Nominations: Goya Awards; Best Special Effects Malaga Spanish Film Festival; Golden Biznaga Award At last, Yoli's (Yoleima Valdes) family's money troubles appear to be over. Senor Arturo, a rich, old Spanish gentleman has come to Havana to marry the young girl. But then Senor Arturo has the nerve to suddenly die. With visions of their newfound wealth flying out the window, the family hatches a scheme to send Yoli's ex-boyfriend Papito to Spain, impersonating Arturo, grab the money, & high-tail it back to Cuba. There's just one minor detail they didn't figure on; Senor Arturo had mob connections. I read a lot of bad review/comments about this movie. yes it is not a great movie but it is really pretty funny. People in Spain seem to hate the Cubans!! hahah. This comedy criticizes & mocks the relationship between the Spanish & Cubans. The Spanish & many tourists take advantage of the misery in Cuba, marriages of convenience to leave the island & the Cuban. It is a criticism of the situation on the island & how well they treat illegal immigrants in the motherland. A hot topic, but properly treated at the level of comedy. The film is loaded with vulgarities & cussing. (or chavacaneria) which they did not put into the sub titles. Outrageously funny, subtitles do not do justice to the rapid fire exchanges, subtle nuances & "inside" barbs that sometimes even native Cubans need help in understanding. Not for the easily offended. Nothing is what it seems in this hilarious offbeat comedy. Being a comedic caper type movie the film does move from one ridiculous scene to another. Arturo has to pass through dangerous ridiculous situations (in obvious twists and turns) to save his life. The plot and characters make it a funny dark comedy. It has a quite obvious script but the twists & turns & the very funny characters make it a decent foreign film black comedy. There is lots of enjoyable Cuban music also. I enjoyed this film.

Some comments to this forum are from people that relate to the story being connected to Cuba, in some way, or another. Their comments don't take into consideration how badly the material used for the film plays on the screen.The character of Don Arturo, the Spaniard that goes to Havana to get married to the young and luscious Yoli, rings false from the start. It is clear the heavy makeup used on this person shows the man is fake. We realize why right away as we are being put on. Later on, as Papito decides to impersonate the older man: one realizes they are the same person, which goes to ask viewers to stretch their imaginations in accepting this phony premise to begin with.Director/writer Alexis Valdes take on the material makes this a one joke story stretched to the max without any surprises. Not only that, the acting is amateur, at best. This was a film made and financed in Spain, and as Spanish films go, "Un Rey en La Habana" is a poor excuse of a movie.

I Loved this movie, it was romantic and very funny. A unique film and a film close to my heart as I am Cuban American...don't know if it translates well into English, however, I can't imagine a Spanish-speaking person not enjoying this movie. It made me laugh over and over again and every time I watch it I find new hilarious comments I didn't catch the first time around. I have watched other films with Cuban themes and so far this is the one that has been the most enjoyable and light-hearted. It is just a movie that was made with one aim in mind, to make the audience laugh...The music is also very good and highlights key scenes...I highly recommend it, especially if you can relate...

Coming from a Cuban family and having lived in Miami for most of my life, this movie really takes me back to home and family gatherings. The way they speak is exactly the way most Cubans speak... Truly a funny film. It was not, however, shot in Cuba because, of course, that isn't possible (not a film like this, that often pokes fun at the gov't and politics- like Papito's communist father). It was actually shot in Spain (which probably explains why the film takes place primarily there and any shots in "Cuba" are rarely on location). Overall, a recommended film to watch for Cubans and non-Cubans alike- though I would refrain from watching it with my parents due to some explicit content that might make it a little uncomfortable.