Vicky Christina Barcelona

Just been to see VCB and what a joy it was. The film is crammed with romance and Woody Allen has worked his magic once more. Javier Bardem stars along with Scarlett Johansson (Christine) and Rebecca Hall (Vicky), but it is Penelope Cruz that steals the prize and the passion is really stoked up when her character enters the movie. Bardem, Johanson and Cruz end up having a threesome and the resulting passion is as hot as a dragon's breath in the Sahara.

Hall and Johansson are two American students/tourists in Barcelona and through a chance meeting they meet up with Bardem. Bardem makes no secret that he wants to take both girls to bed with him - not to test out the pillows! At first Hall is totally non-plussed by the request whilst Johansson is game to the idea. Before you have time to draw breath the three are flying to Oviedo in Spain where Bardem plans to seduce the two ladies.

Once they arrive in Oviedo Johansson is ready to have carnal affairs with Bardem. However she ends up having an ulcer and is thus unable to 'get it on'. Bardem is relaxed and, through a few scenes, Hall is the one who has sex with the Spaniard - even though she is engaged. In fact her marriage is going ahead quite soon.Flying back to Barcelona, Hall says nothing to betray the truth of the night of passion and it is presumed she wants to forget what happened between them, such is her guilt.

The movie moves along at a gentle pace and the scenery is beautiful. The music that Allen has put on the soundtrack is also quite wonderful - guitar played in a Spanish style which adds to the romantic nature of the film.

When Cruz's character (Bardem's ex-wife) comes into the film a relationship has begun between Johanson and Bardem. The real spice starts from the realisation, by Cruz, that Johanson is Bardem's new squeeze. This leads to a feeling of jealousy on the part of the character played by Cruz and ends up with Johansson, Bardem and Cruz having a threesome.

At the end the film winds up with the varied romantic liaisons being unresolved, but Allen's skill at extracting romance succeeds - a wonderful feel good movie. The only downside is the supremely irritating husband of Hall's (Chris Messina) - he's a twerp.Hopefully he isn't like that in real life.

This film of Allen's will please his many fans.But anyone with a love of Barcelona will enjoy it also.The tourism business in that part of Spain,one would imagine, will benefit considerably from the director's choice of film location. It definitely brought huge enjoyment to me and it was a pleaure to watch, even if I'm a Woody Allen fan.Furthermore, when leaving the cinema I overheard some elderly women discussing the film. They plan to visit Barcelona and that must be seen as a victory for everyone involved in the film. A triumph!
© Ian Callagy 2009