The Two Sides of the Bed

Following on from 2002's The Other Side of the Bed (El Otro Lado de la Cama), Emilio Martinez Lazaro's sequel of sorts is exactly the sort of plush, Spanish comedy of errors that begs for comparisons to early Almodovar. Viewing its predecessor is worth it, but by no means necessary as although many of the characters re-appear, the tangled web they weave is built of brand new complications. Three years on, Javier (Alterio) is ready to marry Pilar while Pedro (Toledo) is settled with new love Raquel (Lucia Jiminez), but things only remain calm around the length of your average pop song. What ensues is a game of often literal musical partners, as agonies are enacted, and affairs negotiated through elaborate, interjected song and dance numbers. Far less gimmicky than it sounds, The Two Sides of the Bed keeps its musical refrains infrequent, and fills itself up to the brim with the genuinely comic. Great stuff. [Lindsay West]