Woman on Top

Pros: Monica character has a few bright spots / Yes, Penelope Cruz is hot
Cons: Very poor acting / Weak, trite plot / Fails as both a romance and a comedy

"Woman on Top" is the latest, supposedly "sensual," film from Venezuelan director Fina Torres. The producers have counted on its beautiful Spanish lead actress, Penelope Cruz ("All About My Mother"), to take it to the bank....

Pros: Fabulous Brazilian music, attractive stars with good chemistry
Cons: Silly, contrived title, and a silly, contrived pairing at the movie's end

I always approach a movie with a deliberately silly title cautiously, because experience has taught me if a director doesn't have the discipline to walk away from a cutesy-pie but poorly thought out title choice, he or she might not have the discipline...

Pros: Original story; many funny moments; good perfomances.
Cons: A little silly and cartoony at times; the sea goddess subplot is bizarre.

When you think of a "simple" movie what comes to mind? If you're having trouble with that question it's probably because you've been so conditioned by Hollywood to think everything has to be complex, intricate, fast-paced and sometimes confusing to be ...

Pros: It's NOT Autumn in New York, the camera loves Penelope Cruz, non readers don't have to worry about subtitles
Cons: Superficial fable, very predictable, relies too much on narration

If you plan to see Venezuelan director Fina Torres’ Woman on Top there are only two reasons I can think of. One factor relies on lead actress Penelope Cruz. The second factor depends on if you are destined to see a “chick flick” currently...

Pros: Penelope is beautiful
Cons: Too many to list...

I saw Penelope Cruz in "All About My Mother." I thought she did a creditable job. Her part was small, but she played it well (beautifully, actually). So, I went to see "Woman on Top" in the hopes that Penelope would have the chance...

Pros: Penelope Cruz is always lovely. Good intentions.
Cons: The execution ranges from clunky to horrible.

There is much to admire about Woman on Top on an ethical level. It's a romance told from the woman's point of view which is actually written and directed by two different women (Vera Blasi and Fina Torres, respectively). How often does that happen in...

Pros: Nice photography.
Cons: Weak story, countless stereotypes and clichés.

The recent enthusiasm for Latino trash culture seems to finally have hit the movies. After the music world was invaded with bad self-labelled Latino stars as Jon Secada, and more recently Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez it's only natural that it has...

Pros: Penélope Cruz's charm
Cons: Not a romantic comedy as it was marketed as, just a lighthearted romance

The plot:

Isabella Oliveira (Penélope Cruz) was a beautiful Brazilian girl cursed with extreme motion sickness. The slightest movement caused her to get nauseous. This forced her to spend most of her time in the kitchen; which...

Pros: charismatic Penelope Cruz and intoxicating Latino rhythms
Cons: flimsy plot, clunky direction and editing

Spanish star Penelope Cruz is as intoxicating as Brazilian bossa-nova rhythms in Fina Torres's wannabe "Like Water for Chocolate" romantic comedy that also uses cooking as a metaphor for passion.

As Isabella, she's both...

Pros: Background actors do a good job
Cons: Utter Lack of Character Development, First billed actors aren't acting, Not funny

It's supposed to be difficult for a feminist to pan a film that is pro-woman, pro-choice. I'd like to laugh at all of my fellow feminists who tout "Woman on Top" as a wonderful example of a feminist film. The truth is, they're full of it. "Woman on...

Pros: Sweet story, drizzling of magic, culinary delights
Cons: Unoriginal script, underdeveloped leads

Grade: C+

Thankfully this culinary-fueled romance more closely emulates the delectable Spanish import "Like Water for Chocolate" than that disastrous Sarah Michelle Gellar flick "Simply Irresistible."

Starring...

Pros: Penelope Cruz (until she opens her mouth)
Cons: high-school-play-level plotting

Woman on Top wastes a snappy title and a sultry-looking lead actress (Penelope Cruz) on an R-rated version of "Three's Company." I'm always a bit depressed when I see that a woman wrote or directed a movie like this (two women did the jobs...

Pros: pretty faces, good music, great start
Cons: everything's downhill after the start.

Woman on Top was a cute “romantic comedy” idea, but it just didn’t turn out right.

Isabella, portrayed by the lovely Penelope Cruz falls deeply in love with Toninho (Murilo Benício). Toninho is a romantic type, and personally I never grew...

Pros: Delightful fantasy.
Cons: Maybe too simple for some commercial tastes.

Some time ago, while surfing through my daily lottery plays on the internet, I ended up subscribed to the e-mail list to promote the soon to be released film "Woman On Top". I received some very clever e-mails, which included recipes, and some...

Pros: Penelope Cruz, good laughs
Cons: Might be a little offbeat for some

This is a light but enjoyable comedy, similar to the Pedro Almodovar movies, with a lot of magical and fantasy elements included. For example, there are tangible, visible aromas that affect people, as well as potions and spells. The movie is narrated...