‘A Wonderful World’ Netflix Movie Review - A Satirical Spin on Poverty and Politics

In A Wonderful World, director Luis Estrada delivers a satirical gut punch that is both painfully funny and tragically accurate. Imagine a world where the government’s solution to poverty isn’t policy reform, economic investment, or even half-hearted welfare programs, but instead, an absurd public relations stunt so blatantly tone-deaf that it could only exist in the realm of political comedy—or, as Estrada argues, in real life.

Our protagonist, Juan Pérez (Damián Alcázar), is the quintessential "everyman" of the streets—a man so down on his luck that if misfortune were a currency, he’d be the wealthiest in Mexico. When Juan unwittingly finds himself spending the night inside a federal banking office, the incident gets misinterpreted as an act of political defiance. In a world where media spin dictates public perception, he is catapulted from anonymous indigence to an unwilling figurehead of rebellion. Suddenly, politicians scramble to "solve" his problem, but not in the way you'd expect.

Rather than addressing the actual systemic issues that led to Juan’s homelessness, the government decides that optics are everything. Their brilliant strategy? Turn him into a living, breathing propaganda tool. They gift him an apartment, a job, and even a car—all so they can parade him around as proof that poverty can be eradicated overnight if the government really puts its mind to it. You know, just like fixing potholes two days before elections.

Of course, news of Juan’s miraculous reversal of fortune spreads like wildfire. If one homeless man can be elevated to middle-class glory simply by existing in the right place at the right time, why not others? Soon, the streets are filled with faux political "protests," with countless impoverished citizens attempting to get their own golden ticket out of poverty. The government, in all its wisdom, realizes it has backed itself into a corner. Rather than admit its ineptitude, it pivots to the next most logical solution: declaring poverty illegal. That’s right—if they can’t fix it, they’ll just criminalize it. Because nothing says "progress" like filling prisons with the people you failed.

Estrada, no stranger to biting political satire (The Perfect Dictatorship, Herod’s Law), crafts A Wonderful World with the precision of a seasoned satirist who has spent far too much time observing government incompetence up close. The humor is razor-sharp, dark, and occasionally uncomfortable. It’s the kind of comedy that forces you to laugh before realizing you might actually want to cry. Every joke lands with the weight of bitter truth, and the absurdity of the plot never feels too far-fetched—which is precisely what makes it so effective.

Damián Alcázar delivers yet another knockout performance, perfectly embodying Juan's reluctant rise to accidental fame. His expressions, a mix of bewilderment and exhaustion, mirror that of a man who just wants a decent meal and a place to sleep, not a headline on the evening news. Cecilia Suárez and Antonio Serrano round out the cast with stellar supporting performances, playing government officials so oblivious yet self-assured that they could easily be mistaken for real politicians.

Visually, A Wonderful World doesn’t rely on flashy cinematography or grand set pieces—it doesn’t need to. The film’s power lies in its writing, its character interactions, and its almost documentary-like realism. The production design subtly reinforces the class divide, with stark contrasts between the polished, soulless government offices and the chaotic vibrancy of the streets.

If there’s one critique to be made, it’s that Estrada doesn’t deal with nuance. The film is about as subtle as a brick through a window. Every satirical jab is delivered with full force, every critique of bureaucracy and corruption laid out in bold, capital letters. There are no shades of gray here—just a relentless, unapologetic mockery of a system that has long been broken. While this works for the most part, some viewers might find the cynicism overwhelming. A few moments of restraint could have made the satire hit even harder.

That being said, A Wonderful World is a hilarious, infuriating, and depressingly relevant watch. It doesn’t just poke fun at the absurdity of politics; it forces you to reckon with the very real consequences of incompetence disguised as governance. It’s the kind of film that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll—not just because of its wit, but because deep down, you know there’s more truth to it than fiction.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times