Name: Who's a Good Boy?
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2022-11-23T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Sebastian Dante, Sirena Ortiz, Luisa Guzmán Quintero, Harold Azuara, Diego Meléndez

The opening scene of Ihtzi Hurtado’s Who’s a Good Boy? (2022) is a blunt force trauma of awkwardness: Chema (Sebastian Dante), our virginal protagonist, stumbles through yet another failed attempt to talk to a girl at school. It’s a moment that sets the tone for this Mexican sex comedy—a film that leans hard into teenage angst and cringe humor but struggles to find its footing between raunchiness and heart.

Hurtado’s script is packed with familiar tropes: the nerdy guy pining for the popular girl, the supportive best friend (Luisa Guzmán Quintero’s Eli) who harbors unspoken feelings, and the well-meaning but misguided uncle (Adrián Vázquez’s Jaime) doling out questionable advice. The film’s strongest moments come from its supporting cast. Vázquez, in particular, delivers a standout performance as Jaime, bringing a layer of warmth and humor to his role that elevates the material. His scenes with Chema are laced with a genuine chemistry that makes their relationship feel authentic.

The film’s attempts at raunchy comedy, however, often fall flat. The masturbation scene, for instance, feels forced and out of place, lacking the subtlety or wit needed to make it land. Similarly, the ADR and voice-over work, as noted by some critics, veers into arch territory, pulling the audience out of the moment. The film’s pacing also suffers from a lack of cohesion, with scenes that feel hastily stitched together rather than organically flowing.

Where Who’s a Good Boy? does find its stride is in its exploration of teenage insecurity and the pressure to conform. Chema’s journey—from desperate virgin to self-assured young man—is relatable, even if the path he takes is littered with clichés. The film’s climax, where Chema finally stands up for himself against Sebas (Yankel Stevan) and his friends, is a satisfying payoff that underscores its central theme: the importance of self-worth.

Yet, the film’s ending feels rushed and unresolved. The sudden shift from Chema and Eli becoming a couple to their being caught having sex in an airplane bathroom lacks the emotional weight it deserves. It’s a missed opportunity to delve deeper into their relationship and provide a more satisfying conclusion to Chema’s arc.

In the end, Who’s a Good Boy? is a mixed bag—a film that has moments of genuine charm and humor but is ultimately let down by its reliance on tired tropes and uneven execution.