Good, yet somewhat unsatisfying

Rating: 7/10 (23 July 2012)

I'm not generally a fan of Woody Allen movies. I find them somewhat pretentious and yet, you can't help but see an undercurrent that actually mocks the pretentiousness. Vicky Cristina Barcelona was one such kind of movie. I didn't really "like" it, but it was good enough to watch.
This movie has a very nice premise, and I fully agree with the protagonist's final conclusion about how every person has their own golden age or perfect vision of how the world should be. However, the execution was not so good. The relationship between Inez and Gil is so strained that it makes one wonder how they ever got engaged. I've never been a fan of the way Owen Wilson acts and he does not forget to disappoint in this movie. He seems to think an awkward, stammering individual is a good way to play all his roles.
Michael Sheen is a good actor, and should have been utilized more in this movie. The same goes for Tom Hiddleston. Also the movie towards the ending was just plain bad. Inez admits to having an affair and tells him to just "get some perspective"? Really contrived. It's really amazing how they could ever have gotten engaged.