Another telenovela (soap opera) had its “gran final” (grand final) on the Spanish language channel Univision on Friday 9/19/08. This show had the somewhat droll title “Al diablo con los guapos” which means “to hell with all the handsome ones!” or “damn the handsome ones!”. This is a phrase uttered by the telenovela’s main character, a young woman named Milagros (meaning “miracles”; played by Allisson Lozz). This is the story of a poor orphaned girl named Milagros, who is also known as Mili or Miligol, because she loves soccer and is good at the game (soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico, which is were the novela takes place). Mili grows up in a convent but at 18 must leave and go to work. She happens upon a young man named Alejandro Belmonte (Eugenio Siller)whose father is a business tycoon named Constancio Belmonte (Cesar Evora), an extremely proud ambitious man whose career goes before his family. At first when Alejandro expresses his interest in Mili, she refuses him. But soon his persistance pays off as Mili ends up going to work for the elder Belmonte and for his wife; Alejandro’s mother Luciana (Laura Flores). Mili falls in love with Alejandro as he does with her, but there are numerous obstacles: Alejandro’s girlfriend Andrea (Tania Vezquez), a very ambitious, ruthless woman whose only interest is money so she pursues Alejandro and Constancio; Alejandro’s mother also does not want them together and collaborates with Andrea to seperate them, Alejandro’s cousin Hugo Arango (Andres Zuno)who also falls in love with Mili and tries to win her–somettimes going to extremes. Alejandro’s sister Valeria (Altair Jarabo) also does not approve of Alejandro loving “una sirvienta” ( ” a servent” or “maid”). Constancio also does not want them together.
The biggest obstacle to Alejandro and Mili being together, however, is that they could be brother and sister! Mili soon learns that that is not true, although she discovers her actual relationship to Alejandro’s father. But alas Alejandro has married Florencia, whose father is also an important business man and he leaves the country with her. So Mili decides to give a chance to Hugo. She does not see Alejandro again for three years and even then does not tell him the truth right away as she discovers Florencia is pregnant. By the time the truth comes out that Mili and Alejandro are not brother and sister, Mili is married to Hugo and Hugo is reluctant to let her go and Mili does not want to hurt Hugo. But the love of Mili and her “guapito” as she calls Alejandro is too intense so finally Hugo and Florencia have to give them up. They do get together after their divorces as everybody realizes that they cannot fight the love of Mili and Alejandro. Luciana, Constancio, Valeria come to accept their relationship. Valeria herself falls for her chauffeur Rocky or “Morgan”(Ricardo Margaleff) as she calls him. She marries him and Mili and Alejandro get married. And the novela ends showing the happy couples together as many years pass and finally Mili and Alejandro are in their 90s and still together in love!
This is a likable, charming soap opera, though I believe this sort of “Cinderella” story has been done before. Like all telenovelas, it has its serious moments, such as dealing with Luciana’s alcoholism, but, as is evident by its title, it has some humorous parts, too. The actors playing Mili and Alejandro show potential in their telenovela debuts on this show, except I thought at times that they could tone down their screaming and crying. Also I think the singing done by Allisson and Eugenio was rather unneccessary. I thought it took too much time from the story. Plus, I think their acting was better than their singing. Allisson sang ok. She did the show’s theme song with a group K-Paz but the song did not measure up to the theme song of the telenovela “Pasion” and of course she is no Sarah Brightman. Some of the other cast members sang too and I think that was overdone. Veteran telenovela actors Cesar Evora and Laura Flores were excellent in their roles (Cesar Evora is one of the few who does not sing on this show), as was another veteran actress (Alicia Rodriguez) who appeared early in the novela as Constancio’s mother Regina Belmonte. Overall, I give this novela a “B”. Like I said, it had charm but not a lot of originality. And too much singing and slowing down of the plot. And I didn’t see as many handsome men as in “Pasion” although I found the actor who played Hugo rather attractive:)
