In an era where real grit (Dahmer – Monster, the dropout, the kick) compete for attention, what a joy it is to experience such a thing acapulco. The critically acclaimed bilingual comedy Apple TV+ series is sunny good. A young guy with big dreams and an even bigger heart. A love triangle. An upscale Acapulco resort. What’s not to like?
Season two of the global hit set partly in the 1980s drops October 21 and stars in the series Camila Perez (A teacher) and Agree Overstreet (cheerfulness) are excited about what awaits viewers.
“A lot of things happen in season two,” said Overstreet, who plays resort employee Chad on the series. “But my favorite part is that there are so many different individual journeys you take through the main character’s lens [young Máximo]. Season two certainly bounces around a lot and you learn so much about everyone in Máximo’s world. I also like that there are a lot of new relationships, a lot of new dynamics that are great for a laugh.”
Perez plays Julia, who accepted Chad’s marriage proposal at the end of the first season, but can’t fight the mutual affection she shares with Máximo (Enrique Arrizon).
“I expected season two to be funnier, bigger and sweeter just because we got to know the writers,” she said. “They are so talented. I was very impressed with the new characters they brought to the table this season. There are more interactions between previous characters that I didn’t really expect. I feel like everything has landed, and it’s just funnier, bigger and louder. I think it’s really exciting that everyone is going to watch it.”
What happens in season two?
The sweet nostalgic comedy brings back the ever endearing Eugenio Derbez, who also serves as an executive producer – Derbez celebrated a SAG Award last year as part of the ensemble cast of the original Apple movie CODA.
Derbez plays Máximo, a millionaire who tells his success story in the present. Season two adds several creative cocktail umbrellas to the mix and picks up right where season one arced. It’s 1985 and twenty-something Máximo Gallardo (Arrizon) plunges deeper into his dream job as a cabana boy in sizzling Las Colinas, Acapulco’s most popular resort.
There’s a bit of brawl at the resort this time around, a few hiccups on the home front and – hold your breath – a new love interest for the ambitious man? She can compete with the girl of his dreams (Julia). Meanwhile, Máximo, led by Don Pablo (Damián Alcázar), sets his sights on Las Colinas and becomes boss Diane’s (Jessica Collins) go-to guy.
Flashforward to the present and the elder Máximo (Derbez) has returned to Acapulco to make peace with the recent passing of Don Pablo. But he also has to confront some unfinished business that young Máximo has left behind. Along with Arrizon, Derbez, Collins, Perez and Overstreet (Chad), Fernando Carsa (Memo), Vanessa Bauche (Nora), Regina Reynoso (Sara), Raphael Alejandro (Hugo), Rafael Cebrián (Hector) and Carlos Corona (Esteban) back for the comedy ride.
The show’s amazing writing team must be mentioned: Austin Winsberg, Eduardo Cisneros, Jason Shuman, Mara Vargas Jackson, Tamara Yajia, Eddie Quintana, Joe Cristalli, Chris Harris, Jonathan Green, Gabe Miller, and Ilse Apellaniz.
“What I’d like people to know is how well the show translates, goes beyond the language barrier,” Overstreet said. “We talk too little about that. If you think bilingual [show]you think it might be a little hard to follow but acapulco is the opposite. You don’t even realize you’re reading subtitles while watching the show, which is cool. And it’s kind of done in an effortless way. That was shocking to me because I haven’t seen many bilingual shows.”
“I agree,” Perez added. “This is a feel-good show – very sweet and beautiful – and the perfect show for where we are now. So much is happening around us [in the world now] and this is a show that just makes you laugh. You can watch it together with your family. It’s comedy. Who wouldn’t want to watch a comedy?”
A story that just goes on
From Lionsgate Television, acapulco is inspired by the box office hit from 3Pas Studios and Pantelion Films How to be a Latin lover, in which Derbez also played. Chris Harris serves as showrunner for the series. Collectively, the creative team gives all the actors enough to work with. For Perez and Overstreet, playing characters with big dreams — and a couple who can’t seem to find their internal rhythm — has been nothing short of rewarding.
“Just reading the script, it felt very close to me — energy wise,” Overstreet said of his role. “It was kind of a sweet spot for me where I could have fun. There’s plenty in the show that welcomes a lot of play. You can step out of yourself a little bit.”
“I love how fearless Julia is in terms of her career,” Perez noted. “She is very confident in what she brings to the table, and in terms of what she wants with her designs. She builds this relationship with [boss] Diane and the fact that she can go into Diane’s office all the time and say, “Hey, this is what I have to offer; this is what I want…’ I think that’s very brave. I admire that about her. I admire how disciplined she is. But when it comes to love, she’s still learning, just like us. She’s a young girl.”
acapulco is sprinkled with heavy doses of big dreams and high hopes. At the start of season two, Perez hopes viewers will go home with a positive message: “Love harder, be more honest with yourself, be present, love your family and understand everyone’s journeys.”
She grinned. “And to watch the show over and over again so we can go into a third season.
Season two of acapulco premieres October 21 on Apple TV+.