Queens (2005)

A whimsical, contemporary ensemble comedy that stars five of Spain's most celebrated and beloved actresses as strong willed mothers learning to cope with the family conflicts surrounding the marriages of their sons during Spain's first ever en masse gay wedding. Hilarious high jinx and mayhem unfold as the mothers learn to deal with their own prejuidices, history and desires. With the "I do's" pending, will the hearts of the Queen mothers find the strength and love to give their sons away on their special day?

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I am always happy with my Amazon purchases. I'm sure they CAN at time make an error but 99.99 % they get it right. Keep up the good work and don't sell out to make a quick billion ! July 15, 2008

En el estilo de Almodóvar, but probably closest to KM.0

'Reinas' features three significant muses of Pedro Almodóvar - Verónica Forqué, Carmen Maura and Marisa Paredes. The backstory is that director / collaborating writer Manuel Gómez Pereira wanted to feature four Almodóvarian staples, targeting Victoria Abril as his fourth (which would have been a real coup). Instead, the fourth role went to Mercedes Sampietro, not as well known to US audiences but a regal presence in Spanish television. The fifth Queen is Betiana Blum, an Argentinian whose high-energy presence is perfect for this often-screwball comedy.

Reinas is all about these ladies. That their gay sons are getting married seems hardly the point to Gómez Pereira - those young actors are just part of the woodwork, staying mostly to the sidelines as these ladies chew through the scenery.

There are two standouts on the male side though: Lluís Homar - who US audiences know as the tempted priest in Bad Education - is a Catalan ringer for Kelsey Grammer (he's Paredes' gardener/wanna-be paramour); and it's a delight to see the wonderful Cuban actor Jorge Perugorría (he's hotel owner Maura's chef/dish on the side). [You want to see great acting? Check out Perugorría in Strawberry & Chocolate and then in Guantanamera.]

The movie itself is like an homage to Almodóvar (Paredes' character even references him directly), but in look and feel I think it's closer to the nice little movie KM.0 (Kilometer Zero. Original Spanish Version w/ English Subtitles). Both feature impossible contrivances that don't get carried off as well as Almodóvar does it, but they're enjoyable nevertheless. October 25, 2007

Major disappointment

You have major Spanish actresses here, and they are burdened with a shrill, unfunny comedy that turns gay men into sideshow freaks. There is not one believable character in the whole film. It's an unnmitigated disaster. October 20, 2007

Almodovarian Kitch

Thoroughly enjoyable light entertainment.
Every movie doesn't have to change the world.
Can't go wrong with those actresses.
I wouldn't have missed it for the world. June 30, 2007

Enjoyable, but not going to change the world.

I wasn't looking for a weighty, emotional rollercoaster and this movie definitely isn't one. Mothers and sons and the f---ed up relationships they sometimes have is the focus of the movie. Works for me. It made me laugh at times and that's what I wanted.

April 24, 2007

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