Km. 0

This is a completely entertaining, hilariously funny, film. The story revolves around a series of coincidences and mistaken identities among an attractive group of Madrilenos of varied ages and sexual inclinations on a scorching summer day. While the plot, as such, is completely ridiculous and fairly predictible, the performances are uniformly terrific, and there are some very amusing twists and turns on the way to the foregone conclusion. Well worth seeing, much more genuinely amusing than most Hollywood attempts at romantic comedy.

Watch closely at the beginning as the ensemble characters are introduced. There are a lot of characters and the interplay between them is superb. For being funny, the movie still has a lot of power to shock with dark humor. The gay content is very frank, very natural, and very funny.

This hilarious and hip farce follows the 14 strangers of various classes, ages and sexual preferences, each of whom has a date with the other at 6 PM at Km. 0 (the exact center) of Madrid. The heat is unbearable (hint- metaphor). After a romp through the most outrageous (and comical) situations between 6 PM and the proverbial midnight hour (another metaphor), each will find the person/significant other he/she wants. This ideal companion may change (even a few times) during the course of the evening. But by midnight, Mr. or Ms. Right may not be the original date.

So, the plot's not too original...perhaps too many corny metaphors? But that only adds to the satirical appeal of this farce. Its real forte' are the ingenious situations, the linkage of the characters, and the location for absolutely screwball, sexual, and crass humor, which only a tolerant and modern Latin European capital affords. Great comedy!

This delightful comedy follows the 14 characters whose plans to meet on an unbearably hot afternoon at KM 0 in Madrid become unraveled by midnight. There is the film student thinking he is meeting a cousin for lodging; a lady scheduling to meet a younger john; a flamenco dancer who thought he is seeing an internet date; a nerd planning for a first time tryst with a hooker; a girl shopping for a wedding to an unexcited boyfriend and a desperate actress hoping to land a part in a musical. Come midnight and the long awaited rain, all their expectations were met unexpectedly. Acting is low brow but very believable. Some spot on emotions (and funny) like when bride-to-be had an empty pistol shot at her head and the highly-charged nerd cum when touched by a gigolo. I thought the whole movie is more about the happenings in the Diner (where they all meet) owned by the reluctant groom rather than KM 0 itself but hey, you will smile and laugh along the way.

Low-budget and light, KM 0 is - nonetheless - a refreshing blend of drama and romantic comedy. Combining a sprawling Altman-size cast, a touch of Almodovar camp, and a Frank Capra sweetness, the film follows the interaction and evolving connections between 14 strangers from various backgrounds who all share a coincidental meeting place at the center of Madrid, during a highly symbolic heat wave. The varied situations they find themselves in are fairly cut-and-dried at first, but each evolves in an unusual direction, and at least a few of the characters (the younger gay man, the middle aged woman) are quite fascinating and endearing. This attention to detail elevates this charming but messy film above the usual romantic comedy, and the Capra-esquire twist near the film's end was pleasantly unexpected. With the exception of the middle-aged woman, I found the male characters to be much more well developed. The fact that a couple of the women preserve connections to men who treat them badly seemed highly unnecessary - though perhaps realistic, it didn't really work as a critique of sexual politics, and this threw a sour note into an otherwise breezy and pleasant film.

But overall there's plenty of charm here, and I found KM 0 to be mostly a treat.