How to Become a Modern Man (Spanish: Como Dios manda, lit. 'As God Commands') is a 2023 Spanish comedy film directed by Paz Jiménez from a screenplay by Marta Sánchez which stars Leo Harlem alongside María Morales, Daniel Pérez Prada, and Stéphanie Magnin.
Contents
Plot
The plot follows Andrés Cuadrado, an averagely racist, machista and LGBT-phobic "man of order" demoted from his longtime post as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Equality as a punishment for his bigoted behaviour, thereby grappling with a more diverse working environment under new boss Lourdes and undergoing a re-education in values.
Production
The film is an Atresmedia Cine, Áralan Films, and Como Dios manda la película AIE production. Filming locations included Seville and Málaga.
Release
The film was presented on 18 March 2023 at the 26th Málaga Film Festival, screening out of competition as the festival's closing film. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures España, it was released theatrically in Spain on 2 June 2023.
Reception
Javier Ocaña of Cinemanía rated the film 2½ stars, considering that while it is dragged in its beginnings by a "stale mise-en-scène", a "more dynamic direction boosted by the good vibes and the (foregone) redemption arc", leaves a smile [on your face] in the last stretch.
Manuel J. Lombardo of Diario de Sevilla rated the film 2 out of 5 stars, considering that "the sociological satire is deflated and padded in favor of good intentions, bemused morals and the family discourse".
Ekaitz Ortega of HobbyConsolas rated the film with 42 points ('bad'), deeming it to be "a film that seeks to learn and laugh at different perspectives of society, from the traditional to the more progressive", but remains a range of stereotypes.