the movie. I just was not really a fan.
Edward Ferrars
Edward Ferrars as Edward Ferris, played by Nicholas D’Agosto. This Edward was not under his mother’s thumb and is a lawyer. With drastic differences from both characters, the movie Edward was still very sweet and charismatic. This is an example where I do like the changes made to the character from the novel. The movie Edward is still as amiable as the novel Edward, and I thought they did a good job keeping that.
Willoughby
There is only one major issue I have with this Willoughby-type character. His name is Rodrigo Fuentes, played by Kuno Becker. I do not like it when they make this character absolutely wicked and heartless. Rodrigo took advantage of Mary, left her high and dry, and basically took her childhood home. I just do not like it when they make him the absolute bad guy. The whole thing in Sense & Sensibility is the contrast of logic and passion. Marianne is so engulfed in passion and we see it with both her and Willoughby, that even though at first Willoughby was just in it to be entertained, did grow a strong attachment to her. To show such a challenge and loss Willoughby takes and regrets his choices. I don’t think of him as an absolute cruel character like many adaptations to make him out to be.
I have seen too much of it to stand idle and tolerate it anymore.
Final Thoughts
Other characters in the movie differ from their respected characters in the novel, but I think the changes helped the movie and story overall. Will I watch this movie again, yes absolutely. I really like it despite my reservations about some character choices.
If you like to hear more about my thoughts on the other characters not mentioned, or if you agree or disagree with my thoughts about Willoughby, leave a comment below!
