A Romantic Comedy

      ELLIE, a woman in her early forties, realizes at her 20th wedding anniversary that she is married to a man who cheats, shows little respect for her, and doesn’t care about her feelings.  BUDDY LEE, once a college football star, loves women and drinking and will probably never change.  As Ellie becomes increasingly depressed, recognizing the beginning of a mid-life crises, she realizes it’s time to change her life.

      Ellie informs Buddy Lee she is going on a “second honeymoon” in Mexico, but she’s not taking him!  She needs time to think, so she’ll be traveling with an old girlfriend.  Once in Puerto Vallarta, her girlfriend discovers Buddy Lee has followed them to Mexico so he can spy on Ellie.  The two women come up with a clever plan to give Buddy Lee a show.  So Ellie pretends to carry on an affair with a handsome, young Mexican named RICARDO.

      Even though Ellie tries to remain focused on her plan for revenge, the pretend affair slowly turns into a real romance.  Ricardo and Ellie’s attraction for each other is taking control.   The snooping Buddy Lee does indeed become jealous, but soon has bigger problems.  His own girlfriend, FERN, has also followed Buddy Lee to Puerto Vallarta, believing he was going to ask his wife for a divorce, and then marry her in Mexico.

      During the mayhem that follows, Buddy Lee finds himself attracted again to the wife he is pursuing up and down the Mexican Rivera.  But Ellie’s transformation back to a woman of self-worth makes the conclusion of this story anything but predictable.

      While the story may be classified as a romantic comedy, the film analyzes some serious overtones and issues.  The potential for a cross-over feature film is excellent due to the issues at hand for both men and women.  The interaction of characters between Ellie, Buddy Lee, Ricardo and Fern is wonderfully portrayed in a romantic setting along the Mexican Riviera.

      The Gentle Fiesta is well-written Mark Miller film that promises picturesque locations, beautiful music and broad box-office appeal.

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