The Scarlett Johansson Comedy That Deserves A Second Look, Stream Without Netflix

Vicky Cristina Barcelona opens on Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johnasson) vacationing for the summer in Barcelona. They’re staying with a family member of Vicky’s, Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her husband Mark (Kevin Dunn).

As the girls drink wine and eat amazing food on a terrace overlooking the beautiful Spanish countryside, they discuss with Judy and her husband what they might do for the duration of their stay. 

We learn early on in the film that Vicky and Cristina are almost inseparable as close friends, but that they have very different personalities, including their plans for Barcelona.

Vicky is practical, preparing to be married to her fiance back in the states, Doug, and has traditional values. Cristina, in stark contrast, is spontaneous and bubbling with excitement for what life and love have in store for her. 

Vicky and Cristina go to an art exhibit in Barcelona where they meet Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), who instantly begins to seduce the women. He invites them on his private plane to visit his hometown of Oviedo, where they will, he says, eat good food, drink great wine, and, hopefully, get intimate.

Vicky laughs at him, saying of course she would never agree to such a thing, but Cristina is intrigued. The women agree to go, with Vicky really only attending to keep an eye on Cristina. 

When they arrive, Vicky turns away Juan Antonio’s advances, but Cristina agrees to go up to his room with him. Unfortunately, she almost immediately falls ill with a stomach issue, and is stuck in bed for the weekend.

Meanwhile, Juan Antonio takes Vicky to see the local sights, to visit his aging father, a poet, and the two fall into a heady romance. Once the trio fly back to Barcelona, however, Vicky returns to her practical nature and flies home to marry Doug. 

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Cristina, however, moves in with Juan Antonio, and the two become lovers lost in the romance and rhythm of life and art. Scarlet Johansson sells these scenes in such a lovely way, it’s mesmerizing. Vicky Cristina Barcelona becomes even more beautiful when Juan Antonio’s volatile ex-wife, Maria Elena (the always brilliant Penelope Cruz) enters the scene.

It seems she tried to kill herself, and Juan Antonio goes to get her from the hospital and brings her back to his love nest with Cristina. In any other story, this interruption might lead to violence and chaos, but here, something different, something magical, happens.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is, at its heart, a film about love, passion, and romance, and how they can be too much for some people, and what happens when you have too little of them in your life.

You come away after two hours of cinematic art with more questions than answers, and you’re totally okay with that. I think I’m going to go watch it again right now. You should, too.