As succinct as its title, Woody Allen’s latest Vicky Cristina Barcelona swiftly, but not hastily, moves through the experiences of two American best friends spending the summer in Spain. The heat from the golden summer sun oozes through the screen as guitar music compliments the shifts in scene and tone. A faceless third person narrator, Christopher Evan Welch,  fills in for much of the story delivering facts about each character and event, with a biting spin indicative of Allen’s work.

Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) meet painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) who naturally, proposes a weekend getaway and... a threesome. Vicky responds scornfully, but Cristina is pleased and giddy with enthusiasm. This levelheadedness leads Vicky to question her structured existence while in Barcelona, while the freethinking and wistful Cristina is always up for adventure. Bardem's appeal as Juan Antonio is undeniable: his bold offer more exciting than creepy.

Likewise Penélope Cruz, as ex-wife Maria Elena, steals every scene, and her "fiery" and hilarious quarrels with Bardem -- in both English and Spanish -- are perhaps the biggest highlight of the film. The passion between them is  intense to the point that it drives the impetuous Maria Elena to take a knife to Juan Antonio during a routine argument. Cruz delivers an untamed, artful performance as Maria Elena, making the character seem more honest and ill-fated than crazy.

The comedy explores romantic and sexual liberation themes -- the sort of encounters that could only take place before a sensual, picturesque Spanish setting. Vicky Christina Barcelona represents a surefire hit for Allen, who was especially clever in his casting choices.

Watch the trailer here.

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