The Perils Of Penelope

Went to see the new Pedro Almodovar film last night at The Watermans. Jen had been over all day trying to print some stuff out for her sociology course, and ordering text books etc... and she expressed an interest in coming along, but her considered judgement: 'it was a bit shit' suggested she may have preferred to spend the evening in some other way.

She wasn't far wrong though, apart from Penelope Cruz, who was excellent and managed to ooze seductive Spanishness, the plot was fairly insipid (could have been a story line from Emmerdale) and everytime she was off screen the film dragged. Indeed it was way too long, and needed to have at least 20 minutes shaved off it. Many of Almodovar's best films have been female ensemble pieces, and he obviously enjoys that set up, but where he has previously displayed a wacky deftness of touch, this was just ponderous.