Richard Dreyfuss is comedically great as the NY actor who is 'pressed' into service to perform as the licentious, drunk, vertically challenged dictator of a small latin country after said dictator dies from over indulging in booze, particulary his concoction of choice, the 'Puna'. Raul Julia is hilarious as the government man behind the scenes, the greedy and sadisitic real ruler of Parador who runs the country into the ground with his backroom cronies. And Sonia Braga, always beautiful and seductive, as the dictator's girlfriend who is a true woman of the people, as she secretly helps Dreyfuss learn the ropes and change Parador for the better. I suggest this movie for it's laughs and to see three fine actors give fun and believable comedic performances.

Very funny movie - lots of big names. Treat yourself you won't be disappointed.

This is a wonderful movie, very enjoyable! Richard Dreyfus is delightful as the Dictator and the film score adds to the enjoyment.

Really, that says it all. It has a stunning cast with Richard Dreyfus, Richard Dreyfus, Raul Julia, Jonathon Winters and several other film greats who all deliver stellar performances. Dan Florek of "Law and Order" has a small role. It was fun to see him as a young bald man. Seriously, this movie is amazing.

I am not a big Richard Dreyfuss fan. In fact most of the time I can't stand his brand of overacting. However, he kills in this crazy farce. Along the lines of Kevin Kline's "Dave", Dreyfuss finds himself the perfect double for a deceased president. However, in this case it is a dictator in a volatile third world country. The slapstick is dead on hilarious and the dialogue brilliant. You will find yourself quoting the movie as part of your daily conversation. I first saw this movie on TV about 16 years ago and fell in love with it. I searched several times over the years to find a copy of it and finally this year hit the jackpot on Amazon. You can't go wrong with this comedy.

A very funny light comedy with Sonia Braga, one of my all time favorite female movie stars. Richard Dreyfuss really shows his comedic timing and is brilliant. Raul Julia as the intimidating bad guy was an excellent choice by the casting director. Kudos

This clever film is a comedy sleeper; Paul Mazursky gathers a fine cast and puts over an amusing comedy about an actor impersonating a banana republic dictator. Yes, we've seen funny films about dodgey Latin American countries rife with ex-Nazis and goofy leaders, and yes, impersonation gags are nothing new in comedy films, but this has a certain freshness that makes this a minor gem.

The film is shot in Minais Gerais, Brazil, and the slightly crumbling colonial architecture is the perfect background for the fictional Republic of Parador. Richard Dreyfuss is almost too believable as a second-rate actor Jack Noah. In fact, he is often overshadowed by the late and highly talented Raul Julia, who plays the power-mad, slightly homicidal genius behind Parador's dictatorship. When Il Presidente croaks, Dreyfuss is given the role of a lifetime, and the added perk of Madonna Mendez (Sonia Braga) as his lithesome mistress.

The only flaw with the film is that Dreyfuss is not as funny as Julia, Braga or even Mazursky, who fills in as Il Presidente's redoutable Mama, a bit part in drag that was conjured up with other actresses who were to cameo in the role bailed out. Sadly, he's overshadowed by these huge talents, and that makes his critical part, the buffoon-like Alfonse Simms, President, a touch less amusing that it ought to be. And some of the cameos (Charo, Sammy Davis, Jr., Polly Holliday) could have been bigger. They were almost a waste.

A fun fact: The first dictator, the "real" Simms, is played by Dreyfuss' brother Lorin, rather than doing a doppleganger scene with a stand-in for Richard Dreyfuss in both roles.

A fun comedy, and one that is great to have in the DVD library. Best film ever made? No, but a good solid movie that is worth seeing from time to time when you need a good laugh.

A banana-republic police chief forces a U.S. actor to impersonate a dead dictator. The cast includes Dick Cavett (playing himself), Richard Dreyfuss, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, Jonathan Winters, Michael Greene, Polly Holliday, Charo, Marianne Sagebrecht, Sammy Davis Jr. (playing himself), Edward Asner, Ike Pappas, and Paul Mazursky. Parador is an imaginary Country. The name is a combination of Paraquay and Equador.

This movie is the best spoof of Latin American politics ever made. It is a comedic masterpiece.

Say what you want about "Down And Out In Beverly Hills", but for me, "Moon Over Parador" is by far Paul Mazursky's funniest film. The reason? Raul Julia and Sonia Braga. Whether comedy or drama, Julia [who, sadly, passed away in 1994] and Braga were Hollywood's most underrated cinema duo. They were both denied much deserve Oscar nods for their incredible performances in "Kiss Of The Spider Woman", and not given nearly enough credit for their comedic skills in "Parador".

Richard Dreyfus is supposedly the "star" of "Parador", but it's Julia and Braga who carry this little gem!

Fabulous movie! Did you know the movie Title is actually a combination of Paraguay and Ecuador? I was formerly a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador and traveled extensively in Paraguay. This movie is a great spoof (in a tender/humorous way) of the prototypical "banana republic". There is more than a little truth in this satire. Required viewing for any Latin American studies majors. Enjoy!

Paul Mazursky has worked with so many greats in his extensive filmography, but you would have to reach far to top this group for crazy laughter, great gauging humor, and the translation of an old tale told extremely well! Method is what you will get from Raul Julia here, he (Julia) simply takes this role and runs with a brisk, snappy style that this (normally dry) role really needs. Also pulling it off are Dreyfuss and Braja as victims of circumstance, and they pull it off to exhaustion! Dreyfuss can feel this role and that is apparent, he seemed to have a great time with this and in doing so, was magnificent and very funny. Jonathan Winters will surprise you in his brief stints, but he is also quite effective. Mazursky makes you laugh, sympathize, and laugh again to finish off this cute film that is well worth seeing, even if you only go to see the Mazursky cameo (President Simms disgustingly precocious mother) "You Swine"

This movie is a super flick. Dreyfuss at his best in my opinion. I wonder when they will put it on DVD ?

A real "sleeper" of a movie! A great cast with some memorable moments, especially Raul Julia as the man behind the scenes. Keep an eye out for Jonathan Winters as a CIA Agent posing as a tourist. A nice edition to anyones comedy collection!

I love this movie, it has everything, love,romance, action, satire, and even Julio Inglesias singing a beautiful love song. Fimed on location in San Salvador, Brazil. Richard Dreyfuss, Raul Julia and Sonia Braga give sterling performances! Raul Julia is magical in his authentic potrayal of a passive aggressive Head of the National Police. Sonia is perfect as the experienced courtesan who teaches Richard EVERYTHING she knows about the dictator. Richard is superb as the lead with his comic potrayal of an actor in a situation that is incrdibly complex. The modern version of Casablanca. Veteran funny man, Jonathan Winters is excellent in his role.The humour, directing and stunts are A1. Mazursky who directed cult movie Down And Out In Beverly Hills is a brilliant director.

I have seen this movie many times. Next to Casablanca, one of my favourites. It has everything I want in a movie - action, suspense, romance and beautiful girls. The first time I saw it I laughed so much my stomach hurt. Sensational satire of South American banana republics which is very true to life. Richard Dreyfuss gives a sterling performance as the B movie actor who gets the "part of a lifetime" in the words of Raul Julia. Julia plays the chief of the secret police and his performance is equally good. He is a bad guy but he has his good side. Jonathan Winters and Sonia Braga are outstanding in their roles. Braga despite her crow's feet exuding glamour and allure with every word and move. You must watch this movie if only once in your life! At the end you'll have a smile on your face and maybe even a tear or two.

When I first saw this movie over a decade ago, I was so happy to see that Hollywood decided to film a movie about the political charade many Latin American republics of that era were involved in. Except for a few democracies, Latin American was still a mecca for dictators and coup d'etat's.

Parador (must me a hybrid of the countries "Paraguay" and "Ecuador" since Parador in Spanish means "inn") is a country in a deep crisis. Their dictator has died mysteriously and the oligarchy that really rules the country is looking for someone to take his place. Enter Richard Dreyfuss, a struggling New York actor who gets the role of a lifetime playing a third-world despot. At first he finds it amusing, but later realizes that the charade he is performing is really hurting the people he is supposed to rule.

Filmed in Minas Gerais, Brazil, "Moon Over Parador" features that talents of some of Latin America's best actors. Puerto Rican actor Raul Julia and Brazilian actress Sonia Braga both steal the show as the president's advisor and mistress respectively. I was happy to see Spanish singer Charo in a small role as one of the president's maids and the ambiance of a small Latin American republic is perfectly captured by director Paul Mazurksy ("Down and Out in Beverly Hills").

This is a film that deserves to be on DVD. It is one of the 1980's hidden gems, and hopefully Universal will release it in the DVD format it rightfully deserves to be on. "Moon Over Parador" outranks Woody Allen's "Bananas" as the best spoof of Latin American politics ever made. It's a comedic masterpiece.

This movie is always hilarious. The cast is fantastic! Too many great ones to list...Raul Julia steals the show.

Where is the DVD?

Couldn't stop laughing, I've worn out one VHS and I wish they would make it on DVD, it's the very best movie I've ever seen.

The kind of movie you hope will soon be on DVD so that you can keep it for years to come, I know I'll be the first to buy a copy, I've already worn out 2 tapes. Sonya Braga was excellent as was Richard Dreyfuss.Don't miss it.