Have a Nice Day! is a Mexican comedy-drama that follows Enrique, a retired radio show host, who takes up a job at a grocery store to earn money. His motivation is a party invitation where he hopes to travel to overcome his fear and express his feelings to the love of his life, Irma “La Bomba” Pimentel.
Plot summary
Have a Nice Day! opens in Rioverde, Mexico, with three elderly men, drinking together after dark at the barber shop one of them owns. They exchange some banter and remember their recently passed friend, Enrique Guerrero.
The plot then switches to a flashback where Enrique gets an invitation from the Universo Musical radio station in the mail. He is a retired radio presenter who used to work for the above-mentioned Rock & Roll FM.
The invitation is for an anniversary party organized in Mexico City for his former co-host Irma “La Bomba” Pimentel and himself.
In desperate need of money to fix his busted-up car, Enrique gets a job at Abasolo Corner Superstore, bagging groceries. There, he befriends two young fellow employees, Picho and Amanda.
Picho, being a fellow bagger, is tasked with teaching Enrique the job but is frustrated when the old man starts hogging all the tips. They don’t get along very well initially.
After his first day, Enrique visits his friends at the barber shop and they talk about the event. We find out that La Bomba is the love of Enrique’s life and he aims to earn money and go to the event to express his feelings to her. He also hasn’t seen her for over 20 years.
At work, Picho sees Enrique steal groceries to sell outside for extra money and confronts him. At that moment, a thief snatches a lady’s bag nearby, and the old man trips him to save the day.
He is appreciated by the local media and is promoted to security guard by his boss, who is a huge fan of his old show. He then speaks to Picho about the incident and offers him a partnership.
Picho loves Amanda but is too shy to express anything. Furthermore, he is focused on earning money for his mom and studying for his high school finals. Enrique recruits him to steal old cardboard from the supermarket at night to sell for some extra money.
It has been lying there for ages, and the newly appointed security guard sees an opportunity for profit. He offers Picho 50% of the spoils and promises to help with the Amanda situation.
They succeed in stealing the cardboard and start making money. Enrique gets Picho a haircut and tells him to be mysterious so that Amanda wonders about him when she’s not with him. It seems to work, and he plans to go to a party with her.
That night, as they load up the car with cardboard, Enrique notices a load of steel pipes just lying in the warehouse and plans to steal them next. PIcho urges him to hurry up as he is late for the party.
Unfortunately, they get stopped by a cop on the way. The situation doesn’t escalate, but Picho is unable to make it to the party, causing Amanda to ignore his calls.
They go to Enrique’s place where he reveals more about La Bomba. He mentions that she is the greatest human being on the planet, and they hosted the show together.
Unfortunately, as their popularity grew, the station only wanted her, and the arrogant Enrique left the job on bad terms with the love of his life.
Have a Nice Day! ending explained in detail:
What happens at the dinner party?
Sometime later, the supermarket hosts a family dinner, and Enrique is called upon to be the DJ. His friends from the barber shop show up too, and get everyone drunk.
Unfortunately, Picho sees Amanda kiss another co-worker and is distraught. He gets sloshed and Enrique volunteers to take him home. When they reach his place, a sad Picho expresses his will to leave this small city and make something of himself.
Enrique takes him inside, and his mom snaps at Picho for being drunk. Back home, a drunk Enrique hallucinates La Bomba appearing and kissing him.
How does Picho react?
At work, a frustrated Picho starts ignoring Amanda and ends his association with Enrique. The old man takes one of his friends to steal the pipes, but they have an argument, and Enrique is left alone. He loads the vehicle with the steel on his own, aggravating a hernia on his belly.
Elsewhere, things finally work out for Picho as he is promoted to the cashier position. Amanda confronts him about ignoring her and he opens up about not liking her dating the other guy.
She responds by saying that she’s a grown woman, who can choose the person she dates. She finally asks him to call Enrique as he hasn’t shown up to work. Picho had been ignoring his calls and Amanda mentions that things seem bad.
Does Enrique find La Bomba?
Picho visits him and finds that Enrique’s car has been repaired. The old man asks the kid to drive him to Mexico City as his hernia has made it impossible for him to drive.
Picho refuses but changes his mind when he is told that Amanda is coming with them. The trio gets on the road and checks into a fancy hotel after a long drive.
Enrique gives Picho some money to go out to dinner with Amanda. As they head out, Enrique gets dressed for the big event. He reaches the destination but is unable to find La Bomba.
Elsewhere, Picho and Amanda decide to check on their old friend and are told he went out and left them invitations. At the party, as Enrique scans the room for his love, an announcer reveals that La Bomba passed away a few days ago.
This news sends shockwaves down Enrique’s spine, and he breaks down. The announcer invites him on stage, and he starts berating the audience for not knowing the value of Rock & Roll.
Picho and Amanda arrive and hug Enrique. The three are then seen sitting next to a statue as Enrique remembers La Bomba. Picho plays a song and starts dancing with Amanda to pay tribute to the lovely woman.
Enrique looks at them in amazement and hallucinates himself dancing with La Bomba. The plot then switches back to the present, and we find out that Enrique passed away soon after that.
Furthermore, Amanda’s boyfriend showed up in Mexico City, so Picho came back home. The film ends as he hangs out with Enrique’s barber shop friends as they enjoy a drink at night.
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