From NetFlix:

Javier Bardem stars in the latest effort from legendary filmmaker Woody
Allen as a flamboyant painter who finds himself in the middle of a unique
relationship with Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlett Johansson),
a pair of American tourists. Penélope Cruz (with her first Oscar win)
also stars as Bardem’s insanely jealous ex-wife, Maria Elena, in this
quirky romantic dramedy (winner of a Best Comedy Golden Globe) set in
Barcelona.

The manner in which this film is narrated reminds me of that quirky TV series “Arrested Development”. There is a continual voice-over that seems to be serious, but in reality the narrative is a bit tongue-in-cheek. In any case, the style lends a certain lightness to the story.

The film may be fun to watch, but the characters constitute a set of really mixed-up people. I just don’t buy the philosophies. What’s wrong with a marriage that seems to have a future ? Granted, all that talk about the perfect house and the perfect decorator gets to be a bit much. But don’t underestimate the value of finding a “steady Eddie”.

Scarlett Johansson is easy on the eyes, but sometimes I swear she reads her lines like a high-school sophomore.

And wasn’t Javier Bardem better in the films of Almodóvar ?

When the characters speak Spanish, there are English subtitles.