When it appears as though the end is in sight, the pilots, flight crew, and passengers of a plane heading to Mexico City look to forget the anguish of the moment and face the greatest danger, which we carry within ourselves.
Despite how silly it all is – and at points it is Airplane!-level silly – there is so much enjoyment to be had from Almodóvar’s ability to give every character a compelling story, and successfully resolve them all in under 90 minutes.
I’m So Excited is a ridiculously, riotously cheerful film, released at a point when the Spanish recession has put almost a third of its population on the dole. Almodóvar has made his country a little cocktail which toasts their woes, yet manages to make things seem a little brighter too.
It’s broad, bawdy stuff, and more than a little retro too, to the point where the luggage isn’t the only thing that feels Carry On…
Almodóvar's intention is just to use it all to get a genial and good-natured comedy of sex airborne; this he does, and he makes it look easy.
The characters are irritating and the obsession with sex - everyone is at it with everyone, including the bisexual captain and his co-pilot - grows very wearying.
When the crew first understand the precariousness of their situation one of them asks the captain what they should do about the passengers: "Just keep them entertained and distracted," comes his answer. It's a laudable aim. Almodóvar, by his own high standards, has fallen way short of it here.
I doubt you will be.
Whether or not the metaphorical aspects excite you, an unshakeable tolerance for high camp and lowbrow humour may be required to fully appreciate Almodóvar’s broad, bawdy comedy — even for fans of his early, funny films.
The satire is mild rather than abrasive and as a metaphor for present-day Spain, which Almodóvar intends it to be, it's hardly more than a faint finger wagging.
Pedro Almodóvar returns with a light-hearted comic romp.
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I'm So Excited: Pedro Almodovar's very serious comedy
A flight attendant's view on I'm So Excited!
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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