A deputy commissioner and his loyal officer and companion face the task of their lives when one night they are informed of the discovery of the body of the Russian ambassador in Buenos Aires, Argentina. What could be taken as just another crime in a busy city takes on other nuances when—for some—it could well spark a diplomatic conflict between powers and, God forbid! The Third World War. This is how we could summarize “Gutiérrez is mai neim,” the latest Hulu Latin America series that arrived on streaming a few days ago starring Darío Barassi and Yayo Guridi.
Outside Argentina, Barassi is less known than Guridi, who was a key figure in the now-defunct comedy shows hosted by Marcelo Tinelli (Videomatch, Showmatch, and others). However, recently—taking advantage of the streaming boom, which has Argentina as one of the countries investing the most in productions—Darío Barassi has come to prominence in various productions, mainly in comedy.
As a lead, Barassi starred in “C.H.U.E.C.O.,” an international series where he played Juan Gustozzi, a family man who, after becoming a widower, must agree to take care of a mischievous monkey in exchange for a large inheritance. In the show, the actor and TV host displays not only humor but also a remarkable ability to connect with those playing his children, as well as with secondary and/or recurring characters who on screen will not make it easy to ‘protect’ the daring chimpanzee.
Barassi has also appeared in some episodes of “El encargado,” the Disney+ hit created by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat featuring Guillermo Francella as the doorman of an ordinary building in Buenos Aires who suddenly has to display multiple personalities to fiercely defend the little he has (a small rooftop room). It is uncommon in Latin America for streaming projects to extend beyond one or maybe two seasons. “El encargado” has achieved this and will soon launch a spin-off.
Those who know Yayo Guridi from his time with Marcelo Tinelli will remember him as one of the sharpest comedians to appear on that show. With enviable quick wit, his character caused havoc with guests who sometimes ended up on the verge of tears in an era when political correctness had a different meaning.
HIGH-FLYING HUMOR
In “Gutierez is mai neim,” Barassi plays Roberto Gutiérrez, a deputy commissioner with no greater aspirations than to complete his workday. Guridi plays Lieutenant Rubén Torcoletti, a divorced policeman who combines sharpness with few words and several personal issues, such as shared custody of his teenage daughter, demands from a lover at the office, etc. The protagonists’ marital status is not a minor detail because in the series directed by Jesús Braceras, both seem willing to solve problems almost 24/7.
But imagining Gutiérrez and Torcoletti would not be possible without the world that surrounds them. Both belong to an ordinary police station in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area. The series shows no interest in placing us in a historical moment of Argentina, and one can identify certain inconsistencies, such as old computers and monitors alongside cell phones that can translate languages and read the results aloud. In this public office work, first, Chief Commissioner Capote, played by the remarkable Abian Vainstein. Then, there are officers who, if placed in Lima, Quito, or Asunción, would fit perfectly due to their slowness, clumsiness, or negligence. However, the station also has positive elements. Officer Ventura, played by actress and influencer Juli Savioli (a surprise for non-Argentine audiences), moves with the freshness of a recent police academy graduate. She often ‘saves the skin’ and ‘does the work’ for our amusing Gutiérrez and Torcoletti.
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We said at the beginning of this article that the plot revolves around the search for the murderer of the Russian ambassador in Argentina. A crime of this nature prompts the media to focus on this humble area of Buenos Aires. Thus, in a burst of nationalism and vocation, Gutiérrez refuses to cede his jurisdiction to the CIA (which is also investigating the case) and quickly takes matters into his own hands.
The meticulousness of Agent Robinson, sent by the CIA to clarify the crime and thus remove any responsibility from the U.S. government, contrasts with the precariousness of the ‘Gutiérrez world.’ Hulu Latin America’s series is a constant display of contrasts. From the modern weapons and technological tools used by the CIA to the old car driven by a Buenos Aires deputy commissioner, passing by the police station doors that don’t close ‘without a trick.’ In a poor Latin America, the effort of humble police officers counts double. This is how, going forward, they will try to solve a murder that did make headlines worldwide but will not cause a Third World War.
Another pillar supporting the Hulu series is the exposure of values. The friendship between Gutiérrez and ‘Torco’ is bulletproof. And perhaps they feel so good together because deep down they hide immense loneliness. The deputy commissioner’s father—his only visible family—rejects him whenever he can, and his ‘girlfriend’ is thousands of kilometers away, so he talks to her via radio waves. Meanwhile, the lieutenant played by Yayo Guridi barely has time to meet his teenage daughter (but when he does, the chemistry is remarkable), and he must also hide his feelings for a coworker.
“Gutiérrez is mai neim” does not exploit ‘Argentineness’ as other series do, although there are elements impossible to overlook, such as the recurring barbecues to celebrate some achievement. There is an intention to highlight the popular character of the story, with the voice of a ‘scrap dealer’ that sneaks in just after the series logo appears on screen. The same goes for elements like immigration. In a country so populated by communities from all over the world, it is very natural to show this reality. Thus, the ambassador’s ‘girlfriend’ is a Russian who cuts her hair in a salon where all the clients seem to know even her shoe size, or the first suspects of the crime are a gang of Russians who terrorize the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.
As already mentioned, “Gutiérez is mai neim” has humor as one of its strong points, of course, but also emotional moments, the exposure of the loneliness of its characters (when Barassi’s character worries about how his friend ‘Torco’ will end up after being shot, the feeling of affection is genuine), as well as revealing the precariousness of the security system in a Latin America in crisis. On the opposite end, the various twists and ‘revelations’ that arise up to episode 8 (the finale) somewhat hurt the proposal. None of this, however, diminishes Barassi’s performance, a seasoned actor who in each new project confirms his interpretive maturity, and this time accompanied by the sharp Yayo, they form a duo capable of surviving at least a couple more seasons. Absolutely.
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