Don't Blame Karma!

The Netflix home screen is a digital graveyard of "Recommended for You" titles that vanish into the ether three weeks after they debut. It’s the ultimate contemporary cinema conundrum: how do you stand out when you’re literally designed to be scrolled past? I stumbled upon Don't Blame Karma! (original title: ¿Qué culpa tiene el karma?) on a sweltering Sunday afternoon while my cat, Barnaby, was busy trying to eat a plastic shipping envelope. I needed something that required zero intellectual heavy lifting, and this vibrant Mexican rom-com delivered exactly that—along with a surprising craving for a trip to Mérida.

Directed by Elisa Miller, the film introduces us to Sara (Aislinn Derbez), a struggling fashion designer operating out of a quaint shop in Yucatán. Sara is the patron saint of the "life is out to get me" club. She firmly believes she was cursed by her younger sister, Lucy (Renata Notni), during a childhood birthday party. While Sara’s life is a series of minor catastrophes and creative blocks, Lucy is a world-famous fashion model who seemingly glides through life on a cloud of rose petals and lucrative contracts.

A Colorful Collision of Fate and Fashion

The plot kicks into high gear when Lucy returns home with a bombshell: she’s getting married. The groom? Roberto (Giuseppe Gamba), the very same high school crush Sara has been pining over for years. It’s a classic rom-com setup—the "wrong" sister getting the "right" guy—but Elisa Miller dresses it up in such a saturated, joyous palette that you almost forget you’ve seen this play out a dozen times before.

What struck me most wasn't the "will-they-won't-they" tension, but rather the way the film utilizes its setting. Mérida isn't just a backdrop here; it’s a character. The production design is a feast of textiles, embroidery, and colonial architecture that feels like a high-fashion travelogue. In an era where so many streaming originals look like they were filmed in a generic warehouse with "Grey Filter #4," the visual identity here is as loud as a mariachi band in a library. It’s refreshing to see a contemporary Mexican film that leans into aspirational beauty rather than the gritty realism that international festivals usually demand.

Performance and Sisterly Friction

Aislinn Derbez is the engine that keeps this 85-minute sprint from stalling. She has a gift for physical comedy that feels inherited, but she manages to keep Sara’s bitterness from becoming grating. You feel for her, even when she’s being objectively unreasonable. Renata Notni, on the other hand, plays the "perfect" sister with a wink. She isn't a villain; she’s just someone for whom the universe has consistently swiped right. Their chemistry feels lived-in, capturing that specific brand of sibling rivalry where you want to strangle the other person while simultaneously wanting their approval.

However, the film does struggle with the "Karma" of its own script. The screenplay, penned by Fernanda Eguiarte and Marcelo Tobar, occasionally leans too hard on the protagonist’s self-pity. There were moments where I wanted to shake Sara and tell her that her "bad luck" was really just a lack of communication skills. Giuseppe Gamba is charming enough as the man in the middle, but he’s often relegated to being a handsome plot device rather than a fully realized person. He’s the human equivalent of a really nice sourdough starter—essential for the recipe, but not exactly exciting on his own.

The Streaming Era’s "Hidden Gem" Problem

Despite being a Netflix release, Don't Blame Karma! feels like it belongs to the era of the mid-budget studio comedy that has largely migrated away from theaters. It’s a "comfort watch" in the truest sense. It doesn't revolutionize the genre or offer a profound meditation on destiny, but it understands the assignment. It’s meant to be watched with a glass of wine (or in my case, a lukewarm hibiscus tea) while you enjoy the scenery and wait for the inevitable happy ending.

Interestingly, Elisa Miller is an acclaimed filmmaker who won the Short Film Palme d'Or at Cannes years ago for Ver lloviendo. Seeing her pivot to a breezy commercial comedy like this says a lot about the current landscape for directors. You take the Netflix budget, you bring your technical prowess to a mainstream story, and you ensure the film looks ten times better than its peers. The result is a movie that’s easy to enjoy but equally easy to forget once the next "New Release" thumbnail pops up.

Stuff You Didn't Notice

The film is actually based on the popular novel by Spanish author Laura Norton. While the book is set in Madrid, the adaptation’s move to Yucatán is a masterstroke that gives the story a much-needed shot of vitamin D. Also, if you’re a fan of Mexican cinema history, look out for Carmen Madrid as the mother, Patricia. She brings a grounded, slightly eccentric energy to the family dynamic that anchors the more heightened comedic moments.

One of the more interesting behind-the-scenes bits is how the production managed to film during the tail end of pandemic restrictions, which might explain why many of the scenes feel intimate and focused on small groups. It forced a certain tightness in the storytelling that actually works in the film’s favor, keeping the focus squarely on the sisterly bond—or lack thereof.

Don't Blame Karma! is a delightful, if slight, romantic comedy that benefits immensely from its vibrant Mexican soul and a spirited lead performance by Aislinn Derbez. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a summer dress—light, colorful, and perfect for the right weather, even if it’s not built to last through the winter. If you’re looking for a low-stakes escape with great scenery, stop scrolling and give Sara’s bad luck a chance.