Check Out the Trailer

I’m going to avoid all the typical statements that accompany a new Woody Allen film, and simply say VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA is a good Woody Allen film. Unlike MATCH POINT, Allen goes for laughs and deals with his favorite topic, sexual politics. He has chosen another lovely European country, Spain, to set his story, instead of his beloved New York. He also brings back his latest muse Scarlett Johansson. The story isn’t profound, but it is very funny and contains the smart Allen-esque dialogue that makes even this lesser films a joy to watch.

Vicky (Rebecca Hall, THE PRESTIGE) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson, LOST IN TRANSLATION) are good friends who travel to Barcelona. Vicky is doing work for her Catalan Identity masters degree, while Cristina is just trying to find herself. They stay with Vicky’s relative Judy (Patricia Clarkson, THE STATION AGENT). After an art auction, the two women are propositioned by artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) to travel with him to Oviedo for the weekend. Vicky, who is engaged to the conservative and unromantic Doug (Chris Messina, TV’s SIX FEET UNDER), wants nothing to do with the playboy painter, but Cristina is intrigued. Subsequently, sexual shenanigans transpire between the trio, but things get really volatile when Juan’s passionate and unstable ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz, VOLVER) comes back into the picture.

Allen uses a narrator to fill us in on details. Toward the beginning it’s repetitive and feels like a cheat to get us from one plot point to another without earning it emotionally. But as it’s used more sparingly and cleverly toward the end, it becomes less distracting. Allen develops an interesting dynamic between the adventurous Cristina and reluctant Vicky when dealing with the alluring Juan. The situations that develop create some very humorous scenarios. The story also happily embraces a carpe diem motto. Both Vicky and Cristina find themselves to some degree during the course of the film, but it’s clear in the end who is happier.

Johannson slips easily into her role and Bardem is perfectly suited for the brooding, handsome artiste. But the standouts are Hall and Cruz. Hall gets the role that Allen would have played in the past. She has her hang ups that prevent her from fulfilling her true desires. In many ways, she’s a walking contradiction, going after a frivolous degree while planning to marry a very responsible man. Cruz is marvelous, in what might be her best English language performance. As the ex-lover of Juan, she is skeptical of Cristina… at first. She downs life in one gulp. But her paranoia, jealousy and mood swings have doomed her relationships her whole life.

Giving his great cast good characters and a simple story, Allen has cooked up a palatable dessert. Not as meaty as MATCH POINT and not nearly as corny as SCOOP, this course in the Allen menu is somewhere in the middle. Like a sweet drink, it’s something you enjoy, but it’s not really nutritious. But when the chef is someone like Woody Allen, there is enough flare and surprises that you find yourself wanting a second helping.