73 out of 74 people found the following review helpful:

Woody Allen's best film in years

benlavender from , 22nd October, 2008

After a spate of rather lack lustre films from Woody Allen’s comes this little gem. Great dialogue, with many laugh out loud lines delivered buy some stand-out performances from Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and our own Rebecca Hall, masterful direction of Mr Allen. I loved it and it was wonderful surprise.

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38 out of 39 people found the following review helpful:

VCB

AlliP from , 14th June, 2009

Pointless and lame plot leading nowhere. Hardly a laugh in it, inane rubbish. Worst film I've seen in ages.

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25 out of 27 people found the following review helpful:

The man writes a review

exellp from , 6th March, 2009

A title to tell you I'm writing a review? No need for that, of course. However, the narration of Vicky Christina Barcelona offered nothing more inciteful of the scenes in the film. As Vicky and Christina take a walk in the evening we are told 'Vicky and Christina take a walk in the evening'. I wondered if I'd sat down to the blind screening. Sadly, the opening half of the film did nothing to take my mind off this continuing irritation. Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall offer passable performances but have little impact. Javier Bardem is convincing as the lothario responsible for the ensuing romatic twists. However, the pace is dramatically lifted with the arrival of Penelope Cruz who offers an electrifying performance of deservedly oscar quality. It's as if she takes on a single handed crusade to turn what is emerging as a lightweight bit of cinema fodder into a serious venture. More of her would have made the experience bearable but in the end the simplistic plot and daft voiceover put me off recommending it or wishing to sit through it again, despite Cruz's efforts.

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16 out of 17 people found the following review helpful:

poor

A Customer from Worcester Park, 8th June, 2009

I really did not see what all the fuss was about. It always bugs me when trailers try to sell a movie as something it is not quite. The years funniest comedy? No, I may have smirked once or twice, but this is not a 'comed'y. If you like woody allen movies, and the stars involved (who do act well) youll likely to enjoy, but if you are decidng to view based on how it was sold on the trailer, you may be dissapointed. And, if I wanted to spend a couple of hours listening to a woman scream and moan histerically at a member of the opposite sex, I would simply have gone round the in-laws and saved the rental fee ;-)

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Pleasant and passed the time easily

earlkegga from , 18th March, 2010

Enjoyable watch with a few little chuckles along the way but not what i would consider a return to form for Mr. Allen.... ( albeit much much better than his poorest ). All the actors turn in convincing performances and all is as you may expect. It's possible I was expecting too much , as I loved P.Cruz and J.Bardem in 'Jamon Jamon ' and hoped the years would not have dulled their chemistry, but i was left wanting. Mrs Johansson's character is the most interesting but towards the end her part in the film seemed rushed simply to fit in with the timeline of the plot. But I think i'm being harsh. It was very enjoyable and i don't feel i'v wasted a rental. Which is important. Enjoyable but not fantastic

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Awful rambling rubbish

kat1234 from , 14th March, 2010

I have to admit I only watched the first 20 minutes of this film before I switched off. I just couldn't bear to watch another minute. There is a constant, irritating voiceover to this film which is merely there to point out the obvious (assuming, of course, that we are all blind or complete idiots). The film shambles along with nothing much happening. There is no character development at all which is essential in a film where effectively nothing happens. I didn't care about the characters and after 20 minutes, without any kind of plot emerging I had to switch off. I am not normally one to do that with films but I am afraid this poorly made film gave me no choice.

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Is Woody Allen the Bob Dylan of Cinema?

BuryNorman from , 11th March, 2010

Hugely, hugely disappointing film. 'Woody Allen's Best Film in Years' apparently. Well, that wouldn't actually be too difficult now would it considering the dross he's dished up for the last decade or two? But look at the cast - Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall. Gotta give hope that this time the critics might actually be right. But from the moment the godawful narrator drones his first line the promise is gone. The film is dead in the water. Christopher Evan Welch (who?) lacks the most basic requirement for a narrator, a voice. AND the 2nd most basic requirement, an ability to emote. This fatal flaw seems to infect the whole cast. Johansson sleepwalks through the film, as does Rebecca Hall, it's as if they realise they've signed up for a turkey and can't be bothered. Bardem seems lost and embarrassed when speaking English. It's only when Penelope Cruz enters that Bardem, and the film comes alive. As Writer and Director, Woody Allen must shoulder much of the blame - for much of the film there just ISN'T any Direction. The scene where Bardem first invites Vicky and Cristina away for the weekend is so flat and disjointed it's like a first read-through of drama students that have only just met, feeling their way. Just like Bob Dylan, whose every new album is 'critically acclaimed' as his best in year's, it's time someone called out 'Emperor's New Clothes' in Allen's direction. Barcelona is an awfully long, long way away from Manhattan in more ways than mere geography.

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Oh dear!

A Customer from bikini bottom, 7th March, 2010

Well I just don't know what to say about this one, umm.. an aeroplane film? Don't waste your life watching it unless you're going somewhere amazing!!!! Comedy????? Errrrr no!

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