Starring Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall. Written and directed by Woody Allen. (14A) 96 min. Opens Aug 15.
The press screening for Vicky Cristina Barcelona before its Cannes premiere in May was a unique event in that Woody Allen’s stalwart defenders and embittered ex-fans both got something out of the experience. Since the hey-this-is-actually-funny moments were packed in so tightly with the oh-Woody-you’ve-lost-it moments, it was hard to tell the affectionate laughs apart from the derisive ones. Members of both factions have to admit this is Allen’s liveliest outing in recent years, even if it’s too iffy to really bolster numbers for either side.
Rebecca Hall and Allen’s new go-to girl Scarlett Johansson play the titular Vicky and Cristina, young Americans in Catalan who are collectively and separately wooed by Juan Antonio, a lothario played to the throbbing hilt by Javier Bardem. Penelope Cruz is even spicier as Juan Antonio’s volatile ex-wife. Apparently, Allen believes that Spaniards are very hot-tempered — fancy that!
Grumbles about the director’s long-established weakness for ethnic stereotypes aside, both Bardem and Cruz energize the movie with their exuberance and rapid-fire banter. Either Allen has a surprising forte for Spanish language dialogue or he was wise to let them let loose. Whatever the case, the breezy feel makes Vicky Cristina Barcelona’s more leaden aspects — like the bizarrely arch narration, the tourist-bureau portrayal of the region’s culture and Scarlett and Penelope’s instantly notorious and cringingly awkward lip-lock — easier to bear. That may not all add up to a great Woody Allen movie but this one is better than anyone has a right to expect.