There are three things Shireen loves: Pitbull, Luis Guzmán and a high-end handbag. Those three things come together in “Puerto Ricans in Paris,” and Deco’s Chris Van Vliet came together with the movie’s stars on South Beach.
The movie is about two New York City detectives, played by Luis Guzmán and Edgar Garcia, with a specialty for tracking down counterfeit handbags.
Frédéric Anscombre (as Vincent): “That bag is the center of our campaign. There are only two in the world, and one has been stolen.”
When a rare bag disappears in Paris, they’re put on the case.
Chris Van Vliet: “Well, you guys shot in Paris. Did you pick up any French?”
Edgar Garcia: “‘Oui.'”
Luis Guzmán: “I think he picked up more French than me. I picked up other things.”
Chris Van Vliet: “Uh oh.”
Edgar Garcia: “Bagels, baguettes, macaroons.”
The movie’s executive producer is Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull.
Chris Van Vliet: “Does he call you up directly and say, ‘Want to be in my film?'”
Luis Guzmán: “No. Actually, it worked the other way around, and he called up and said, ‘Hey, guys. How can I help?'”
The movie is a buddy comedy in the truest sense of the phrase, and despite a language barrier and some cultural differences in Paris, these cops stop at nothing to get the job done.
Chris Van Vliet: “Real bags and fake bags look pretty similar to the untrained eye, like mine. If I were to buy a fake bag and give it to a significant other, do you think she’d know?
Edgar Garcia: “Oh, yeah. You don’t want that. A woman knows a counterfeit.”
Chris Van Vliet: “How do they know?”
Edgar Garcia: “I think it’s something instilled in them.”
Luis Guzmán: “Now, I gotta be careful here now, because I might be promoting some illegality or something here. So I would say get the real bag. I changed my mind on that.”
Chris Van Vliet: “It’s one of these. Get the real bag. (shakes head) That’s what you’re saying.”
Luis Guzmán: “That’s what I’m saying. (shakes head) No, that’s — yeah.”
“Puerto Ricans in Paris” is in theaters and on video On Demand June 10. And Luis told me, Miami is a special place for him, because he got his first big break on an episode of “Miami Vice.”
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.