REEL CRITICS:

Love, passion, commitment — can one have them all in life, and could you be truly happy if one person couldn’t give you all three?

Those are themes touched upon in Woody Allen’s sexy little farce “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” starring a beautiful city and beautiful actors.

Two American girls on holiday in Spain meet Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), a renowned Spanish artist who immediately invites them for a weekend of sightseeing, art and sex.

Uptight and engaged Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is offended at his boldness.

Aspiring artist Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) is clearly up for adventure as she eyeballs him like a big box of chocolates.

Both women have very definite ideas about love.

For Vicky, it’s about security and stability with her rather boring Wall Street guy. Cristina loves the passion and the concept, but at this point is only certain of what she doesn’t want for herself.

Things get very complicated when Juan Antonio’s tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz) reenters his life. Is he in love with any of them, all of them?

Bardem, far removed from his Oscar-winning performance in “No Country for Old Men,” burns up the screen with bedroom eyes and soft-spoken charm, and he’s especially great in the fiery scenes with fellow Spanish actor Cruz. Woody Allen’s script, while not his finest, gives them the funniest lines.

“Barcelona” is a fantasy, an escape, a feast for the eyes. It will make you want to find the nearest tapas bar and listen to softly strumming Spanish guitars. Don’t feel too let down if you have to settle for takeout and the TV.

Parody drags Hollywood through the jungle mud 8 /18/08

To: Daily Pilot Entertainment Editor

Pub Date: 8/21/08

Invoice: No charge – Donated Review

From: John Depko

Movie Review: “Tropic Thunder”

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and Stiller in this pointed parody of the movie biz. The making of a throwback flick about the Vietnam War is just the excuse for what follows.

The combat special effects are brief but very realistic.

It’s the politically incorrect comments and crude jokes that provide the laughs that punctuate the back story.

It’s noteworthy that Dreamworks financed this cutting-edge R-rated comedy. It’s silly and crude but always funny as it generates the nervous laughter that will drive the box-office receipts.

SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company. JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office.