The Deliciously Arch ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ Finds Woody Allen Back In Fine Form

You’ve might have noticed, we’ve been rather quiet lately. Well, we got waylaid by the j.o.b., but we took Monday off and took in a screening of Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” which comes out this weekend (August 15).

Now we’re always rooting for Allen since he’s earned so much cinematic goodwill over the years with so many masterpieces, but the last two decades have not been kind to the funnyman auteur and at this rate the filmmaker delivers a decent film about every ten years. So the main question people seem to want to know is: was it as good as “Match Point” (the last great Woody Allen film everyone can unanimously agree on)?

Well, mostly yes. Directly in spite of a horrendous voice-over that threatens to derail the film, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” is a deliciously comedic romp overseas and continues Allen’s obsession with relationship themes and concepts of fate. In fact, it’s a testament to how good ‘VCB’ is that it transcends the awfulness of its on-the-nose voiceover, one that overtime, is less frequent and easier to tune out once you’re adjusted. Yes, we know they are sightseeing and having a good time, there is no reason to reiterate that in a pointless V.O. (we’re telling you they should release this film with a V.O.-free version and anyone who dislikes it will think otherwise). But that’s the film’s only major issue.

Apart from that, “Barcelona’ is winningly funny, full of the complicated relationship tensions and fissures that Allen has made his mark on. It’s also brimming with vitality and assured sense of zest; almost like a cool sea breeze that’s made you drunk on life.

It’s classic nu-Woody. A staid camera and no tricks and the actors and dialogue do the heavy lifting. The comedy is sharp, ironic, circuitous in the manner he loves, and especially in some of the crazy Spanish in-fighting scenes btwn Bardem and Cruz – totally hilarious and crackingly with emotional sparks both brutal and funny. It’s classic Woody and it’s nice to see him in fine form again.

If you don’t know the story already, Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson play American tourists on their way to Barcelona for the summer. The uptight Hall is engaged to be married and Johannson’s character is a bit younger, flirtatious and still doesn’t know what she wants out of life. The two quickly run into the local Lothario, the artist and painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) whose recently been scandalized in the papers by his tumultuous divorce to the mercurial and unstable Penelope Cruz (also an chaotic abstract painter). His no bullshit approach is to woo the women immediately and despite their reservations and flat-out rejections he soon has them both over the moon which causes upheavel for both of them. The increasing complication that sends the story hurdling into the second act, is the return of the estranged Cruz, who has to live with Bardem and Johansson after a botched suicide attempt with pills.

As much as ‘Barcelona’ is a classic Woody Allen tale of messy and entangled affairs and trysts, it’s also a quiet meditation on the fate of love and how chance, circumstance and fear can lead our paths for us. As you already know, this film is replete with gorgeous women, but the real knock-out surprise is Rebecca Hall, who can not only act fiercely, but you can’t take your eyes off her the whole time. She needs to take that ‘Barcelona’ stylist with her everywhere she goes (and maybe to her movie openings too; an area she needs a bit of help in).

And as for all the three-way business. Well the mediating Vulture is right. First Gawker went out and complained there was no real three-way in “Barcelona” and then Defamer said, “Good News, the Three Way Is Still Intact.” Well, either Defamer never went to college and took advantage of experimenting women or they need to get out more cause the “three-way” in ‘Barcelona’ is as tame as a baby’s bottom. And hell, Woody Allen warned us all months ago that it was nothing to get all titillated about and he wasn’t lying (Vulture will give you the tame details if you want them).

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is deliciously arch, playful and slyly teasing. It’s like Woody Allen was on vacation from the conceits and mannerisms that have bogged him down in recent years and the film’s flow is balmy, liberating and full of vim. Drown the voice-over out of your head and enjoy the good wine, laughter and beautiful women. [-A]

Oh and Spanish group Giulia y los Tellarini, should be so lucky. Their song “Barcelona,” that’s featured in the film’s trailer, is the de facto theme song to the film, or at least in the movie’s first half where you hear the tune seemingly a half-dozen times.