Sanky Panky 2: Objetivo Italia, also known as Sanky Panky 2, is a 2013 Dominican Republic comedy film directed by José Enrique Pintor and written by Pintor and Miguel Alcántara. It is the sequel to Sanky Panky (2007) and the second installment in the Sanky Panky film series. The film stars Fausto Mata, Tony Pascual and Aquiles Correa, who reprise their respective roles as Genaro, Chelo and Carlitos.[2]
| Sanky Panky 2: Objetivo Italia | |
|---|---|
.png) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | José Enrique Pintor |
| Written by | José Enrique Pintor Miguel Alcántara |
| Produced by | Franklin Romero Franklin Romero Jr. Sandhy Cuesta |
| Starring | Fausto Mata Tony Pascual Aquiles Correa Alina Vargas Zdenka Kalina Massimo Borghetti Pericles Mejía Verónica López |
| Cinematography | Elías Acosta |
| Edited by | Pedro Ángel López |
| Music by | Pachy Carrasco |
Production company | Premium Latin Films |
| Distributed by | Caribbean Films Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | Dominican Republic |
| Language | Spanish |
| Box office | RD$42.1 million (Dominican Republic)[1] |
Set eight months after the events of the original film, the story follows Genaro as he continues working at a Caribbean resort while attempting to maintain his relationship with La Morena. His life becomes increasingly complicated after the arrival of an Italian family associated with organized crime and the unexpected return of Martha, the American tourist from the first film.[2][3]
The film was released simultaneously in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico on 31 October 2013.[4] The Dominican General Directorate of Cinema later recorded 261,080 admissions in Dominican theaters during 2013.[5]
Plot
editEight months after the events of the first film, Genaro continues working as an entertainer at a luxury resort managed by his friend Giuseppe. Although he is in a relationship with La Morena, he has not entirely abandoned his reputation as a sanky-panky, a man who attempts to establish romantic relationships with foreign tourists.
Giuseppe asks Genaro to attend to a visiting Italian family led by Don Benito. The group includes Don Benito's wife, his nieces and the enigmatic Mamma Mía, an elderly woman who uses a wheelchair. Genaro is unaware that Don Benito has ulterior motives involving the family and intends to use him as a convenient scapegoat.
The situation becomes more complicated when Chelo and Carlitos return to the Dominican Republic from the United States. They arrive with Martha, the American tourist whom Genaro met in the first film. Martha is pregnant, raising questions about whether Genaro may be the father and creating further tension between him and La Morena.
After Mamma Mía disappears, Don Benito kidnaps La Morena and demands an exchange. Chelo disguises himself as Mamma Mía while Genaro and Carlitos attempt to rescue her. Giuseppe ultimately intervenes with the authorities, leading to the arrest of Don Benito and his accomplices. Martha gives birth to twins and later returns to the United States. Genaro and La Morena reconcile and marry at the resort.
Cast
editThe film features returning performers from the first installment as well as Dominican, Italian-Dominican and Puerto Rican cast members.[6][7]
- Fausto Mata as Genaro
- Tony Pascual as Chelo
- Aquiles Correa as Carlitos
- Alina Vargas as La Morena
- Zdenka Kalina as Martha
- Massimo Borghetti as Giuseppe
- Pericles Mejía as Don Benito
- Verónica López as Mamma Mía
- Jacqueline Ventura as Don Benito's wife
- Alfonso Alemán, known as El Guitarreño, as Freddy
- María del Mar Bonelly as one of Don Benito's nieces
- Mariel Alliata Bronner as one of Don Benito's nieces
- Maximiliano Borghetti as Giuseppe's son
- Víctor José Pintor as Tito
- Roberto Cavada as a priest (cameo)
- Wason Brazobán as himself
- Eddy Herrera as himself
- Elvis Martínez as himself
- Milly Quezada as herself
Production
editDevelopment
editThe sequel arrived several years after the commercial success of Sanky Panky. During the seven-year interval between the two films, six substantially different screenplay versions were developed. The final version was completed approximately eight months before filming began.[8]
José Enrique Pintor returned as director and co-wrote the screenplay with Miguel Alcántara. Premium Latin Films produced the film, with Franklin Romero, Franklin Romero Jr. and Sandhy Cuesta credited as producers. Elías Acosta served as director of photography, Pedro Ángel López as editor, Franklin Hernández as sound director, Ángel Dotel as art director and Pachy Carrasco as composer.[7]
Filming
edit
Principal photography took place in May and June 2013 at the Barceló Bávaro resort complex in the eastern Dominican Republic. The hotel served as the principal filming location for several weeks, while tourists staying at the resort participated as extras.[9]
The film was shot with high-definition digital cameras and specialized lenses intended to emphasize the warmth of the Caribbean setting.[9] The production was dedicated to the memory of Nuryn Sanlley, who portrayed Dorothy in the first film.[9]
Zdenka Kalina was pregnant during filming. Her pregnancy was incorporated into the storyline of Martha, her returning character from the original film.[10]
During filming, former Dominican president Hipólito Mejía, who served from 2000 to 2004, visited the set. A report published after journalist Roberto Cavada shared a photograph on Twitter showed Mejía posing alongside Fausto Mata. Although the report speculated about a possible appearance in the film, no credited acting role for Mejía was confirmed.[11][12]
Music
editThe score was composed by Pachy Carrasco. The film also featured musical contributions and appearances by Milly Quezada, Elvis Martínez, Wason Brazobán and Eddy Herrera.[13]
Quezada and Martínez performed the song Y es que yo quiero. Brazobán contributed songs connected to the film, while Herrera recorded a musical appearance for the sequel.[2][9]
Promotion
editThe promotional campaign began several months before the theatrical release and included music-related appearances by the invited performers.[13]
A smartphone video game based on the film was developed by Moros Studios. It allowed users to select caricatured versions of Genaro, Chelo and Carlitos and attempt to win over tourists of different nationalities. Diario Libre described the project as the first smartphone video game in the Dominican Republic associated with a local feature film.[14]
Release and box office
editSanky Panky 2: Objetivo Italia opened simultaneously in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico on 31 October 2013. Primera Hora reported that it was the first film to open in both territories at the same time.[4]
According to a press release cited by Primera Hora, the film set attendance records during its opening day and first four days of exhibition in Puerto Rico. It ranked first in the 29 theaters in which it was shown, ahead of films including Gravity.[4]
Caribbean Films Distribution and Premium Latin Films reported that the film drew more than 93,000 admissions during its extended opening weekend in the Dominican Republic, including the public holiday on 4 November. Additional screenings were added to meet demand. The companies also reported 1,385 admissions at Bávaro at San Juan Shopping Center and 3,243 admissions at Caribbean Cinemas in Colinas Mall, Santiago, on 3 November.[15]
The Dominican General Directorate of Cinema recorded 261,080 admissions in Dominican theaters during 2013.[5] A 2024 retrospective published by Acento reported a domestic gross of RD$42.1 million, approximately 58.6 percent more than the Dominican gross later reported for Sanky Panky 3.[1]
In December 2013, the Dominican media outlet 12 y 2 reported that the film had grossed US$1.35 million in Puerto Rico during its fourth week of exhibition. The publication attributed the figure to Juan Paris, who had acquired the film's Puerto Rican exhibition rights.[16]
Critical reception
editCritical reception was mixed. Alfonso Quiñones of Diario Libre praised the Caribbean color palette and Elías Acosta's cinematography, as well as the performances of the three principal actors, Alina Vargas, Massimo Borghetti and Verónica López. He criticized the repetition of certain musical fragments, the limited dramatic use of several supporting characters and the editing pace, while describing the film as an entertaining and recognizably Dominican comedy.[17]
Félix Manuel Lora of Acento considered the Italian-family storyline functional in parts and praised Acosta's cinematography and the use of colorful costumes. He also argued that several jokes felt forced and that the musical sequences were insufficiently integrated into the narrative. Lora concluded that, despite its weaknesses, the sequel fulfilled its purpose as a comedy intended for Dominican and international audiences.[18]
Accolades
editAt the 2014 Soberano Awards, Alina Vargas and Verónica López received nominations for Best Actress for their performances in the film.[19]
Cinema Dominicano also listed nominations for the film at the 2013 La Silla Awards in multiple categories, including Best Film, Best Comedy, Best Director, Best Producer, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Editing and Best Music.[7]
Sequels
editIn 2016, Premium Latin Films announced that the rights to produce a third installment had been sold to SK3 LLC, a company headed by Puerto Rican producer Carlos Nido and associated with Piñolywood Studios.[20] Sanky Panky 3 was released in 2018.
The franchise later continued with Sanky Panky 4: de safari, released in the Dominican Republic in 2025.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Alcántara, Karla (26 June 2024). "Secuelas rescatan el cine dominicano: Sanky Panky regresa con una cuarta entrega". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Maldonado, Francisco (31 October 2013). "Sanky Panky 2 se estrena tras una amplia campaña publicitaria". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Sanky Panky 2". Caribbean Cinemas (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Sanky Panky 2 rompe récord en su día de estreno". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 6 November 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 González, Halley (8 December 2016). "La industria del cine mueve RD$3,500 millones al año en República Dominicana". Dirección General de Cine (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Sanky Panky 2 — Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Sanky Panky 2: Objetivo Italia, 2013". Cinema Dominicano (in Spanish). 31 October 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ Lora, Félix Manuel (10 October 2013). "Octubre bate record en estrenos dominicanos". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Quiñones, Alfonso (18 June 2013). "Concluye hoy el rodaje de la película Sanky Panky 2". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 Ureña, Minelfy (15 May 2025). "Sanky Panky: una franquicia que marcó historia en el cine dominicano". Listín Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Hipólito Mejía se pasa al cine". La Crónica (in Spanish). 4 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Expresidente Hipólito Mejía visita al presidente Danilo Medina en Palacio Nacional". Presidencia de la República Dominicana (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Los musicales de Sanky Panky 2". Listín Diario (in Spanish). 1 July 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "La película Sanky Panky 2 tiene su videojuego; primera en la República Dominicana". Diario Libre (in Spanish). 14 October 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Según reporte, Sanky Panky 2 estrena con miles". Listín Diario (in Spanish). 6 November 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Sanky Panky 2 ha recaudado un millón 350 mil dólares en Puerto Rico". 12 y 2 (in Spanish). 3 December 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ Quiñones, Alfonso (31 October 2013). "Sanky Panky 2". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ Lora, Félix Manuel (2 November 2013). "Sanky Panky 2: Objetivo Italia". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ Lora, Félix Manuel (27 January 2014). "¿Quién Manda?, la mayor nominada en Premios Soberano". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Realizarán una tercera parte de la película Sanky Panky". Ensegundos.do (in Spanish). 29 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
External links
edit- Sanky Panky 2 at IMDb
- Sanky Panky 2: Objetivo Italia at Cinema Dominicano
- Sanky Panky 2 at Google Play
- Filming photograph at Wikimedia Commons
