Bienvenido a casa

A syrupy commercial comedy. The numerous funny moments save this film from being a tiresome slog through a story of a young man, his mother and the many women he encounters while working as a photographer for a (weekly?) magazine. The journalism part allowed the screenwriter to populate the screen with a bunch of reporters that are exaggerated character caricatures. In addition, the work of on-the-street news gathering is used to insert comedy skits, not germane to the story but milked for their humor potential with varying degree of success. If you tolerate the kind of comedy that shows on TV, then this film will entertain you.

So-so drama/comedy displays fine actors , adequate cinematography , catching score and professional but mediocre direction. This humorous as well as dramatic movie charts the life of Samuel (Alejo Sauras) and Eva (Pilar López de Ayala) . The young couple move to Madrid when he finds out work in a newspaper as photograph for a magazine, being hired by management director Andrés (Carlos Larrañaga). Eva plays the viola, and although Samuel doesn't knows, she's waiting for a baby. Samuel's confusion to be increasede at the time when Eva confesses him that she is expecting a son. In his new job, the protagonist comes across an unforgettable cast of outlandish characters, such as: Lucas (Jorge Sanz who seems to parody himself) , a sports reporter obsessed with sex. Mariano (comedian Javivi) , the music critic, is a frustrated singer who torments his acquaintances by insisting on showing them his supposed singing skills. Félix (Juan Echanove) is a blind cinema critic who goes to the cinema while his companion explains what the film is about. Contra (Julián Villagrán) runs the economics section, but turns out to be a left-wing radical. Then, Samuel tries to overcome the difficulties of his coexistence with Eva, to sustain their love in the difficult task of being a couple. Always vigilant and protective, his mother (Concha Velasco) will ensure that her son does not make the same mistakes that she believes he made in the past. The past, precisely, will come in search of Samuel in the reunion with Nieves (Juana Acosta), a childhood friend who now works in a Peep-show.

This attractive but regular comedy contains emotion , humor, drama , twisted incidents and amusement . The film deals with interesting issues, the doubts of starting a family, and paternity when Samuel receives the unexpected news that Eva has become pregnant. This novelty, added to the difficulties of life as a couple, causes Samuel to have doubts and vital anguish. Will he be responsible enough to be a father? While he even considers abandoning Eva, he spends nights partying with his companions. This is a marvelous ode to couple relationships with plenty of thorny elections, innocence , friendship, curiosity, comradeship among coworkers and family love . Director David Trueba shows these important and universal values through a couple's minds. Resulting to be a fun Dramedy (comedy/drama) with touches of humor, social relations, dramatic happenings and the attractive roles of the coworkers stand out when they become involved into improbable situations .

Fourth film by also writer and screenwriter David Trueba after¨The Good Life¨, ¨Masterpiece¨ and ¨Soldiers of Salamina¨, the latter paradoxically his best work to date. Now he returns to his usual genre, comedy, combining hilarious and crazy sequences with more reflective ones, with a dramatic background. The film is full of autobiographical elements, especially when Trueba viciously criticizes the world of the media, in which he worked before becoming a filmmaker. It stars Alejo Sauras (Trileros, Mensaka, Los Serrano) and Pilar López de Ayala (Alatriste, Obaba, Juana la Loca, El Puente de San Luis Rey). They are accompanied in the cast by a large group of actors from the best in Spanish cinema, such as: Ariadna Gil (Alatriste, Pan's Labyrinth, Desafinado), sentimental girlfriend of the director with whom he had a child, however they broke up their relationship and today she lives with Viggo Mortensen, Juan Echanove (Alatriste, Trileros, Adios con el corazón), Jorge Sanz (El Lobo, El Florido pensil), Concha Velasco (Km 0, El oro de Moscú, París Tombuctu), Javivi, Julián Villagrán, Juana Acosta, Carlos Larrañága, among others.

The picture contains a lively and evocative musical score. The film was nominated for the Goya for best original song, including various songs such as: ¨Love¨ Written & Performed by Buika ; ¨Sólo pienso en tí¨ Written by Víctor Manuel, Performed by Javivi; ¨Blues de Madrid¨ Written by Andrés Calamaro and Javier Limón Performed by Andrés Calamaro; ¨Duermen los niños¨ Written by Andrés Calamaro, David Trueba and Javier Limón, Performed by Andrés Calamaro; ¨City Night Life¨ Performed by Matamala; ¨Bienvenido al mundo¨ Written & Performed by Eloi Yebra. David Trueba was born (1969) in Madrid, location in which he often shoots his films . Married to Ariadna Gil , though nowadays separated and he is younger brother of Fernando Trueba and brother-in-law of Cristina Huete who along with Andres Vicente Gomez produced him a lot of films . David is a nice writer , such as : ¨The girl of your eyes¨ and ¨Perdita Durango¨ (1997). Known for comedies such as ¨The good life¨ , ¨Masterpiece¨ , ¨Madrid 1987¨ , ¨Welcome home¨ and , of course , his greatest hit : "Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed" in which Goyas landed in the laps of director David Trueba , as he film won best picture, director, screenplay, actor, new actor, and soundtrack . Rating ¨Bienvenido a casa (2006) : average , 5/10 . Good value to see it only for completists of David Truenba's interesting career.