Vicky Christina Barcelona

Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Run time: 1:36


My history with Woody Allen films is sort of a love/hate one.  Early in his career, when he made straight-on comedies, I loved him.  As he grew as an artist and became more of an art-house director, I sort of trailed off.  "Vicky Christina Barcelona" definitely fits the art-house criteria, but after hearing some positive buzz from people other than critics, I decided to give it a try.  Well, it certainly was high-brow film-making, like I expected, but it was also more enjoyable than some of those films.  It actually had the "feel" of a foreign film (I'm sure the Barcelona setting has something to do with that).  Right off the bat, you find out that "Vicky Christina Barcelona" is not a character, but a list.  I'll explain.  The story involves around Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlett Johansson), friends who take a trip to spend their summer in Barcelona (see how that works?).  Vicky is a straight-laced and engaged woman taking some college courses abroad.  Christina is a much more adventurous type who is pretty much up for anything.  One night at dinner, they are approached by local artist Juan Antonio Gonzalo (Javier Bardem), who arrogantly invites them to spend the weekend with him so they could enjoy the sights and "make love".  Vicky is horrified, but Christina immediately jumps at the offer.  This sets off a chain of events that becomes so complicated it could hardly be called a love triangle, especially when Juan's erratic ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) enters the picture (Cruz won an Oscar for her role). I was very impressed with Javier Bardem, who exploded onto American screens in "No Country for Old Men" and plays an extremely different role here, equally as effective.  It is an entertaining film exploring the complexities of love and monogamy, but it is certainly not for everybody.  While it is a comedy-drama, it really doesn't get funny until Elena enters the picture and then, only moderately so. One of the best running gags is Elena's insistence on speaking Spanish, while Juan chastises her for doing so, only to end up speaking Spanish himself.   I did like it and I developed a new appreciation for Woody Allen.  His films are still not quite in my wheelhouse, but he is a master craftsmen both as a writer and director.

Grade: B-

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