BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

SnoopyStyle Illegal immigrant Rosario (Kate del Castillo) works as a cleaning lady in L.A. to send money back to Mexico for her mother and her son Carlitos. Carlitos hangs out with the local Coyote Doña Carmen. An American couple (America Ferrera) offers to take babies across the border but Carmen dismisses them. When Carlitos' grandmother dies, he fears his uncle getting custody and calls up the American couple to smuggle him across the border to find his mother. He faces multiple challenges with only a payphone number his connection to his mother.The story is split in two following separately the mother and the child. The mother's story is capably told with the beautiful Kate del Castillo. The boy's story holds some of the most compelling situations although it does meander somewhat. The kid is fine. The turn to find his father is convenient at best and would be better not to be introduced. His friendship with Enrique is the best part. The duo is like a Chaplin and the kid. This is a fine melodrama with some good work. As a message movie about illegals in America, it may be good or bad depending on the audience.

Rob Starzec This semester, I have had to sit through a bunch of not-so-great films in my global road movie class. The not-so-great ones have consisted of cheaply made documentaries and films that have conveyed the essence of a journey with little to no effect on the characters. With Under the Same Moon, we get a story about a clear journey of a young boy, Carlitos, trying desperately to cross the border into the U.S. and finding his mother in L.A.Some may find this unrealistic, but Carlitos is amazingly intelligent at the age of 9. He has a special way of connecting with adults and sometimes manipulating them in order to get what he wants. This is not to say there is a maniacal or evil motive behind what Carlitos wants from adults, but he is a natural at convincing others to help him, and he must be since he is limited due to his age.On the reverse side, we see his mother living in L.A. in order to make money to support little Carlitos with not one, but two jobs as a maid. She is constantly questioning what will help her son in the long run, which is heartbreaking since Carlitos sometimes thinks that his mother abandoned him. What adds to the mother's struggle is the fact that she is an "illegal," so she must also decide what puts her in a better position to support her only child.While the mother's story is more dramatic, Carlitos' journey is full of heart and many laughs, especially after he befriends a man named Enrique. Basically, Carlitos depends on this stranger, but Enrique is reluctant to help since the kid annoys him. It is a great love/hate relationship which has us hoping Enrique will come to his senses and do the right thing.I love how the film combines aspects of the melodrama with the political issue of immigration which is tied to desperation for work. There is little to say about the film in a negative manner except that it may seem cheesy at certain points. Also, if you're looking for a film with complexity you may want to look elsewhere since the plot for this film is simple and straightforward, but it is a fun and touching story.3.5/4.0

Dani Greenfield Under the Same Moon is a heart-wrenching story about a young boy trying to find his mother in America. He daringly crosses the border from Mexico, risking his life to finally be at peace in his mother's arms. It is a beautiful story of friendship and yearning filled with moments that will make you cry and moments that will make your heart grow ten times it size. The young boy, named Carlitos, plays the role of an abandoned child incredibly, leaving his home after his Grandmother passes away. He puts his life into the hands of two unskilled coyotes that just barely get him across the border. Carlitos meets many helpful people along the way, one who risks his own deportation so Carlitos can find his mother. Rosario, Carlitos's mother, played by Kate del Castillo, portrays her role with such emotion that you can't help but believe that this situation is real. She struggles to find work so she can make enough money to pay a lawyer to help her obtain a green card and move her son to California. The movie portrays, what I believe to be accurately, what it means to live in America as an illegal immigrant. There are scenes when workers are taken away to be deported, and you can't help but think about those who are living in fear every day of being sent back to Mexico. The movie did a great job of shedding light on the topic of illegal immigration evoking sympathy from the audience. It was an incredible movie that everyone should see. Make sure to bring a box of tissues!

aj jack Under the Same Moon was a very interesting movie that told the viewers both a happy and sad story at the same time. The happy story being that a young boy Carlitos is on an adventure that includes interacting with many people in two different countries, which eventually leads him to back together with his mother. The sad story being told is the story of how many Mexicans and illegal immigrants cross the border, and how they live on the American side of the border. Running away from the police, sleeping wherever they can find a safe and comfortable spot, and losing friends in family in the process. It is an enjoyable movie to watch because you get to learn about that horrible lifestyle, but you get to see Carlitos eventually find happiness after years of missing his mother. All of the main characters go through changes during the movie. Rosario, not content being without her son, goes back and forth from marrying Paco and thinking about going back to Mexico. Carlitos, not knowing what is out there in the world, experiences something that no boy his age should experience. He is away from his mother, and somehow he successfully crosses the border, travels to Los Angeles, and survives many of the trials of an illegal immigrant on the run. Enrique, at first, not caring for the boy and only looking out for himself, realizes that Carlitos is a special boy and that their adventure is much more than just reuniting with his mother. He sacrifices his life in the United States so Carlitos can be with his mother, which also gives the viewer another hero in the story. Whether it is realistic or a little bit overexagerrated, the movie was very pleasing to watch and I could not wait to see what had happened at the end. I rate this movie a 7.