Raising Victor Vargas

Starring: Victor Rasuk, Judy Marte, Melonie Diaz, Altagracia Guzman, Silvestre Rasuk

Directed by: Peter Sollett

RS: 3of 4 Stars

2003 Comedy

Sex and the other city. The one where there's no air conditioning and where people raise chickens in the alleys. Victor Vargas (Victor Rasuk) is a Dominican teen trying to get over on the hottest girl in the projects (Judy Marte). Shot on New York's Lower East Side, the film avoids all the inner-city movie cliches: No one gets capped, no one from Eminem's posse raps on the soundtrack. The closest thing this gentle urban folk tale has to a special effect is the extraordinary range of emotions that play across the quick, lively eyes of star Rasuk.

WILL DANA
(August 28, 2003)