Woman on Top

Penelope Cruz is a visual delight, but the movie seemed like a hodge podge of scenes. The Brazilian music, however, was wonderful from beginning to end, so much of the time, I read a good book and just listened to the music as I read! (hooray for cablevision.)

Penelope Cruz as "Isabella" is the only actor of note in this very entertaining film I rate "7" of 10. From birth in Brazil she has suffered from motion sickness. The only way she can avoid it during "movement" activities is to be in control. So she drives the bike while the boy sits on the back. She takes the stairs instead of the elevator. The name of the film comes from where she has to be during sex to avoid getting sick. When she goes to S.F. she pays the cab driver extra to let her drive.

Isabella also developed a keen cooking ability, more like "fabulous" and just the scent of her food drives men crazy. She and her husband have a very successful restaurant where she cooks and he "entertains". She leaves Brazil and moves in with a friend in S.F. after she finds her husband cheating on her, after all he "has to be on top" occasionally. She has a voodoo lady cast a spell so she won't love her husband anymore. She gets discovered and has an immediate hit TV cooking show. The young producer tries hard for her hand but he really is too much of a nerd.

Her husband doesn't give up. He recognizes his "mistake" and follows her to S.F. and keeps trying until he makes amends, but she still has to reverse the spell to be able to love her husband again.

The film is very well done and both funny and genuinely entertaining. I cannot understand how so any viewers rated it anything under 5 or 6, which many did. My rating of "7" is a very solid one, similar in overall enjoyment to films like "Return to Me" or "Forces of Nature" or "Hope Floats". I saw it on DVD and the surround sound was used very effectively. The Latin flavor music throughout was also very nice.

WOMAN ON TOP is one of those films that was made, publicized and viewed as pastiche and because of its honesty as a simple romantic comedy, it rates higher than many of the over the top and overproduced competitors. The film is colorful, filled with wonderful Bossa Nova music, and has enough eye candy to almost make you forget the main dishes! Isabella Oliveira (Penélope Cruz) lives in Bahia, Brazil totally in love with Toninho Oliveira (Murilo Benício) where the two have a restaurant featuring Isabella's passionate cooking and Toninho's macho front man role. Isabella has a problem: motion sickness - she cannot fly, ride in a car, or assume the bottom position during sex or she becomes violently ill (it seems that the sea goddess compensated her problem by making her an inimitable chef). All is well until Toninho has a brief affair that drives the crushed Isabella to move to San Francisco alone despite her love for Toninho. There she moves in with her old friend Monica from Bahia (Harold Perrineau as a superbly enacted crossed dressed drag queen) and begins her unsuccessful search for a job. In order to overcome her longing for Toninho and regain her culinary skills she makes a pact with the sea goddess, forsaking ever loving Toninho again. Eventually Isabella lands a TV show on Passionate Cooking when desperate producer Cliff (Mark Feuerstein) gets a whiff of her talent. She is an immediate success. Meanwhile Toninho, unable to endure life in Bahia without Isabella, flies to San Francisco and begins a series of Bossa Nova serenades to win her back. Cliff places Toninho on Isabella's show as background music and the ratings soar. But it is the ultimately the conflict resolution between Isabella and Toninho that brings the story to its expected end.

The story may be light and the script may be pedestrian, but the direction and camera work suffuse this film with Latin American magical realism and that keeps it lighthearted and fun. Cruz is terrific, Perrineau is the true star of the show displaying a sophisticated and sensitive acting skill that is very special, and Murilo Benício is not only a hunk and eye candy but also a fine singer and a warm actor who deserves a lot of attention. Story five, stars six. Have fun with this one! Grady Harp, March 06

Isabella (Penelope Cruz) meets her soul mate in her native Brazil, marries him, and becomes the renowned chef at his restaurant. She suffers from motion sickness so she insists on driving the car, leading in a dance partnership and more. Husband Toninho (the handsome Murilo Benicio) tires of being second in command and develops the roving eye syndrome. Stunned by her husband's actions, Isabella flees Brazil and travels to San Francisco. Once there, she catches the eye of a television producer who helps her become a small-screen celebrity with her own cooking show. Out of the blue, ex-husband Toninho arrives and wants his wife back. What will she do?

Penelope Cruz shines in the leading role; she's drop dead gorgeous and gives an irresistible performance. Benicio, also, initiates flutters in the hearts of any female viewers with his charming persona. The movie has many humorous plot elements (a cross-dresser, catty television employees) that keep the plot interesting. Those seeking an entertaining movie with charm and chuckles will be delighted to happen upon this lesser known movie.

What an excellent name for a movie, no? I thought so too. Quite frankly the movie lives up to it's sexy name. Woman on top is not a hard core porn on Spice channel- but an intelligent whacky comedy with style and dare I say oomph!

Penelope Cruz , is almost as indecipherable as that human vocabulary dicer Salma Hayek, but unlike Hayek, Cruz can act. Clever facial expressions and quick delivery make the words seem improved instead of carefully studied and directed. Penelope also happens to be quite steamy on the retina. I'm no clam digger but if I was- she is one hot tamale female!

Story goes...Isabella (Cruz) has a terrible problem with motion sickness. She'd be all right if she just didn't have to move. This means no sex . Her husband Toninho ( a very studly "peacock" Murilo Benício by the way) is not emulsifying too well with that idea. He also happens to be a colossal prawn dick. So she takes of from the husband, sad and disillusioned she heads from Brazil to San Francisco. Land of Gay Rights, beautiful hillsides and fancy food lovers among other things. Did I mention Isabella can cook. I mean that in every sense of the word. Picture Emeril LaGasse only he's as handsome as Ralph Fiennes (or insert feel free to the man /woman of your fantasies). A good looking cook is a super sexy thing folks. Ahh, the good old fashioned combo of, cooking and sex. Needless to say, Isabella shortly has a run away hit tv show! It is appropriately named Passion Food! Viewers tune in to catch her grind and saute, bruise and skewer various foods in her own special way. But mostly to blatantly stare at her sexy physique and not for the night's nouvelle torte rustica recipe.

Hmm, out of her husband's frying pan and into 30 million viewers frying pans. Poor Isabella, will she ever find happiness?

Actress Penelope Cruz is going to be here to stay with American audiences, I'm sure. She's not new in the business-in case your wondering. Penny's just not mainstream yet. All you guys that are drooling over her- there's more she-steak coming your way- later this year she'll star in Blow (about cocaine), alongside Johnny "Blow? Dope? Ohhhh, I thought it was another thriller by the Fargo guys on weather or something when I signed- swear! Shoot" Depp.

Woman on Top's stories been done before, but this is a foreign film gone American. Think of Like Water for Chocolate- without all those pesky subtitles to get in the way. What's sexier than food and sex? Absafriginlutely nothing! Sure some parts are just plain middle- of- Texas- without- a- spare- tire- stupid, but the over all feel is sweet and delightfully rich like a nice slice of Strawberry New York Cheesecake. Mangia.

Snack recommendation: Brazilian fare with plenty of hot sauce on the side!