Música on Amazon Prime gets by on an upbeat, bright vibe and a winning performance from Camila Mendez… who isn’t the star of the show. It stumbles and flails with its actual lead as played by Rudy Mancuso. He almost sinks the movie… though its not his fault as an actor.

The flick is about a guy with not insignificant issues who gets dumped by his long-time girlfriend (a gringo, to his Brazilian mother’s annoyance) and runs into (honestly a huge upgrade) a new girl. But he has trouble staying focused due to musical synesthesia turning every day life into an acoustic musical (and that’s not the only red flag).

The biggest problem isn’t so much that the main character is a gonzo weirdo but that the filmmakers might not realize how off-putting he actually is. His life’s ambition is to perform a singing puppet act in the subway. He’s also constantly distracted by the music his head creates from the sounds of the city… and he has meaningful conversations with his puppets. Plus he’s a ball of nervous energy.

This guy is a mess… but I’m attracted to women so maybe there’s something unique about him that girls and certain guys would find attractive. But I have to imagine that since watching him was distacting and made me want to warn off the women in his life.

But besides that not insignificant problem, the other actors are good, his musical interludes are energetic, and the film has an overall colorful and fun vibe. Nice use of creative transitions and a splash of color in its overall look give it a winning production.

And some of the romantic comedy interludes between our twitchy lead and Mendez are genuinely charming, sweet, and funny. They work together when he’s not a live wire making my skin itch. It’s pretty surface level since he’s not a mature enough human being to be in a relationship… and I kept wondering why anyone ever thought he was ready. Or mature. Or not a ticking time bomb of foibles and quirks.

I’m giving the film a nudge up for its beauty, inventive camera work, soundscape, and Mendez. I probably shouldn’t be so charitable but I’m in a generous mood.

Score: 80