Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
World famous movie star Olivia faces a PR disaster when a paparazzi snaps a photo of her with her married lover, Vincent. The hard-working valet Antonio accidentally appears in the same photo and is enlisted to pose as Olivia’s new boyfriend as a cover-up. This ruse with Olivia thrusts Antonio into the spotlight and unexpected chaos.
The Valet is a warm, likable remake of the 2006 French comedy that transplants the premise to Los Angeles with a Latino cultural flavor. The plot is familiar rom-com territory — fake relationship, class contrast, lovable community — executed competently but without surprise. Acting is solid across the board, with Eugenio Derbez bringing charm and Samara Weaving holding her own, though nothing transcends the material. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable, typical of a streaming comedy. Novelty suffers as a remake of an existing property with a well-worn fake-relationship premise, though the cultural specificity of the East LA community adds modest distinction. The ending is satisfying and emotionally grounded, delivering the expected warmth without subverting expectations.