It is a fairly common occurrence to see a performer carry a movie on his or her shoulders alone. The film itself could lack most of the things it needs to be good and yet prove to be entertaining because of the mere presence of a certain actor or actress.
This is more or less the case in director Fina Torres’ new film, “Woman on Top,” starring Penelope Cruz.
The film sets out to be a romantic comedy, but struggles when it comes to being funny and doesn’t exactly embody romance in the literal sense. Its romance turns out to be dry passion and its comedy is more like that found in a weekly sitcom than in a film.
The story begins in Bahia, a port city in northeastern Brazil, where Isabella (Cruz) and her husband Toninho (Murilo Benicio) are happily married and full of passion on a daily basis.
Toninho owns a successful restaurant and Isabella, who is quite a chef, works in the kitchen and provides the customers with the greatest Brazilian cuisine.
However, they have their little problems. First, Toninho has a bit of an ego that Isabella sometimes can’t stand but learns to live with. And second, Isabella suffers from motion sickness in certain situations.
To prevent this sickness, Isabella must always be the one leading: She has to drive the car, she has to take the stairs instead of the elevator and she has to lead when the couple dances. And when the two make love, Isabella must be the one on top.
For Toninho, this is a problem. And, after impairing his judgment enough to make one fatal mistake, his ego sends Isabella packing.
So she flies to San Francisco to live with her childhood friend, a transvestite named Monica, played by Harold Perrineau Jr. (“The Best Man,” “Oz”), vowing to stop loving Toninho and make it on her own.
After struggling to find a job that fits her taste, she finally lands a teaching position at a culinary institute.
And when the popularity of Isabella’s class skyrockets, people start to turn their heads. One of them is TV producer Cliff Lloyd, played by Mark Feuerstein (“Practical Magic,” “Rules of Engagement”).
Soon after, Isabella has her own popular cooking show, and fame is starting to get to her. Then Toninho shows up, Cliff starts to show interest in her, and it all seems like too much for the poor girl.
Set to pure Brazilian music, this film looks like it came out just like the producers wanted it to. However, sometimes making it how you want it doesn’t make it great.
What is great in this film is Cruz, and, unfortunately, Cruz alone. She has a grace most actresses lack. She persists in being smart, sexy, cruel, funny and even magical throughout the film. You won’t take your eyes off her.
Although the movie proves to be colorful and graceful in parts, it just doesn’t hold up to its theme - passion.
