Critic Reviews

• Ben Walters, Time Out

  With its sprawling satire and knockabout tone, 'I'm So Excited' is the closest Almodóvar has come in years to early romps like 'Labyrinth', 'Pepi, Luci, Bom' and 'What Have I Done to Deserve This?'

• Michael Bonner, Uncut Magazine [UK]

  A minor - but exuberantly funny - piece from the Spanish master.

• Jason Best, Movie Talk

  Cruising at a stratospheric altitude of high camp, Pedro Almodóvar's I'm So Excited is a colourful aerial romp that recasts his native Spain's current economic woes as frantic farce... Sadly, it just isn't very funny.

• Alistair Harkness, Scotsman

  It's broad, bawdy stuff, and more than a little retro too, to the point where the luggage isn't the only thing that feels Carry On ...

• Siobhan Synnot, Scotsman

  Almodóvar has made his country a little cocktail which toasts their woes, yet manages to make things seem a little brighter too.

• Philip French, Observer [UK]

  I'm So Excited! is a slight, likable movie, beautifully designed and charmingly performed.

• Donald Clarke, Irish Times

  For all the high intentions, I'm So Excited comes across as minor Almodóvar. There are, of course, far worse things than that.

• Graham Young, Birmingham Mail

  To help prevent a riot, the economy passengers are sent to the land of nod. So much for the idea of finding your inner self at moments of great danger!

• Rich Cline, Contactmusic.com

  Fans of more recent Almodovar films like The Skin I Live In or Volver should be warned about this one, because it harks back to his much cheesier 1980s films with its broad comedy, lurid production values and camp characters.

• Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph

  This feels like a film Almodóvar had to get out of his system - a kind of cinematic kidney stone - and your gut will twinge in sympathy.

• James Mottram, Total Film

  Full of fizz, filth and fun, I'm So Excited! is like an '80s retro-blast. Its scattershot comedy may not impress latecomers to Almodóvar's career, but old-school fans will love it.

• David Sexton, This is London

  In a more or less wholly libertarian society of the kind we now have in the West, the very idea of camping it up like this seems unnecessary, therefore tiresome.

• MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher

  The things that qualify as 'awesome' in the world of Pedro Almodóvar boggle my mind.

• Michael Leader, Film4

  Almodovar gleefully returns to the broad, colourful burlesque of his early work. Although, without the transgressive attitude and closeted context, this sexy satire is all froth and no balls.

• Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express

  There's no reason this couldnt be witty or amusing but Almodovars smutty, high-camp approach plays like Airplane with artistic pretensions and none of the laughs.

• Nigel Andrews, Financial Times

  It makes for an urgent, clamorous, topically themed screen comedy, if not actually a good one.

• Philip Concannon, The Skinny

  Almodóvar's new film feels like a conscious attempt to recapture the spirit of his earlier comedic films.

• Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

  Energetic, outrageously camp and frequently funny, Pedro Almodovar's latest film is a welcome throwback to the raucous comedies the director made in the 1980s.

• David Jenkins, Little White Lies

  An odd, gaudy comedy that's great fun, but certainly one to file under 'short haul'.

• Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

  Almodóvar's intention is just to use it all to get a genial and good-natured comedy of sex airborne; this he does, and he makes it look easy.

Read all 21 critic reviews