Santiago Alarcón
Abelardo
The Maximum Penalty 2
“Here we are not playing a game, we are playing for our lives!”
2024
1h 27m
Director: Mauricio Cruz Fortunato
Overview
Abelardo and his brother Raúl face a dilemma when the match that could qualify Colombia for the World Cup coincides with Laura’s wedding—Abelardo’s daughter, marrying the team’s star player. With a bet on the line and two critical events, they’ll do everything to stick to their plans amidst hilarious situations, until the final whistle decides it all.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Beautiful Game’s Ugly Truths
I’ve always thought of soccer as the world’s most democratic sport—a game where the stakes are high, but the rules are simple. A ball, two goals, and 90 minutes to decide everything. The Maximum Penalty 2 understands this, but it also understands something messier: that life doesn’t pause for the final whistle. The film’s premise is a comedy writer’s dream: a father’s daughter is marrying the star player of Colombia’s national team, and the wedding just happens to fall on the same day as the World Cup qualifier that could send the country to glory.
What could go wrong?
The answer, of course, is everything. The Maximum Penalty 2 is a film that thrives on the collision of two high-stakes events, each demanding absolute devotion. Abelardo (Santiago Alarcón), the father of the bride, is a die-hard fan who’s placed a bet on the outcome of the match. His brother Raúl (Biassini Segura) is the kind of guy who treats every problem like a nail because all he has is a hammer.
Together, they’re a comedy duo straight out of a classic farce, their frantic attempts to keep their plans intact spiraling into increasingly absurd territory. The film’s greatest strength is its willingness to let the chaos unfold without apology. There’s a moment early on where Abelardo, mid-conversation with his ex-wife Diana (Viña Machado), realizes the match is about to start.
His face contorts into a mask of panic, his body language shifting from casual to desperate in a single beat. It’s a small moment, but it’s the kind of physical comedy that grounds the film’s broader antics. Alarcón and Segura have a natural chemistry, their performances balancing the film’s exaggerated situations with just enough humanity to keep the audience invested.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A lighthearted comedy with relatable family chaos, but lacks the depth to stand out beyond its soccer-themed premise."
Viewers appreciate the film’s humorous take on family dilemmas and the clash between personal life and national pride, especially during a pivotal soccer match. latestnetflix.com's view is that however, the plot feels predictable, and some characters come across as underdeveloped, leaving the comedy relying too heavily on situational gags rather than sharp writing.
What viewers praise
- Relatable family humor The conflict between wedding plans and a crucial soccer match resonates with audiences who enjoy chaotic, real-life dilemmas.
- Lighthearted tone The movie’s breezy, comedic approach makes it an easy watch for fans of feel-good entertainment.
- Soccer stakes add tension The World Cup qualification backdrop provides a fun, high-stakes hook that keeps the story engaging.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows familiar tropes, offering few surprises for those expecting fresh twists.
- Underdeveloped characters Some supporting roles feel shallow, limiting emotional investment beyond the central family dynamic.
- Gags over substance The humor leans on situational comedy rather than witty dialogue or character-driven jokes.
Recommended for
Family comedy fans Soccer enthusiasts Lighthearted movie nights Fans of Colombian cinema
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsChristmas football, a hat-trick bet, and a 23-year recast
Dago Garcia puts a family comedy in Colombian cinemas every 25 December. In 2024 the title carried a 2. The Maximum Penalty 2, originally La pena máxima 2, is an 87-minute football farce, not the action thriller some English pages guessed from overlapping Colombian names. latestnetflix.com's read is that El Pais in Cali framed it as the second helping of one of Garcia's biggest hits in 25 years, still echoing the 2001 catchphrase "Saul, Hermano."
The first La pena máxima, from 2001, starred Enrique Carriazo and Robinson Diaz. Marie Claire Colombia also names Sandra Reyes in that cast, and traces the original to Jorge Luis Varela's story Un dia de futbol. The 2024 film keeps the football-and-family engine and changes the people. Santiago Alarcon and Biassini Segura play brothers Abelardo and Raul. The qualifier that could send Colombia to the World Cup is postponed. The new date is Laura's wedding. She marries the team's star. Abelardo already bet that his son-in-law would score a hat-trick, because he needed the honeymoon money. Two events, one wager, one final whistle. , ,
Garcia told PRODU the job was a homage. "What better homage than making a new version. It is not exactly a remake, but a version 2 of La pena máxima with another story, always spinning around our national team, football, and family." He said the result is very funny and that the team had high hopes. That line is the whole argument in the trades. Is a 2 on a 23-year-old title a sequel, a reboot, or a Christmas brand extension? Garcia voted for version 2.
Mauricio Cruz Fortunato directed. He told Caracol Radio the responsibility was "very strong," that football stays the mechanic of the movie, and that the story is also paternal. PRODU printed his locations. They filmed in Bogota so the city would look like itself. Estadio El Campin for locker rooms and the entrance. Estadio La Independencia in Tunja for the pitch. The shoot ran May into June. Full stands mixed extras with visual effects. Sergio Herrera, billed as the footballer El Fantastico, talked about retraining so he could survive repeats on the field. ,
Segura called the 2001 film one of his Colombian favorites and called the sequel "a great responsibility and an honor." Laura Taylor, born in South Africa with a Colombian father, plays Laura and said the company felt like a real family. Vina Machado plays Diana, Abelardo's ex, and said the role also honored Reyes, who had died. Martin Karpan, who does not like football off camera, plays Leopoldo, the fanatic married to Diana. Alvaro Bayona has a special appearance. Bernardo Garcia plays Don Malito. ,
Netflix later took the Spanish original. Flixboss logged the Colombia add on 17 October 2025. The U.S. catalog title is The Maximum Penalty 2. TMDB still carries the wedding-versus-qualifier logline. The old English-language mix-up treated the film like a cartel sequel sharing a Rotten Tomatoes page with Operation Condor. The Christmas release, the hat-trick wager, and Garcia's own "not exactly a remake" line are the record. ,
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.