Review of film: “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” -- Woody Allen’s Homage to MENAGE

Review of film:   “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA”  --  Woody Allen’s Homage to MENAGE =

                                  [ RATING:  7.5 of 10 stars ] 

Date Rated: Sep 3, 2008 | Rel. Date: Aug 15, 2008 =

This is a deftly done, periodically-humorous (but NOT slapsticky) drama about 2 very different women— initially-serious & skeptical Vicky (played by REBECCA HALL) & her more adventurous friend Cristina (SCARLET JOHANSSON)...


...  BOTH of them get involved in Barcelona with a Spanish painter (JAVIER BARDEM) who openly suggests they have a threesome...


...  Woody carefully constructs the ins-&-outs of their shifting relationships with each other and some other characters (such as PENELOPE CRUZ who takes the role of Javier’s explosive ex-wife, and Vicky’s new husband played by CHRIS MESSINA)...


...  Rather than Allen’s typical clever funny lines, there are instead clever relationships that are not “telegraphed” in advance...


...  While it'snot great, I found this tale to be a non-shocking, adult-oriented film— very ENJOYABLE and well-done by all involved.