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NOT! To be confused with a good movie like that, this would-be German "Erotisch" comedy centers on summer at a nude beach where nubile young bodies frolic, pursued by a faded, clueless would-be lothario with a peculiar penchant for "tail biting". Americans say Germans lack a sense of humor, and nowhere is that more apparent than in these Erotisch comedies--"jokes" on a level of nine-year-old "nasty" talk. Could not be cheaper, includes way too much footage of seemingly amateur family home movies by average Germans enjoying their summer by the sea. Barely a 3, boosted only by some attractive cast members in a few fleeting, genuinely erotic moments.

If any of the above-mentioned were Spanish, this might have been their movie, but as it is, this is a Spanish imitation (let's call it "homage") Quatre Garçons dans le vent (1964) The story of a band from the sixties who wants to succeed in a world so thoroughly invaded by British that when a battle of bands is conducted on a stage decorated with larger-than-life photos of John, Paul, George and Ringo and their immortal lyrics "YEH YEH YEH!!!!!!!" (sic) rendered in Spanish, one fairly expects a competition of Beatles cover bands. For the girls there is also a rather trite love story whose minor difficulties are rather quickly resolved in time for the under 90 minute run, so it doesn't take much time away from the music. Obviously no great cinematic feat, but delivers what it promises: a megaton of enthusiastic, energetic "yeh yeh", in the Spanish style.

With a title that translates to "This Truly is Love", you might expect an Italian Hallmark movie, and that's what you'd get: A terminally ill, perpetually hospitalized upper class kid escapes with his streetwise scrappy pal on a once in a lifetime Christmas Eve adventure, finding wonder in aspects of everyday life (discovery of something as basic as fire, etc.) lost on those that live it everyday. They end up at his parents that night, where, after a tearful parting with his bud, he performs a Christmas "miracle", reconciling his parents in their troubled marriage. The rest is ...SPOILER. But you may guess from my title, or if not, just by knowing the premise as it is the basis of countless such holiday movies. Competent (I actually somewhat liked the kid's scrappy sidekick--in a role that can so easily slide into cliche' his spunky delivery came off more naturally than most), but so treacly as to give you a Christmas tummy ache.