And THAT'S pretty much my review. My friend Terry really wanted to see this, as it's a vehicle for that eye-candy and excellent actor known as Javiar Bardin, and equally attractive and accomplished Scarlet Johansson and Penelope Cruz.
And don't forget Barcelona. Another city I'd love to visit, this city in Spain is a beautiful backdrop for Woody Allen's latest tale of angst.
Here's my problem with it. The film centers around two girlfriends, spending a couple of months at a home in Barcelona belonging to a cousin of one of the women. During a visit to an art gallery, they encounter a smoldering Spanish artist who asks the women if they'd like to fly to a small village with him in a rented plane. Yes, he's a pilot too.
There wouldn't be much of a story if they said "no".
But, several times in the movie, values are compromised, promises and hearts are broken, fights break out and when you really get to the bottom of it, it's because everybody ALWAYS is drinking too much.
They never mention it, but the Spanish wine is as big a character in this film as any of the actors. Sex happens over wine. Propositions happen over wine. Fights happen after too much wine, and on and on it goes.
Nobody ever stops to say, "Gee, what would I choose if I were SOBER?"
You know, I'm not a prohibitionist. (By the way, Travis and Kristin, the Prohibition Party's candidate for President lives on Vashon Island....I smell STORY!!)
OK,, back to my impressions: Maybe I'm a bit of a prude.....I certainly stand by my values. But it seemed as if Woody Allen were making excuses for his own unforgivable behavior by blaming it on the wine. Or am I reading too much into it.
I usually like Woody Allen films. They take an intellectual twist that most other films lack. I guess that's what I was hoping for.
And there were interesting moments. But the wine clouded so much thinking, that I just got angry at all the characters.
Even handsome Javiar Bardin.
