User reviews

Two lonely people meet and unexpectedly get involved in the strangest of love relationships. Both of them are burdened by complicated sentimental baggage, which won't make their love story precisely easy. This is basically the plot of every romantic comedy, and "Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena" is no exception.

Considering that this is a genre I particularly like, the premise is not as important as the film's atmosphere, the performances of the leading couple and the feelgood effect of the compulsory happy ending. In this case "Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena" works in some of these aspects, but fails to deliver in some others.

To put things straight, the best part of the movie is the charming leading couple. Ana Belén, who should be working more, is especially remarkable in her quirky turn as Hortensia, while Eduard Fernández (Jorge) keeps up with her for most of the time. Their performances might be irregular at times, but they make such a great couple that any possible flaw is easily forgotten.

Although the quality of the film is above standard, I could not fail to feel that something had gone wrong with this. I was particularly disappointed by the screenplay, which is generally the best part of Gómez Pereira's comedies. For one thing, character archs are mostly implausible and difficult to explain. Even with the excessive use of voice-over, the viewer fails to sympathize with the characters and understand their decisions. Besides, the plot centers itself so much on the leading couple that the great supporting cast (María Pujalte, Carlos Kaniowski and specially José Sacristán) are left with little more than a few scenes each. Maybe focusing a little on the relationship between Jorge and his father would have helped make the character more real.

I wouldn't like to finish my comment without mentioning the outstanding soundtrack, which features a few of the best Spanish songs ("Noches de bohemia" and "Princesa", for example) and a nice original song performed by Pasión Vega.

In a nutshell, this is a feel-good movie that has a little for everybody, but specially for those who love every kind of romantic comedies.

Overall rating: 6/10

This acceptable comedy with brief touches of drama concerning an ex-alcoholic unemployed man named Jorge (Eduard Fernández) and a separated middle-aged woman called Hortensia (Ana Belen) who works in an out of work office (INEM , the public agency that helps work-less people to find a job) . Jorge , who is deeply affected from a car crash happened long time ago , falls in love with Hortensia . They suddenly meet , emerging an enjoyable romance , as both have suffered a lot in their past relationships and nowadays attempting to start a new life . They start going out , to discover themselves several little things . Later on , both of whom get together at a communion , there happens a fun dancing in the luxurious banquet where protagonists dance in rhythm of ¨Jail rock¨.

This interesting as well as charming film is full of humor , agreeable scenes , brief drama , good feeling and being deliberately paced . It is a simple , sympathetic and intelligent portrait of a few people who feel great sadness and loneliness . Both of them are seeking for a new love story , a second chance after they've ruined it all , concerning about the midlife crisis , the life disappointing , a lot of reflecting between the two protagonists and many others things . It has some moments of enjoyment as well as amusement and others quite a few embarrassing . Regular and unbalanced , but gaining the sympathy almost at all times . This particular romance is overspread throughout the movie , but not completely satisfactory , including conventional pitfalls . In spite of it , the movie results to be better than average , being surprisingly funny and compellingly realized . The picture attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , family , sons and love , with its amusing sides but also including some deceptions . The last half hour of the picture results to be the more unsettling and dramatic , it is the best part , where takes place some touching and tragic events and it just makes worth watching the flick . The movie is based on a radio programme titled ¨Little things that makes that live worth it¨ presented by the known anchor man Iñaqui Gabilondo . Very good acting by Eduard Fernández as a drunken who just came out of a big depression . As Eduard Fernandez at her best , he steals the show as an out of work man who suffered a car accident with fateful consequences . The picture relies heavily on the relationship between Eduard Fernández and Ana Belen who also gives a marvelous acting as a solitary public official who unexpectedly finds love . Support cast is frankly excellent such as María Pujalte , José Sacristán , Rosario Pardo , Zoe Berriatúa , Carlos Kaniowsky , Carmen Balagué , Fernando Colomo and Raúl Arévalo . Moving and emotive musical score by Bingen Mendizabal and including unforgettable songs sung by Joan Manuel Serrat , Joaquin Sabina , among others . Furthermore , a colorful and evocative cinematography by Juan Amoros .

The motion picture was produced by Cesar Benítez , being well written and directed by Manuel Gomez Pereira along with his usual collaborators : Yolanda García Serrano and Joaquín Oristrell . He usually writes his films and occasionally for other directors as "What Makes Women Laugh?" by Joaquin Oristell who in "Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health" is screenwriter and producer ; both of them are ordinary collaborators . Pereira is an expert on comedies as ¨¨Rose sauce¨, Why do they call it love when they mean sex ?¨, ¨Mouth to mouth¨ , "All Men Are the Same" , though he also has made some drama as ¨The hanged man¨ and this ¨Between your legs¨ . His latest projects, however, tanked as "Off Key" starred by an American-all star cast but was a failure both economically and artistically or simply didn't deliver as "Atrévete y Verás" . Nowadays , he directs TV chapters as ¨Gran Reserva¨ and ¨Cheers¨ series .

Gómez Pereira is the responsible for some of the most despicable comedies of latest Spanish cinema (just take a look at his curriculum vitae), so I didn't expect that much of "Cosas Que Hacen..."... In fact I don't know why in the world did I decide to watch it. Anyway, I just did... And what a surprise. It looks that Gómez Pereira has finally matured and now he's capable of making a good movie. He's last work deals with the midlife crisis, the disappointing, and the seeking for a second chance after you've ruined it all. The last half hour of the movie (the more dramatic) is the best part, and it just makes worth watching the film. Also we have Eduard Fernandez playing the main role, and I keep on thinking he's the best actor of his generation (by far).

*My rate: 7/10

In what appears an attempt to mix drama and comedy, Manuel Gomez Pereira made this film, 'Things that make life worthwhile. "It is not an original discovery, by many voice you have (quite off the pitch, by the way), but it departs somewhat from the norm in the Spanish cinema. The downside is that the elements forming the film are poorly combined, and while some points are not well developed, others are out of place. A day in the lives of two people close to the median age. It's basically what the movie Gómez Pereira. Jorge (Eduard Fernandez) is a stationary (parado) one which, despite load on your back with a drama major, seems willing to see things change. Only this explains his commitment to a minor could mean a turning point in its existence. In line with Audrey Tautou of 'Long dating' (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2004), Jorge says things like this to herself: "if I find a coin before the corner that is now going to change my luck. " Of course it finds it, begins to play 'Today could be a great day' (Hoy puede ser un gran dia)by Joan Manuel Serrat and in a few crosses on its way Hortensia (Ana Belen).She is another woman entry age, divorced and a little lonely. Take valeriana for sleeping, organizes birthday parties as an exemplary mother, said her belief in God and leads to a speed of homicidal mother. Hortensia is a woman of many contradictions in his behavior, life was going in his head driving data as "70% of people fall in love only once in a lifetime" and said although it is short of Jorge and unemployed and does not preclude the possibility that it is a "sadistic" sleeping in his shoulder in the cinema at the earliest opportunity. Later came a communion, a dance in the luxurious wedding banquet, the back of a car and other things that players seem to live unique experiences like that but end up doing quite heavy for the viewer. 'Things that make life worthwhile' debate between us is the drama of two adult persons who have no other that leads them to see where their strange relationship and, conversely, make us take the case as a comedy, focusing on things like a Chinese singing at a wedding (which seem to be amusing in itself) or the gait of a drunk person. The problem is that it does not leave us time to connect with the players, therefore we can not identify with the dramatic, and not give us a solid base comic too, leaving everything except pure joke. In the end, all mixed in a way that the viewer no longer know very well whether to laugh or mourn, and ends up not doing either. And it is true that something is not seen a thousand times, is not the kind of film that we find to bend every corner, but it is not sufficiently different or special as we want to do. Ana Belén (which apparently far less than the 53 years that has in this film) and Eduard Fernandez are two actors who are very enjoyable to see working, but this time it seems ready or comfortable enough in scenes that require him to break the calm that prevails in the film, so in moments like the "accident" with the children of the bar thing seems to be slipping from their hands. Perhaps a very dramatic change that has to do, but that is no excuse to lower our guard. In any case, both interpreters are erected easily the highlight of the function. 'Things that make life worthwhile' work only up to the modest level of entertainment. Any claim that is beyond that point has not been fulfilled, as a romantic comedy or dramatic as that, we presume, they wanted to do, can not afford to have little moments finished successful (beyond bad) as that in which one of the characters talk and laugh, lost drunk, compared to a boy who remains in a coma in part because of him. Neither do much for people like Rosario Pardo, making the typical friend launched whose biggest contribution to the film is the phrase "must be screwed over," and songs from the soundtrack, though significant, not just fit. It is true that the film by Manuel Gomez Pereira has its hits (some of the moments involving Jose Sacristan), but the whole is a anodyne Story, a film with good intentions and a nice result when the better.

Jorge is a work-less that one day, decides that this day is the one that will change his life. He fells in love with Hortensia, the woman in the INEM office (the Spanish agency that helps work-less to find a job). They both have suffered a lot in their past relationships and they feel great loneliness. They start going out, to discover these little things that makes that live worth it. Being short, the movie has some comic moments mixed with some enormously acid and touching. It is quick, as there's no time to waste. The actors play a good part (unexpected in Ana Belen) but, she has the problem of looking too wealthy, when she theoretically is a low-class woman, and that's a problem with most of the characters, that the all seem too wealthy (with Ana Belen the problem is worse indeed); and that makes the film a little too much unreliable. The action is the typical in these stories, it has anything new and sometimes can result a little annoying, as you know what's going to happen, but it's not boring and it's relaxed to watch to. It is probably the best movie of the director, but that was not very difficult, as he had done totally awful comedies before.

Yesterday, I went alone to the cinema, because here in Mexico, most of the times movies from other countries are part of the so called "camára alternativa" (alternative camera). But after I saw this movie, I realized that not all the foreign movies are alternative. Afortunately, this is a good a example. But I have to said that I enjoyed so much this movie.. that at the end I was happy.. this movie is a little spoon of hope in these days. And the main lesson for me.. is that at the end of the day...the love is main force behind us. This is a good option to see a good movie in Spanish...and I have to mention the good music.. specially the main song of the movie.. Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena.... Excellent song!!!