The Laws of Thermodynamics
The Laws of Thermodynamics () is a 2018 Spanish comedy film directed and written by Mateo Gil. The film is a romantic comedy, but is presented partially as a documentary with protagonist "physics geek" Manel attempting to explain the characters behaviour and emotion using the laws. Production. "The Laws of Thermodynamics" was produced by Zeta Cinema, Atresmedia Cine, and On Cinema 2017 and it had the participation of Netflix, Televisió de Catalunya, Atresmedia, ICAA and ICEC. Release. Distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia, it was theatrically released in Spain on April 20, 2018. It was released on  August 31, 2018 on Netflix streaming in certain regions. Critical reception. The film has received mixed reviews, and holds a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a score of 45 on Metacritic. Critics tended to praise its original concept, but criticized the characterization and romantic plotting as shallow, with the LA Times complaining that "Gil’s overly clever notion wears out its welcome" and "Manel and Elena are wispily drawn characters with predictable arcs". Variety was more positive, calling it a "fizzing, restless, wholly singular fusion of physics lecture and romcom" stating also that "The love story and the  academic treatise gradually impinge on each other more than they inform each other". The Hollywood Reporter likewise stated "Though it is intermittently witty, visually playful and laudable in its attempt to appeal to both head and heart, "Laws" abandons its characters to its big concept".