Treading water

Rating: 5/10 (8 October 2008)

Two young American women, a lusty Spanish artist. A love triangle.
With Vicky Christina Barcelona, Woody investigates some common conceptions (and preconceptions) about love, and why it's more about balance than numbers. While consistently interesting, some might find its quirks annoying. For one thing, a narrator intrudes on the story at regular intervals, as if needing to explain the plot and the characters. It's a common- enough device, but in VCB, it comes in the place of deft exposition. It's what many hack directors do when the film in the can isn't enough to make the film lucid. In a film with constant references to art, it reminds one of the various European features that present their stories only through dialog and acting.
The two female leads, Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johannsen, put in good performances, but they would have been so much more effective if they could rely on conveying the plot through their acting.
By explaining everything as it goes along, the story itself becomes rather predictable The narrator hints at an exchange that will later become significant; instead of being surprised by the plot turn, there's almost a feeling that there are so few dramatic moments that the narrator has to nudge us awake for the subtleties.
It's one of Woody Allen's worst faults - trying to explain everything. At least in VCB, the characters have unique voices (unlike the director's 80s and 90s dramas where they'd all sound like the same person).
VCB is competent, with good acting, but basically unspecial.