Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Review By unity768

Having recently seen Match Point for the first time, my anticipation for Woody Allen's farewell film to Europe was endlessly growing. Its garnered some golden globe nominations and has Oscar buzz surrounding the performance of Penelope Cruz. Along with Match Point, this is a return to form for Allen, resurrecting the intelligence and wit he possessed throughout his early years as a filmmaker. Now to compare this film to Match Point would be a crime because they're of two different genres. While Match Point unfolded as a dark, grim, soap opera-esque thriller, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a light, sweet, romantic comedy with a snappy script and grade A acting from the ensemble cast.

The plot unfolds like a routine Allen film, two women who are trying to find themselves and the meaning of true love. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) seems to be the more uptight, planned out kind of women who's already engaged to rich Doug and thinks she knows what she wants. On the other hand we have Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) a free-lover, with a nothing left to lose mentality. She, unlike Vicky, doesn't know what she wants but knows what she doesn't want. Together, they embark to Barcelona, a beautiful city in Spain to do some sight seeing and soul searching. It doesn't take too long for Juan Antonio to arrive on scene, played humorously by Javier Bardem. Much like Cristina, Juan Antonio is very loose and spiritual. He asks Cristina and Vicky to join him for a weekend in Oviedo, where he plans to make love to the two American women. This upfront, and sudden proposal by Juan Antonio gives birth to a wildly entertaining back and forth dialectic between Vicky, Cristina, and Antonio. It's here where Allen begins unleash the two complex polar extremes on the idea of love.

Inevitably the girls end up going, and things really start to take off. Sickened with food poisoning, Cristina is forced to stay indoors while Juan Antonio and Vicky spend the weekend sight seeing and attending a moving, low-key musical concert. Vicky starts to have her doubts about the immediate hatred for this guy and soon finds herself being wooed and seduced by the Spanish painter. As the days pass, Cristina and Juan Antonio become close and eventually the blond soul searcher moves in with the free spirited painter. Vicky and Juan Antonio agree not to take their love relationship to the next level and end it with that one weekend in Oviedo.

It's important to note the character reforms that seem to take place during Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Vicky in the beginning seemed to have everything planned out and ready to go but one weekend with a guy she hardly knew strapped her in the lost seat of doomed life focus. Cristina is extremely pleased with her relationship with Juan Antonio, finally beginning to discover what she actually wants in her love life. The flowering of our two leads keeps things interesting and comical. However, the dwelling by Vicky and the satisfaction from Cristina is soon interrupted with the arrival of Maria Elena, Antonio's much talked about fiery ex-wife.

The comedic segments really shine with the interactions between Antonio and Elena. Bardem and Cruz play off each other perfectly, showcasing a love relationship that just can't work with their humorous bickering and bantering. Much of Cruz's dialogue is in Spanish, usually complaining about Cristina or Antonio himself. Juan says, "English in my house" but Elena ignores her ex-husband's orders and continues to rant in Spanish. Although Cruz has garnered much buzz I believe Rebecca Hall is the real show stealer. She makes her character the most believable when undergoing this transformation. She's so convincing in the begining reels that it's a revelation to see her reform and undergo the tons of stress when having to deal with her boring newly married husband, while grieving over that one fantastical weekend with Juan Antonio.

Scarlet Johanseen is solid as Cristina but her character wasn't as interesting when compared to Hall's. Bardem is truly a diverse actor, and proves it here with his suave portrayal of Juan Antonio. Last years No Country For Old Men saw him play a psychopathic lunatic in which nailed him his first Oscar. Cruz has a lot of fun with her role, mainly playing off the reactions of her better half. It's clear Allen's focus is set on the two girls and how they're reformed when they arrive to Barcelona. Usually characters like Cruz and Bardem are underdeveloped in any given comedy but Allen crafts a character driven romantic comedy that's free spirited and full of life.

Much like this years dark comedy In Bruges, the setting in this film is like another character. It represents the free spirited nature of the film, and the beauty behind the longing strive for love. I believe Allen has crafted a very fun drama/comedy here. It dives deep into the wide scope on love relationships, the never ending pursuit for affection, and how a change of place can reform a person for better or worse. This is a well crafted comedy that works beneath the surface and beyond.