So this is one of those Almodóvar/Cruz movies, of which there seem to be like a million. And so I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out what more to say, but the problem is that, plot-wise, the thing moves in completely unexpected directions pretty much throughout the movie, so even to give you the general outline of the beginning of the plot ruins the first half hour. I think I understand why reviewers hate it when people bitch about spoilers; they pretty much have to ruin movies just to do their job.

But I don’t, so I won’t. So anyway, this is ultimately a movie about families and secrets, and it’s all slightly over the top, and there are pieces of the movie that seem to belong to another story altogether, and there are certain elements you just have to kind of blink and accept, but… I don’t know, it has a certain charm to it, all its shaggy carelessness notwithstanding. Recommended, though lightly.