Leandro Hassum
Otávio
Overview
A Brazilian father finds a worthy opponent when he meets his daughter's Argentine in-laws, and a trip to Bariloche becomes the stage for a fun international rivalry.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe In-Laws Are Coming, and So Is the Eye-Roll
I’ve seen this movie before. Not this exact movie, of course—this one is set in Bariloche, not the Hamptons, and the fathers are Brazilian and Argentine, not WASP and Jewish. But the DNA is unmistakable: the overbearing patriarch, the eye-rolling daughter, the fiancé caught in the middle, the vacation rental that feels less like a home and more like a pressure cooker. Almost Family is a family comedy in the most generic sense of the term, a film that mistakes volume for wit and caricature for character.
It’s the kind of movie that makes you wonder if Netflix’s algorithm has a “family feud” template it just plugs local talent into, season after season.
Felipe Joffily, the director, has made a career out of this kind of broad, accessible comedy—think The Dognapper or the Muita Calma Nessa Hora series—and Almost Family fits neatly into that oeuvre. It’s a film that wants to be a cross-cultural Meet the Parents, but it lacks the script’s precision, the performances’ nuance, and, most crucially, the heart. The premise is solid enough: Otávio (Leandro Hassum), a controlling Brazilian bar owner, takes his family to Argentina to meet the parents of his daughter Mariana’s (Júlia Svacinna) fiancé, Miguel (Simón Hempe).
What follows is a series of escalating misunderstandings, competitive one-upmanship, and a suspected infidelity that threatens to derail the young couple’s plans to move to Europe. It’s a setup that could, in the right hands, mine humor from the clash of egos and cultures. But Joffily’s hands are too busy reaching for the volume knob.
The film’s biggest sin isn’t that it’s unfunny—though, as Decider’s John Serba bluntly puts it, “the jokes aren’t on-point” and the problems “wouldn’t exist if these people weren’t Movie Characters” [1]. No, the real issue is that Almost Family doesn’t seem to trust its own premise. It leans so heavily on the Brazil-Argentina rivalry that it forgets to make the rivalry matter.
The cultural differences are reduced to surface-level gags: Brazilians are loud, Argentines are proud, and never the twain shall meet without a lot of yelling. There’s a moment early on where Otávio and Héctor (Gabriel Goity), Miguel’s father, engage in a passive-aggressive toast that’s supposed to be the film’s comic centerpiece. Instead, it plays like a skit from a second-rate variety show, all exaggerated accents and mugging for the camera.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.3/10
"A lighthearted comedy with charm but struggles to stand out due to predictable humor and thin character development."
Viewers appreciate the film’s cheerful tone and the lead performances, particularly Leandro Hassum’s comedic timing, which keeps the energy up. However, the plot feels formulaic, relying on familiar family-comedy tropes without adding much originality. latestnetflix.com's take is that Some side characters lack depth, making the story feel underdeveloped in places.
What viewers praise
- Engaging lead performance Leandro Hassum’s comedic delivery is a highlight, drawing laughs and keeping the film entertaining.
- Lighthearted tone The movie’s cheerful and upbeat vibe makes it an easy watch for fans of feel-good comedies.
- Family-friendly appeal The themes of family and togetherness resonate well with audiences looking for a casual, uplifting experience.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn family-comedy paths without offering many surprises or fresh twists.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles often feel shallow, lacking the depth needed to make the story more engaging.
- Uneven humor While some jokes land well, others fall flat, making the comedic pacing inconsistent.
Recommended for
Fans of light family comedies Leandro Hassum enthusiasts Casual movie watchers Feel-good story seekers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Almost Family (2025): A Brazilian-Argentine Comedy of Clashing Cultures
Felipe Joffily’s Almost Family (2025) is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated cross-border comedies of the year, blending Brazilian and Argentine humor in a high-stakes family meet-cute. The film, led by Brazilian star Leandro Hassum and Argentine actor Simón Hempe, promises a chaotic yet heartfelt look at cultural clashes, love, and the universal nightmare of introducing your partner’s family to yours. But what’s the real story behind this Netflix-bound project?
A Family Vacation Gone Wrong
The premise is simple but ripe for comedy: Otávio, a Brazilian bar owner played by Hassum, takes his family to Bariloche, Argentina, to meet his daughter Mariana’s (Júlia Svacinna) future in-laws. What follows is a disaster—though the specifics remain under wraps, the setup suggests a mix of Meet the Parents and The Hangover, with a Latin American twist. The film’s official logline teases a "disaster" 
, and early buzz hints at everything from food fights to language barriers escalating into full-blown family feuds.
The choice of Bariloche, a scenic Patagonian town known for its Swiss-style architecture and chocolate shops, adds a picturesque yet ironic backdrop to the chaos. It’s a far cry from the urban settings of most Brazilian comedies, signaling Joffily’s ambition to blend travelogue charm with slapstick humor.
The Cast: A Mix of Comedy Veterans and Rising Stars
Leandro Hassum, one of Brazil’s most bankable comedic actors (The Dognapper, My Mom Is a Piece of Work), anchors the film as Otávio, a role that plays to his strengths in physical comedy and expressive frustration. Opposite him, Simón Hempe (The Last Runway) portrays Miguel, the Argentine fiancé whose family may or may not be hiding a few skeletons in their alpine chalet.
Júlia Svacinna, a rising star in Brazilian cinema (The First Fall), takes on the role of Mariana, the daughter caught between two cultures. Gabriel Goity, a veteran of Argentine comedy (Wild Tales), rounds out the lead cast, though his character details remain scarce .
Supporting roles include Karina Ramil, João Barreto, and Mariela Pizzo, suggesting a deep bench of comedic talent to amplify the film’s ensemble-driven chaos. Abril di Yorio and Fabio Santiago Israel, both relative newcomers, add fresh energy to the mix .
Director Felipe Joffily’s Vision: A Comedy of Errors
Felipe Joffily, known for his work on Brazilian sitcoms and films like The Dognapper, is no stranger to high-energy humor. Almost Family marks his first major foray into cross-cultural comedy, a genre that demands precision in balancing stereotypes with genuine warmth. While the evidence doesn’t reveal much about the filming process, the casting alone suggests Joffily is leaning into the contrast between Brazilian and Argentine sensibilities—think samba vs. tango, feijoada vs. asado, and the eternal rivalry between the two nations’ soccer teams.
One unconfirmed rumor (not backed by the provided evidence) suggests that the script underwent rewrites to heighten the cultural jokes, with input from both Brazilian and Argentine writers. If true, it could explain the film’s delayed release—originally slated for late 2024, it’s now set for 2025 
.
What We Still Don’t Know
Despite the hype, details about Almost Family remain frustratingly thin. There’s no official trailer yet, and Netflix hasn’t dropped any behind-the-scenes footage or interviews. The lack of production stills or on-set photos suggests the studio is keeping the film under wraps until closer to release.
Key unanswered questions:
- How much of the film was shot in Bariloche? The town’s tourism board hasn’t mentioned any filming permits, leaving it unclear if the production used real locations or studio sets.
- Will the film lean into political humor? Brazil and Argentina’s recent economic tensions could be ripe for satire, but there’s no evidence yet that the script goes there.
- What’s the tone? Is it a broad farce or a more nuanced family dramedy? The IMDb logline’s "disaster" tag suggests the former , but Joffily’s past work hints at a mix of both.
Why This Film Matters
Almost Family arrives at a time when Latin American cinema is gaining global traction, thanks to streaming platforms hungry for fresh, culturally specific content. If successful, it could pave the way for more cross-border collaborations, especially between Brazil and Argentina—two markets that rarely share the screen despite their shared language roots.
For now, fans will have to wait until 2025 to see if the film delivers on its promise of a family vacation gone spectacularly wrong. Until then, the cast’s chemistry and Joffily’s comedic chops are the biggest reasons to be optimistic.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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