Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) ***

A summer trip for two young women results in a touching, sometimes hilarious, look at the meaning of love as defined by the characters' combined experiences. In Woody Allen's newest film, if there is to be a definition of love, it would have to be best described as "whatever works". There is no secret formula one needs to follow in order to find love and happiness, which as seen here does not always go hand in hand. It's a unique set of needs and desires that is the never the same for one as it is another. It's best exemplified in the two titular characters, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) who are introduced via the voice over narration (by Christopher Evan Welch), as the one who has dedicated her entire life to being committed, from her work to her boyfriend, and the other who is not sure of what she really wants out of love, but is using a process of elimination to determine what it is. The two take a trip to Spain to stay with a family friend of Vicky's, to relax, sight see and also provide for Vicky some firsthand research for her final dissertation. Both, due to their own respective viewpoints on love, never plan to find something new in Barcelona, however circumstances change when they meet Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem).

Bardem is a real treat in this film, a complete reversal from the sinister and sadistic killer in No Country for Old Men, as the warm, artistic and sensual painter who sweeps both women off their feet in short order. While for the plot it may have seemed inevitable that he would steal the hearts of both, Bardem brings a warmth and sincerity to the role that ensures it never seems implausible that both young women succumb to his charms. Juan Antonio also serves as the catalyst that brings Rebecca out of her protective shell, as the two spend a day sightseeing in Oviedo while Cristina is sick in bed. Initially hostile and standoffish to Juan Antonio, as he is completely honest about his intentions with both women, Vicky is drawn to him for his artistic sensibilities and the in-depth look into his past, including meeting his father and discussing the tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife. Unsure how to cope with her unresolved feelings after spending the night with Juan Antonio, Vicky makes the decision to ignore them and pretend it never happened, re-affirming her previous outlook by being committed to her fiancée.

Having been attracted to Juan Antonio from the start, and feeling as if she had ruined her chances when she fell ill in Oviedo, Cristina is pleasantly surprised when he calls to ask her out. The two embark on their own romance and through her relationship with Juan Antonio, Cristina is able to realize her own artistic skill in photography, an outlet for her internal thoughts and feelings. In fact their relationship is progressing nicely, until Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz) reenters the picture after having attempted suicide. Cruz has to be the best aspect of this picture as the sexy and feral ex-wife who storms back into Juan Antonio’s life, and contrary to initial predictions, rather than damaging the relationship between Juan Antonio and Cristina, she helps to make it flourish, even becoming romantically involved with both of them herself.

Maria Elena also facilitates Cristina’s budding talent and acts as a muse for her creativity and passion. Juan Antonio and Maria Elena tell Cristina she is the missing link that prevented their marriage from being successful the first time they were together. Both of them still harbor strong feelings for one another, but were unable to make it work as they felt there was something missing. Love was not enough to keep them together, and they would argue and fight until it drove them apart. Now with Cristina, they discover again what drew them together in the first place and the three of them work as romantic “couple”, that is until Cristina’s outlook also returns and she realizes that while she may be content for a time with this arrangement, it is not what she wants forever.

The film’s central theme of “whatever works” has actually little to do with love and more to do with what people can live with for the rest of their lives. Despite the love the characters have for one another, it’s either not enough to keep them together or not enough to keep them content with what they have. For Vicky and Cristina, they leave Spain much as they arrived, with little change in their outlooks despite the discovery and change that have occurred during their trip. Vicky is content to remain with Doug (Chris Messina), who she does love, but is wary of the idea of being with him for life. Her experience with Juan Antonio wasn’t so much that she fell madly in love with him, but rather that her attraction to him allowed her to question her commitment crazy method to relationships. On the flip side, Cristina was quite content with Juan Antonio, and Mary Elena, and only became restless since she appears to be the type of person who avoids commitment at any and all expense, even if it is her happiness. This fact best illustrates how similar Vicky and Cristina are, in that they’re both willing to give up what they want in order to fulfill that what they envision themselves to be.

The same is true for Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her feelings towards her husband, Mark (Kevin Dunn). She loves him and stays with him out of loyalty, but their long time together has resulted in her falling out of love with him. Her situation is eased through her interfering with Vicky’s life and seeing that she ends up with Juan Antonio. This outlet for her inner turmoil is enough that she can live with his situation longer. Again on the flip side, Juan Antonio and Mary Elena both admit they will love each other forever, and are meant to be together, but without Cristina they cannot make it work and it all falls apart as it did the first time around.


Bardem and Cruz are the true highlights of this film, as their fiery arguments and scintillating passion make for some of the best moments. Hall and Johansson never reach the same level as them in terms of interest or believability, but their interaction with Bardem and Cruz does bring up their game somewhat in the scenes they share together. Clarkson and Dunn are given little to do, but both are always a pleasure to see no matter how little screen time they're given. Continuing his European sojourn, Allen shot this film on location in Spain and the beautiful sights add an extra layer of romance to the proceedings. It's easy to see how people could fall in love in such a setting, but even the magnificence of the Spanish locations isn't enough to overcome the basic human curiosity to see what else is out there.

Favorite moment: Just when Vicky and Juan Antonio are about to reunite and it's possible that maybe she will break the bonds of her self-imposed commitment prison, the unstable Maria Elena barges in with a gun and starts taking potshots at Juan Antonio. This crazy display of passion is enough to shake Vicky back to her reality and send her fleeing to the arms of her fiancée. A hilarious scene just in terms of the circumstances, it also gives one last look at the arguing Juan Antonio and Maria Elena, probably the most successful couple of the entire bunch. They are brutally honest with each other, aware of the pitfalls of their relationship and madly in love. There just happens to be the odd murder attempt every now and then, but that's what works for them.