Almodovar at His Most Irreverent

aharmas

For the last couple of decades, Almodovar has given us some very good movies, with plenty of heart and soul, never losing sight of what makes him a truly gifted director. There is something amazing about his visual composition, the way he communicates his themes to his audiences through his special connection with his actors. It is easy to forget that Almodovar started as a very innovative and rebellious film maker. His early films were full of scandalous and odd material. Soon, he refined his delivery, but he kept his originality, though a bit sedated.

All of that is out the window, as he takes us back on a time travel trip with his latest entry, a parody of those disaster films of the 70's when a bunch of personalities brought their own drama to season the "disaster drama". He turns everything upside down, and this time most of the emphasis is on the secondary characters, as they keep stealing the show from the passengers, though it's hard to keep your eyes away from the magnificent Cecilia Roth, who plays the ultimate dominatrix madam and has the steely stare to prove it.

The usual themes are there, and with the help of a very naughty crew the dialogue is smart, clever, and raunchy. With a very special performance by the wonder Javier Camera (Joserra), a man who keeps telling himself and others that he can't tell a lie, we learn most of the characters' background. He's charming, loony, and gives one of the most colorful performances I have seen in an Almodovar movie. He's everybody's voice, without a filter, and this leads to some embarrassing moments for a few people on the plane.

As you might have figured out, the plane is in trouble, and in true Almodovar fashion, everyone tries to bare their soul, find some relief, and enjoy themselves. It's particularly hilarious to see these people indulge in a little "Agua de Valencia" with a special ingredient, which allows them, if you can imagine, become more uninhibited.

Be prepared to enjoy the ride, see a bunch of Almodovar's familiar faces in cameos, check out one of the wackiest crews in history, and enjoy a wild musical number, the way they were before musicals killed them, in words of one of the crew. This is Almodovar return to his roots, without sacrificing his gorgeous palette, a superb score, and some fine acting. Check out the quiet moments and you know who is still in command.

score 8/10

aharmas 29 June 2013

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2822255/