Why is it that Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith make films extolling video rental joints, but nobody makes film about Kinko’s copies? Well, not actually Kinko’s (which doesn’t even exist now that it is Fedex), but copy shops in general. There isn’t a more ubiquitous small business in America. The Man Who Copied is not in America, he’s in Brazil, in the small southern town of Port Alegre (Port Happiness–no joke).

He’s broke, his buddy whose girlfriend works in the shop is also broke. They both wish they had a little cash to impress the girls. One wants to date Silvia and the other Marines. Solution: use the copy machine to print money. Not perfect forgeries but good enough for the supermarket. Next comes a bank robbery, then winning the lottery. And then the trouble begins. The story is fresh, youthful, and inventive. But will somebody explain to me why they need to put a live chicken in the refrigerator before blowing up the kitchen? Maybe this is a part of Brazilian folklore.

More importantly, this is a feel-good movie about four kids from nowhere finally getting to Rio and a chance to be in love and realize their dreams. Maybe that is folklore too, but it’s the kind we all would like to have working for us.