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Radical Reviews

Mar 13, 2025

Absolutely beautiful, real and inspiring, brought tears to my eyes all the way to the end.

Feb 21, 2025

¿Podría considerarse un remake de El Profe, 1971, protagonizada por Cantinflas? Diría que sí. Valoro mucho que muestre los verdaderos problemas del país, y que no disfrace los orígenes del problema; que seguramente no le gustará a la Secretaría de Educación Pública, ni al Sindicato de Maestros. Desde esta óptica, la película es también una forma de protestar contra el descuido de la educación de los niños mexicanos. Tal como Cantinflas lo hizo en su tiempo. Enhorabuena para Derbez por su valor.

Jan 21, 2025

Its a compelling story, about a harsh reality that most poor countries live where the poverty loop its practically impossible to break. I think it has an important message to pass.

Jan 21, 2025

It's bordering naive, sentimental and way to by-the-numbers but ultimately sweet and satisfying. Saw it in a theater full of experienced teachers who've seen everything, and some of them were in tears. I can only recommend watching the movie this way.

Jan 11, 2025

I absolutely loved this movie, reassured me that as a teacher we have a duty of care to ignite a love for learning without fear of making mistakes. The element of having fun and using the arts is being removed from the curriculum to focus on teaching to a test that has no relevance for life. It is criminal that we are not catering to every child’s learning style, differentiation is recorded and copied and pasted on planning sheets without making major changes because recording strategies is enough. Time constraints and administration expectations of staff creates a stress on getting assessments completed without building on foundations properly so information can be retained. These assessments are often irrelevant and mundane and kids are being expected to achieve A criteria and parrot the learning goals without seeing and understanding the process involved. I wish people writing curriculum expectations could put more time into allowing kids to have some say and input into their learning. We would see that they truly would blow us away with how they think and feel about what truly matters in life instead of creating anxiety in the early years of their lives. Surely we have a duty of care to ensure they all feel valued and happy learning. This movie should be shown at all beginning of the year pupil free days as it would be the most beneficial Professional Development that teachers would enjoy and gain something from. Kids deserve to have happy and fond memories of their school life!

Dec 21, 2024

Derbez. Mal comediante.. INDEFENDIBLE como actor.. un asco

Aug 24, 2024

I had to go to an Arthouse cinema and pay thrice the ticket price of local commercial big cinemas to see this, because they don't screen much of the good stuff. I'm glad I saw it, heartwarming determination :)

Jul 31, 2024

you’ve seen this story told many times before, but the heart within this specific one makes up for any of those comparisons.

Jun 6, 2024

Radical is an uplifting and inspirational story about a radical teacher and his aspiring students. Based on a true story, it's set in 2011 in a small Mexican coastal town. The town is blighted by poverty and drug violence. Sergio Juarez is a new teacher at the local elementary school, a school that is run down and lacking facilities. Teachers are more interested in test scores rather than inspiring their students. Juarez wants to shake things up and seeks ways to get his students excited about studying. He uses experiments that enable the students. He promotes independent thought, getting great results, even if his methods upset the faculty. Two students in particular flourish under him. Nico, who has fallen under the influence of local drug gangs, and Paloma a young girl who is interested in astrophysics and has genius level qualities. This is quite an inspiring film that hits hard emotionally. It's a feel good story, but more than that it feels like an important film.

Jun 4, 2024

I knew this was a feel good movie when I went to see Radical but it had good ratings so gave it a chance. It was very standard in the storyline, it seemed straight out of a 'feel good movie' manual. They totally overdid it with dramatic music, too many crying people and over the top winks and facial expressions. The 'feel good' part annoyed me so much that it left a bad aftertaste and did not make me 'feel good' at all. It was more a movie for children than for adults. I think the writers only had one goal, win prizes with sentimental claptrap. If they wouldn't have laid it on so thick I would have enjoyed it much more and given it 3 or 3,5 stars.

Jun 1, 2024

Radical, a thought-provoking drama based on a true story, tackles the daunting task of education in a Mexican border town beset by poverty, corruption, and gang violence. Eugenio Derbez sheds his usual comedic persona to play Sergio Juarez, a passionate new teacher assigned to a struggling elementary school. The jaded students, used to rote memorisation and a broken system, are a far cry from the enthusiastic learners Sergio dreams of. Determined to make a difference, he throws out the textbook and embarks on a radical experiment, fostering curiosity and critical thinking through unconventional methods—at least for these students. The film shines when it delves into the human stories. We see the spark of potential ignite in the eyes of Sergio's students. The camaraderie between Sergio and the school's disillusioned principal, Chucho (Daniel Haddad), is another highlight. Their shared love for education, despite their contrasting approaches, is beautifully portrayed. However, the film occasionally falls into sentimentality, skirting over the complexities of systemic issues. The corrupt officials and gang violence, while providing context, feel like missed opportunities for deeper exploration. Derbez delivers a heartfelt performance, his charisma captivating the audience as Sergio relentlessly pushes his students. The child actors, all seemingly newcomers, are equally impressive, portraying the vulnerability and resilience of children grappling with a harsh reality. The film's heart lies in these classroom moments, where Sergio's unorthodox methods lead to heartwarming breakthroughs. Director Christopher Zalla crafts a visually realistic portrayal of the impoverished town. The muted colour palette underscores the daily struggles, while bursts of life emerge during Sergio's unconventional lessons. The camerawork is unobtrusive, placing the focus squarely on the characters and their interactions. While the editing is mostly seamless, there are occasional pacing issues, particularly in the first half, where the film establishes the setting and characters. I do not think Radical is perfect. The feel-good moments, while genuine, can feel a tad unearned at times. The film would have benefited from a deeper dive into the challenges Sergio faces from the sceptical community and the education board. However, at its core, Radical is a powerful testament to the transformative power of a dedicated teacher. The film's message that every child, no matter their family's financial situation, has incredible potential will linger with you long after you finish watching it. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of a truly great film, Radical is ultimately a rewarding watch, particularly for those who believe in the power of education to change lives. So, if you're looking for a film that's both heartwarming and thought-provoking, Radical is definitely worth a watch. Just be prepared for a ride that's more inspiring than it is nuanced.

Apr 13, 2024

One of the couple movies you see talking about problems people don't see. This was a beautiful movie. Made me cry. Again, Eugenio D. makes a perfect touch to it.

Mar 30, 2024

Una hermosa pelicula de niños en la escuela que he visto, mi favorita.

Feb 29, 2024

Fascinating story based on real events, within a Latin American reality the size of a cathedral, but which is invisible to a world immersed in staring at its own navel. It is always inspiring and refreshing to remember how a single person, just one, determined to do the right thing and with values, can have an impact and create waves that transcend all barriers.

Feb 14, 2024

Pero que gran película mexicana que vi

Feb 7, 2024

Radical sin ningún tapujo ni sutileza empieza de una manera enérgica con un Eugenio Derbez interpretando a un maestro que decide impartir clase de una manera poco ortodoxa, en México, en un pequeño pueblo, en donde el Cartel del Golfo desde chavos inducen a su séquito del crimen organizado, pero ese no es el punto… ¿o si? Más o menos; los tres protagonistas infantiles logran inyectar de vitalidad junto a unnserio y contenido Eugenio Derbez que sigue en su lucha por ser tomado en serio y, hay que decirlo, lo está logrando. Definitivamente me hubiera gustado ver una serie de televisión que pudiera desmenuzar a detalle las precariedades de algunos de los personajes junto al optimismo incesante del maestro Juárez (Derbez) ya que la cinta se siente algo apresurada de tal forma que cuando llega el punto en donde quiere sacarnos el "lagrimazo" al puro estilo de No Se Aceptan Devoluciones, no lo logra del todo; aún así, esta cinta logra algo que muchas producciones mexicanas poco a poco están visibilizando y que es super importante: proponer sin importar lo Radical que sea tu idea.

Feb 6, 2024

Muy buena una de las Mejores película!!

Jan 26, 2024

Es una muy buena pagina y tiene toda clase de películas

Jan 24, 2024

Tiene un nivel de análisis profundo

Jan 24, 2024

Muy buena película para disfrutar en familia.

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