“Instructions Not Included” is Eugenio Derbez‘s most important project. As co-writer, star and first time director, Latin America’s most popular comedian took all of twelve years to complete the film. It is truly a labor of love and a film that will make you laugh, think and tug at your heartstrings., despite only playing in 347 screens nationwide. The film is proving to be a huge success having grossing over 7 million dollars in its first week of release. In an exclusive interview Derbez sits down for our exclusive photo shoot and talks about this life changing experience.

In the film, Derbez portray Valentin, Acapulco’s resident playboy–until a former fling leaves a baby on his doorstep and takes off without a trace. Valentin leaves Mexico for Los Angeles to find the baby’s mother, but only ends up finding a new home for himself and his newfound child, Maggie (Loreto Peralta). An unlikely father figure, Valentin raises Maggie for six years, while also establishing himself as one of Hollywood’s top stuntmen to pay the bills, with Maggie acting as his on-set coach. As Valentin raises Maggie, she forces him to grow up too. But their unique and offbeat family is threatened when Maggie’s birth mom shows up out of the blue, and Valentin realizes he’s in danger of losing his daughter- and his best friend.

HOMBRE: You’re a co-writer of this film, how did you develop the story?
Eugenio Derbez: We were three cowriters, what can I tell you?! It was a beautiful process to find a story that moves you, that amuses you. I fell in love with movies when I was 10. I would go with my mom to the movies every weekend and we would see a minimum of two and a maximum of four movies daily.

That’s when I said, I want to do that! I want to devote myself to tell stories. I saw several films that touched my heart, which moved me and I said I want to do that type of film. and when I decided to do my own film, I didn’t want to rush. That’s why it took me 1twelve years to make this film. Because I wanted it like this. just the way it is. I wanted it to be funny, touching. For it to be the kind of film that makes you say ‘I had a great time but when I left I kept it in my heart. It’s a story that moved me, that made me think.’ When I see people exiting the theater with those feelings, I feel paid. It was twelve years with this dream but it was worth it because I accomplished what I wished.

H: How does the story born? Is it based on your life as a bachelor?
ED: Yes, it’s partially based on my life as bachelor, not exactly but it has some things in common like my fear of commitment, my fear of paternity. This was a man who goes from woman to woman and doesn’t want to get married and doesn’t want any kind of commitment. And suddenly life surprises him with paternity. That happened to me. Just like Valentin, they told me, ‘surprise you’re a father.’ And the first thing I did was be in fear, be in shock and say, I don’t want to be a father. I thought life was over. I said, why me?

Suddenly life teaches you that it’s an obstacle that helps you grow, that helps you become a better person, and I fell in love with paternity. I fell in love with my daughter and now my daughter is my teacher. the woman who gives me the most advice, who drives me crazy – besides Alessandra – (laughs). But my daughter is my life. she is 26. I had her very young and I repeat, she’s my best friend, and now I see it as a blessing.

H: How did you feel directing your first film?
ED: I directed television, but film is a completely different animal. It deserves all my respect. It’s something that you have to study. You have to know so many more things than TV. I studied. Curiously my career was going to be film director. I never did it, but I studied it. I started taking classes again before starting this film. This was the greatest challenge of my career. Mainly because in your first film the worst thing you can do is direct yourself. I gave myself all the challenges without wanting to. I said what am I doing? In my first film I’m directing and starting myself, plus I’m working with kids and animals. It seems that I took on all the obstacles possible. It was so much love we had for this film, that even with all those obstacles we achieved a great film.

H: Do you want to direct more films?
ED: I would like to, but I must confess that first, I’m very tired. The process to come up and write this film took twelve years. I drew scene by scene what this film would be. I have a big book. We are going to have a book, CD, film, we have the storyboard and we are going to a ‘behind the scenes’ special. This is a film that has everything because we had twelve years to plan it, to dream it. So after this I want to rest, to live, to enjoy my family. I even included a ‘thank you’ to my family at the end of the film because it has been a year and a half of not seeing them because of working to this film.

H: Congratulations, I really enjoyed it.
ED: Well, go see it on August 30th because it’s a labor of love done for you, for the audience. I left everything to do this film.

H: And how would you describe the film?
ED: After twelve years I can say that this is the most important project of my career. The project that took the most time, had the most love, the most heart that I’ve ever given. It’s going to be difficult to surpass this because of the love I gave to this project. I give it to the world with all my love and hopefully you appreciate it, love it and I hope that I’ve accomplished my goal which was to entertain you and moved you.

H: After the rest, what’s next?
ED: I have many projects. fortunately. They’re asking me to create a new television program with my characters in Mexico. They’re offering me an online series in the U.S. They’re proposing a new film to act on and direct. But I need to live, to rest, so possibly I will do them or maybe wait. Oh and I have a theater project also. But I have to take some time. I need to see my family.

H: By the way, your televised wedding special was a big hit on Univision. How’s the marriage going now?
ED: The wedding was great, the marriage is going great, but I need to go home. Imagine, right after the wedding, literally after the party which ended around 7am we went to have breakfast and at 10am I was taking a plane to LA.

I made another film and I didn’t see my wife for a month. My wife married me, we had breakfast and she didn’t see me for a month. And then I returned and I haven’t stopped working on this film, so if you don’t want me to end up divorced I’m going to have to take some time. So please go see “Instructions not Included” because it almost cost me my marriage. Go see it. It’s a lot of fun.

Eugenio Derbez with HOMBRE Magazine’s Francisco Romeo