From the numerous reviews on IMDB I've read those who watch this movie can be generally categorized in two groups: Native Brazilians whose cultural affinity with the material has them, much like me, mesmerized by the movie, and foreign audiences who, rather confused, seem to think that this movie is supposed to be akin to any screwball, dumb & dumber variety comedy. I am more inclined to be among the first categorization rather than the second.
Based on a 1955 play of the same name, O Auto da Compadecida, features an over the top acting style lifted straight from the characterizations of the wily, and always clever heroes of Northeastern Brazilian Cordéis (a type of pamphlet folk literature, commonly written in verses). Chicó and João Grilo aren't as such slapstick comedic characters, but rather cultural interpretations of the plight of the Northeasterners. The movie integrates its Cordel elements with a particularly Brazilian catholic undertone (The importance of the Holy Mother being one of its more prevalent elements). The jokes themselves are also mired in the rich cultural background of the Brazilian Northeast, a combination of pantomime and cultural references the jokes carry in them a sense of socio-cultural gravitas.
Whilst understandably this is geared towards Brazilian audiences, trying to watch it as a slapstick screwball comedy is ultimately a mistake. Rather try to watch it as a cultural experience keeping in mind that this movie reflects the history of a particularly marginalized group, whose stories are part of a context of drought, banditry, and oligarchy.
Based on a 1955 play of the same name, O Auto da Compadecida, features an over the top acting style lifted straight from the characterizations of the wily, and always clever heroes of Northeastern Brazilian Cordéis (a type of pamphlet folk literature, commonly written in verses). Chicó and João Grilo aren't as such slapstick comedic characters, but rather cultural interpretations of the plight of the Northeasterners. The movie integrates its Cordel elements with a particularly Brazilian catholic undertone (The importance of the Holy Mother being one of its more prevalent elements). The jokes themselves are also mired in the rich cultural background of the Brazilian Northeast, a combination of pantomime and cultural references the jokes carry in them a sense of socio-cultural gravitas.
Whilst understandably this is geared towards Brazilian audiences, trying to watch it as a slapstick screwball comedy is ultimately a mistake. Rather try to watch it as a cultural experience keeping in mind that this movie reflects the history of a particularly marginalized group, whose stories are part of a context of drought, banditry, and oligarchy.