Review of I'm So Excited! (2013) by Frances H — 28 Apr 2014

Pedro Almodóvar rides again, and after nearly 2 decades of making serious films, dramas, powerful romances and even a body horror film, he returns to the outrageous comedies that made him famous. It's a small and focused character piece set in almost one location, however it is quite dodgy in it's character's motives, and you do get the nagging feeling at times that Almodóvar is sending his own films up.

The action takes place on a Peninsula Airlines flight from Madrid to Mexico City. The crew consists mainly of bisexual pilots Benito (Hugo Silva) and Alex (Antonio de la Torre), and gay flight attendants Ulloa (Raúl Arévalo), Fajardo (Carlos Areces) and Joserra (Javier Cámara).

The passengers in first class include Bruna (Lola Dueñas), Norma Boss (Cecilia Roth) and Ricardo Galán (Guillermo Toledo). However, on the way over the Atlantic to Mexico, the pilots discover there's a malfunction with the landing gear, and soon the flight attendants and the passengers get to hear about the problem, and not knowing what's going to happen, make the most of what could be the end.

If this had been made in the 1980's, it would rank along side Almodóvar's best films, however, this seems tame and safe compare to what Almodóvar does, but there is some daft laughs to be had along the way, including Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz making cheeky cameos.

Apart from that, it's all camp and no meaning for it all.