Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • W14

14 Thursday, Bay greenbaypressgazette.com to-do weekend list to Be a Latin is a lot like the title character: Soft and flabby around the middle, but not without its own whimsical charms. The latter part of the equation is due to star and producer Eugenio Derbez, who designed the vehicle as a showcase for his comedic gifts. He is a huge celebrity in Mexico and has a considerable following north of the border. His last headlining film, Not became the highest-grossing Spanish-language movie ever released in the States. This time, starring in an English-language farce, he hopes to attract an even broader audience.

He plays Maximo, the Latin lover of the title. As achild, he discusses his life goals with his sister, Sara. She wants to be an architect and design a big house for the family. Maximo, on the other hand, draws inspiration from a magazine ad that features a wealthy businessman with a sexy blonde draped on his arm. want her he declares, and thus his dream is set in motion.

He achieves his goal in his 20s, when he seduces Peggy Taylor), a woman on the backside of 50 who owns achain of supermarkets. The two marry, and it should be happily-ever- after time. Flash forward 25 years. Maximo checks every morning to ensure that Peggy is still breathing. He then makes a leisurely tour of their Beverly Hills mansion on his Hoverboardand relaxes in a bubble bath with his iPad.

Does Maximo love Peggy? Probably, in his own way, but he loves her bank balance even more. Things come crashing down when Maximo returns home and finds that a car salesman (Michael Cera) has replaced him in bed. Max- imo never signed a prenuptial agreement, so he winds up penniless. He moves in with Sara (Salma Hayek), from whom he has been estranged for several her adorably nerdy 10-year-old, Hugo (Raphael Alejandro). Doing nothing but enjoying the sweet life for 25 years has left him wildly out of touch with reality.

When Sara makes chicken and rice for dinner, Maximo orders a lobster roll, as if at a restaurant. pouty, self-centered, spoiled and yet oddly endearing. Hugo has a crush on a girl at the private school he attends, and Maximo decides to teach him the ways of the Latin lover. It hurt that the grandmother is a single billionaire (Raquel Welch), which gives our professional Lothario a new goal: Win the grand- mother and help the youngster land the girl. Derbez has shown a soft spot for sentimental comedies with heart, and to Be a Latin has plenty of that, too.

There is a sweetness that keeps the movie (and Maximo) from feeling mean-spirited. You get a genial family comedy layered into the story of a gigolo preying on older women. Still, Derbez, as this ridiculously vain man-child, manages to tie it all together and be both effortlessly funny and charming. Now, star quality. TO BE A LATIN Starring: Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Raphael Alejandro, Raquel Welch, Rob Lowe, Taylor, Michael Cera.

Rated: PG-13 for crude humor, sexual references and nudity. Playing at: Bay Park Cinema. Star rating: eeg RANDY CORDOVA USA TODAY NETWORK ARIZONA PANTELION FILMS In to Be a Latin Maximo (Eugenio Derbez) sets his sights on Celeste (Raquel Welch). Derbez charms in good-natured weekend reviews we ek en 1st word eeee Excellent eee Good ee Fair Poor RATINGS Events April 27 Transformation House Fundraising Gala: 6-9 p.m. April 27, KI Convention Center, 333 Main Green Bay.

Dinner, entertainment, cash bar. Speaker: Packers player Mike Daniels. $100. Tickets: transformationhousegb. com, (920) 857-9611.

Dinner Program: Joyce Westerman and the All-American Girls Baseball League: 5 p.m. dinner, 6 p.m. program April 27, Neville Public Museum of Brown County, 210 Museum Place, Green Bay. Joyce Westerman, one of the more than 550 women who played in the the All American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943-1954, helped. $25, $20 Neville member.

(920) 448-4460, neville publicmuseum.org. Murder-Mystery in Sin City: p.m. April 27, Fox Harbor Pub Grill, 348 S. Washington Green Bay. $25.

Registration required, greatergbc.org. April 28 Off to the Races Gala: p.m. April 28, Jet Air Hangar, 1920 Airport Drive, Ashwaubenon. derby-themed event hosted by Green Bay Packers player Corey Linsley and his wife Anna. $150.

(920) 437-2272, or casabc.org. April 28-29 Titletown Trade-A-Thon: 3-7 p.m. April 28 and 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. April 29, KI Convention Center, 333 Main Green Bay. Hosted by the Packer and Badger Bunch Chapters Brewery Collectibles Club of America.

Free admission. (219) 325-8811, April 29 Party for the Planet: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. NEW Zoo, 4378 Reforestation Road, Suamico. Fun and educational Earth Day activity stations. Cake for 1,000 party guests at noon.

Animals enjoy donated gifts (gift cards, rakes, shovels, brooms, kennels, pet toys, etc.) Included with zoo admission: $9, $6 age 62 and up and age 3-15, free age 2 and younger and Zoo Pass members. (920) 434-7841, newzoo.org. Asparagus Fest: 9 a.m. 2- p.m. April 29, Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larson Road, Green Bay.

Jersey Knight asparagus crowns, $1.25 each; and Beauregard sweet potatoes, $1 each. Asparagus soup, coffee and dessert served. Speakers on organic gardening; and Beds, Bales, Buckets Brew. Brown County Beekeepers on hand. (920) 468-8693.

Relay For Life: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 29, St. Norbert College Campus Center, 419 First De Pere. Music, games, survivors lap, caregivers lap, balloon release. $10 per person.

To register or donate, visit snc.edu/ For details email matthew.matuszak@snc.edu. Bat House Workshop: a.m. April 29, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, 2024 Lakeview Drive, Little Suamico. Build a new home for bats while learning about the importance of bats. $10 per kit.

Bring a hammer. Registration required, (920) 434-2824. YPWeek Ruff Talks: 1-3 p.m. April 29, Titletown Brewing Co. South Patio, 200 Dousman Green Bay.

Dog-friendly networking. Bring your pooch, grab adrink, and talk with other business leaders in the area. Provide proper immunizations paperwork for your dog. Free. Mouvre-Caps Cans Pop-up Art Show: 5-9 p.m.

April 29, Broadway, Green Bay. Creative talent in unique spaces with engaging events. Join Current Young Professionals for an evening of art, music, drinks, and entertainment. mouvre. com.

Steps to Make a Difference Walk: 9:30 a.m. registration, 10:15 walk begins April 29, Mauthe Center at UWGB, 2418 Leon Bond Drive, Green Bay. Walk coordinated by UWGB students. Proceeds benefit Bay Area Humane Society, CP and Golden House. $25 adults, $15 students.

ticketstaronline.com. April 29-30 Titletown Train Show 9 a.m.-5.