I've decided to write a positive comment about this movie, not because I was part of it --actually I only re-wrote part of it and worked as AD during the first phase of the shoot, which was stopped for a while because Daddy Yankee had previous singing commitments--, but because I feel the ratings are a bit unfair, and because I enjoyed its viewing. During the break DY won a Grammy and became even more popular. But the first day I arrived on the set I had no idea who this guy with such a silly name was. Raymond (as he asked me to call him) was playing a character with my name, which he did not like, and decided to call his character "Edgar Money", so we were even in that respect. Then I discovered he was highly creative and easily grasped directorial suggestions. After I saw the final product (which did not include everything I re-wrote, like a pretty ending featuring him backed by the Children Chorus of San Juan in a huge stadium, singing a powerful composition written by a talented young man, which did not make the final cut), I thought it was fine, and I still think so. It is a popular movie, made for the people, especially DY's admirers, and I believe that in the end it delivers what was expected by its producers. Daddy Yankee as well as the scriptwriters-producers knew what they were talking about, as well as many of the cast members, reggae-ton singers themselves: a few were on parole or on "country arrest" (as Maestro in the first case, or César Farrait who had an offer to co-star in an American TV series, but could not leave the island and had to decline). Considering the extra problems director José Ivan Santiago, his production manager Leslie Colombani and first assistant director Colleen Comer had to deal with --including (most coincidentally with the plot) members of the cast and crew that were stoned more often than not-- what finally reached the screen was beyond my expectations: a honest and sincere social drama written by ordinary people who knew many tricks in the book. And more important, the Puerto Rican people enjoyed it very much. You may say that this is not a critical parameter... but I guess Daddy Yankee could not care less.
