Cruxz sets film fight.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Cert 12, 92 mins, Optimum Home Entertainment, Comedy/Romance, also available to buy DVD pounds 17.99/Blu-ray pounds 24.99) Starring: Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn, Chris Messina.

FLIGHTY and single Cristina (Johansson) and soon-to-bemarried Vicky (Hall) head to Barcelona for the summer where they stay with the latter's relatives, Mark and Judy (Dunn, Clarkson). Taking in the sights, the young women catch the eye of artist Juan Antonio (Bardem). Cristina falls under Juan Antonio's spell and they embark on an affair, only for his crazy ex-wife, Maria Elena (Cruz), to stir up dormant desires. A love triangle becomes a rhombus when Juan Antonio casts admiring glances at Vicky and she questions the depth of her feelings for her workaholic fiance Doug (Messina). Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a welcome return to form for Woody Allen after the dreary output from his time in London (Match Point, Scoop, Cassandra's Dream). Financial backing from the Spanish tourist board accounts for flattering shots of the Catalan capital and its architectural splendours. This jaunty holiday romance really catches fire though when Oscar-winner Cruz slinks into shot, bringing a damaged quality to her sassy senora. "You take beautiful photographs," Maria Elena tells Cristina sweetly as she massages Juan Antonio's neck. "How do you know I take pictures?" asks the American nervously. "Because I went through your luggage," replies the exwife.

"I wanted to know who was really sharing the bed of my ex-husband." The film reaches its dramatic and comic crescendo as Cruz takes her character to the brink of emotional breakdown. Sexual heat with Bardem overpowers any chemistry between the actor and Johansson and Hall, the latter adopting the neuroses and insecurities usually reserved for Allen himself.

DVD Extras: Theatrical trailer..