Really Surprised!

A Disappointing Continuation

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

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.

Samuel, an aspiring young photographer, is seen in the bus that is taking him south to Madrid, where he is trying to relocate in order to be with his girlfriend, and get a job at a magazine. A car overtakes the bus and makes it stop. Out of the car jumps a woman of a certain age who makes the driver open the door and goes over to the photographer to reprimand him because he has left without saying good bye to her.When he arrives in Madrid, all he sees is a note at Eva's apartment welcoming home and she'll be back. Eva, it turns out, is a viola player with an orchestra. Eva, who doesn't appear too welcoming, has a surprise for Samuel, she is pregnant! She tells him they must respect each other's spaces if they want their relationship to flourish.After an interview with the head of the magazine, Sameul is hired on a temporary basis. Little does he know what he is getting in. He is going to work with all the editors in the different departments. This group includes a cynic woman who is in charge of the crime news. There is also a young playboy types who does sports. Also there's a revolutionary man who is more of an anarchist and a blind man who does the film reviews. Is David Trueba, the director, trying to tell us that media criticism to his movies is as blind as this man who reports about ten film openings in any given week and don't think much about what he has to report? "Welcome Home" is a film written and directed by Mr. Trueba. In trying to create different quirky characters that inter act with young Samuel, the director presents us with stereotypes that don't ring true. The film is mildly funny and capitalizes on Samuel and Eva's relationship and the baby they are expecting. Little prepare us as Eva tells Samuel she is expecting, something that comes out of nowhere, but we go along with it. The screen play is not the best thing going for this film, that like some recent Spanish fare have weaknesses in that department.Pilar Lopez Ayala, a lovely actress gives Eva a lot of class. Alejo Sauras, who plays Sanuel seems to be lost most of the time. Ariadna Gil, who has done better work before has a small, but unconvincing role. Carmen Velazco is funny as Samuel's mother. Juan Echanove appears as the blind critic, and Jorge Sanz is the typical bachelor who wants all the women he meets.Where Mr. Trueba scores is with the music we hear in the film. It was created by Andres Calamalo and Javier Limon. Juan Molina's cinematography captures a modern Madrid at its best. Like his brother, Fernando, David Trueba is a man who has an impeccable musical sense and is shows here.