--- title: "Vicky Cristina Barcelona: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/vicky-cristina-barcelona/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/vicky-cristina-barcelona" critics_score: 67 critics_reviews: 21 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 67 from 21 reviews: 14 positive, 3 mixed, 4 negative. Most critics call this a return to form for Woody Allen, and most stop short of calling it one of his best. Fourteen of the twenty-one reviews are positive, and the praise goes mostly to the cast. Penélope Cruz is named in review after review as the film’s sharpest presence, Javier Bardem is credited with the charm the story depends on, and several critics enjoy Rebecca Hall as a fresh outlet for Allen’s neuroses. The Barcelona locations and the film’s frankness about sex come up nearly as often. The spread is wide, from warm approval to outright rejection. The recurring complaint is the voiceover narration, which Variety and Total Film both find intrusive. The Guardian finds the whole thing slack and repetitive, the Los Angeles Times thinks the writing thin, and Slant Magazine goes furthest, calling the film’s treatment of its women reductive and condescending. Even the dissenters tend to exempt Cruz and Bardem from their complaints. ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2008. Freer considers the film Allen’s strongest work in recent years, praising its lively performances and spirited take on love. He singles out Penélope Cruz’s magnetic performance and the beautiful Barcelona locations. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/vicky-cristina-barcelona-review/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating B+. 14 August 2008. Tobias finds the film witty, ambiguous, and unaccountably romantic, despite its sadness and doubt. He praises the chemistry among the writing, cast, and Barcelona, while noting Javier Bardem’s charisma as essential to the role. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/vicky-cristina-barcelona-1798204701) ## Radio Times — Susannah Straughan Rating 4/5. The critic says Woody Allen rediscovers his sense of humour in a warm, witty, surprisingly sexy comedy. She praises its humour and lively romantic entanglements. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-rz97fs/vicky-cristina-barcelona/) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 3 February 2009. The review presents the film as a funny, lusty return to form for Woody Allen. It singles out the film’s comedy and sensuality as reasons for fans to feel relieved. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/vicky-cristina-barcelona-1) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 9 February 2009. The review calls the film a welcome return to form for Woody Allen, though not quite at the level of his best work. It praises the story’s careful judgment and the standout performances by Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, while faulting the excessive voiceover narration. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/vicky-cristina-barcelona-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film silly but splendidly entertaining and a welcome return to form. Cruz and Hall’s performances are singled out for praise, alongside the colourful views and clever screenplay. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/woodys-back-on-form-with-vicky-cristina-barcelona-7438954.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2008. Festival review. Honeycutt finds the film a welcome return to Allen’s neurotic romantic comedies, though he stops short of placing it among the classics. He especially praises Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, whose fiery love-hate scenes provide the film’s funniest moments. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/vicky-cristina-barcelona-film-review-125684/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2008. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film a sexy, funny, enjoyable romantic divertissement, though its narration is a significant flaw. He especially praises Penélope Cruz, whose performance brings the film’s emotional and comic energy to life. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/vicky-cristina-barcelona-3-1200522415/) ## IndieWire — Michael Koresky Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 August 2008. Koresky finds the film engaging and emotionally effective, despite its occasional narrative fussiness. He particularly praises Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, whose performances bring vivid energy to the story. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-pale-fire-woody-allens-vicky-cristina-barcelona-71915/) ## The Independent — Alice Jones Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 June 2009. Jones finds the film a welcome return to form, though not among Allen’s best. She especially praises Penélope Cruz’s scene-stealing performance and Rebecca Hall as an effective vehicle for Allen’s neuroses. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dvd-vicky-cristina-barcelona-12-1709430.html) ## Film Comment — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The accessible page identifies this as Jonathan Romney’s review, but does not reveal his verdict. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the available text. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/issues/july-august-2008/?pdfviewer=issue&pdf-page=70) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2008. The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. The supplied text contains no information about what the review praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/movies/15barc.html) ## Little White Lies — Jonathan Crocker Rating 2/3/3. 5 February 2009. Crocker calls the film silly and predictable but ultimately entertaining. He praises the fiery, funny performances of Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, especially Cruz’s screen presence. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/vicky-cristina-barcelona) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2009. French finds the film inferior to Allen’s best work and a disappointing, slack romance. He particularly criticizes its repetitive staging and the lack of irony or humor. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/08/woody-allen-barcelona-review) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2008. Turan finds the film only mildly diverting, criticizing its thin writing and lack of insight. He singles out Javier Bardem’s performance as especially entertaining, with Penélope Cruz also praised. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-15-et-vicky15-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 1/4. 6 August 2008. Gonzalez condemns the film as arrogant and misogynistic, finding its treatment of women and desire reductive. He allows that some ideas about the relationship between art and sexuality are worthwhile, but says the film handles them condescendingly. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/vicky-cristina-barcelona/) ## Eye for Film — Jeff Robson Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2008. Robson calls it Allen’s best film in a long time, praising its comedy and sharply observed relationships despite some reservations. He especially singles out Rebecca Hall’s nuanced performance and the lively chemistry among the central cast. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/vicky-cristina-barcelona-film-review-by-jeff-robson) ## Den of Geek — Michael Leader Rating 4/5. 1 February 2009. The critic calls the film amusing, bitter and wildly impressive, despite a contrived and untidy ending. They especially praise Penélope Cruz’s powerhouse performance and the dysfunctional couple’s contribution to the film’s punch. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/vicky-cristina-barcelona-film-review/) ## The Skinny — Tyler Parks Rating ★★★★. 4 February 2009. The review finds the film a farcical yet sympathetic portrait of serious romance. It praises the lively performances and Barcelona atmosphere, especially as captured by the cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/vicky-cristina-barcelona) ## Paste — Kelly Marages Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 14 August 2008. Marages finds the film delightful, breezy, and full of well-balanced sex and comedy, despite its overly neat scene transitions. She especially praises Penélope Cruz’s vivid performance and Allen’s comic timing. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/woody-allen/vicky-cristina-barcelona) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2009. The critic finds the film a decent but ultimately disappointing effort, with its momentum fading after a strong opening. The cast’s performances, especially Penélope Cruz’s manic turn, are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a145159/vicky-cristina-barcelona/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/vicky-cristina-barcelona.md