3.25 CLICKS
(out of 5)
__________________________________________________________________
Gringolandia is a bi-lingual comedy web series about a Chilean in New York, living with his girlfriend and trying to ‘make it’ in the big city. Watch Gringolandia here…
__________________________________________________________________
“Ross’ directorial debut hints at a bright future. He catches all the chemistry and heart of his ensemble amongst the broad humor of their eccentricities and cultural misconceptions. ” Read Steph’ full review…
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
“Peter (Koke Santa Ana) and his American sweetheart Stacey (Schenider) have a playful chemistry and their lost in translation moments are adorable.” Read Danielle’s full review…
__________________________________________________________________
“Though its humor mostly aims for slapstick, Gringolandia doesn’t seem completely unaware of its potential for serrated-edged satire” Read Lorelei’s full review…
__________________________________________________________________
Gringolandia – Anne Brashier – 3.5 Clicks
In Gringolandia, Koke Santa Ana is hilariously expressive and refreshingly vulnerable as Peter, a Chilean guy who moves to the US with his gringo girlfriend, Stacy. Stacy is eager to show Peter all the best parts of New York, and the couple are certain that they can take on whatever challenges the big city has to offer them.
This premise unravels, as does the show’s quality, when it becomes clear that the two of them have no plan. Stacy has not prepared Peter for anything he is about to encounter. She takes Peter to her favorite Hot Dog cart, but says nothing when Peter is shocked by the unadorned, puny over-priced fare. She sends Peter alone to meet her father for the first time, forcing him to wither under her father’s interrogation. Peter takes her thoughtless behavior in stride, but the series does not investigate what keeps them together beyond their mutual cuteness.
Yet, it is refreshing how completely the actors throw themselves into the outlandish, one-sided characters that they play, like Mary, Stacy’s eccentric neighbor, and Stacy’s dad, the quintessential uptight business shark. But that gleeful overacting does not rescue the shallow writing.The series is shot mockumentary style, with the actors speaking both English and Spanish, so the audience can watch and wince at each awkward cultural misunderstanding.
Gringolandia is at its best when we see Peter confessing his frustrations in Spanish, when the gringos around him are oblivious.Gringolandia could be compelling if it was brave enough to ask some deeper questions about racism, ignorance, and how it feels to be alone in a new country. Instead, it’s just another Coming to America story with a cute mustache. Read more reviews by Anne…
Gringolandia – DANIELLE BAUMAN – 3.0 Clicks
Somebody give Koke Santa Ana his green card because he is everything worthwhile in the make-it-in-America web series Gringolandia. Endearing and earnest, Peter (Santa Ana) is a character that an audience really wants to root for. Whether in English or Spanish, his dialogue is well written and delivered with impeccable ease. Peter and his American sweetheart Stacey (Schenider) have a playful chemistry and their lost in translation moments are adorable. But the real stand out moments occur when Peter is out in the city trying to make some scratch. He walks the line of poignant hope and sincere silliness. A prime example of this is the scene in which Peter sings We are the Children for money on the subway. His commitment to the ballad makes for a hilarious scene, if only the rest of the cast could hold a candle to his talent.
It’s true you are only as good as your team and this crew just doesn’t carry their own weight. Mary (Feldman), Stacey’s neighbor, is cartoon-ish and completely unbelievable as an actual human and Bryan (Hollock) seems to be taking acting lessons from her. But these quirked out characters can be forgiven once Dick (Mazlumian), Stacey’s father, comes on screen delivering lines that are flatter than a fourteen-year-old gymnast. Overall Gringolandia is an enjoyable experience if you can overlook the lackluster of the supporting cast. Read more reviews by Danielle…
Gringolandia- LORELEI IGNAS – 2.0 Clicks
Gringolandia has a talented cast and a concept that could lend itself well to nuanced, quirky satirical comedy. Unfortunately, it often settles for the quick laugh with jokes based in crude humor and stereotype, and consequently falls flat more often than not.
The most provocative missed opportunity is perhaps the response of Stacey’s friends and family to her new Chilean boyfriend. What could be an interesting springboard off which to light-heartedly but provocatively poke holes holes in the oft-hypocritical moral compass of the liberal elite becomes instead a banal collection of borderline-racist stereotypes, “spanglish” included.
Peter and Stacey’s relationship, though clearly derivative of the Lucy/Ricky Ricardo “I Love Lucy” dynamic, lacks the same chemistry, comic timing, and depth of character. We have no idea how they met or fell in love, or (unlike Lucy and Ricky) why they’re perfect for one another, which makes them less likable as individuals and as a couple. This is a problem, especially when the stakes of the series hinge on everyone in Stacey’s life trying to break the couple up. As a result, the intended “oh shit” moment of Stacey’s dad cutting the two off had little weight, and felt too referential to scenes we’ve seen onscreen recently.
Though its humor mostly aims for slapstick, Gringolandia doesn’t seem completely unaware of its potential for serrated-edged satire: it just has to commit fully to one or the other, or its audience may continue to feel stuck in the middle and unsatisfied. Read more reviews by Lorelei…
Gringolandia- Stephanie Carrie – 4.5 Clicks
– reprinted from LA Weekly
What does a young, Chilean industrial engineer who moves to New York City to become a filmmaker make a web series about? A young (tall, dark and handsome) Chilean who comes to New York City to make it in the land of the gringos, of course.
The outstanding bilingual mockumentary web series Gringolandia is the brainchild of Chilean writer-director-producer Cristóbal Ross and producer-editor Nicolás Balbontin. It follows the adventures of Peter, played by gorgeously goofy Chilean YouTube star Koke Santa Ana (Ross flew him out for two weeks to shoot the series) and his gringo girlfriend, Stacey (Nicole Schneider). Together they scheme to become as successful as the Nuts4Nuts guy, selling Chilean-style street hot dogs.
The supporting cast is composed of priceless New York personalities. Abby Feldman is a riotous stand-out as flighty, vintage-clad, constantly crafting neighbor Mary.The straight-to-camera interviews (à la The Office and Modern Family) are far more hilarious than their network-TV counterparts, in part because they’re bilingual. While Stacey babbles in bad Spanish, Peter beams, “Poor thing. She speaks like crap, but it doesn’t matter.” Peter’s English isn’t much better. “I speak kind of like a baby with a boob in his mouth,” he admits.
Ross’ directorial debut hints at a bright future. He catches all the chemistry and heart of his ensemble amongst the broad humor of their eccentricities and cultural misconceptions. In addition to the bounty of laughs, the bright palette and energy of the photography douse the audience in the joy of Peter and Stacey’s love of each other and their Gringolandia of endless possibilities. Read more reviews by Steph…
The Tangled Web We Watch 