Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2009

©2008 Gravier Productions, Inc. and MediaProduccion, S.L

In Woody Allen’s latest of many, many films on sex and love, two young American women (an excellent Rebecca Hall and an adequate Scarlett Johansson) spending the summer in Barcelona each allow themselves to be seduced by sexy local painter Javier Bardem. This love triangle becomes a quadrangle (and the movie peps up considerably) with the appearance of the artist’s tempestuous ex-wife (Penelope Cruz in a personal best), whom he apparently still loves. This one’s got character development and vibrant chemistry and, though paced like a comedy, it’s not really. Marred, however, by an overused voiceover.