Reinas (Queens) (2005)

43% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(13,000 ratings)

Writer and director Manuel Gómez Pereira takes a look at the funny side of same-sex marriage in this farcical comedy. Magda (Carmen Maura) is the manager of a posh resort hotel that is to be the site of a marriage ceremony bringing three gay couples together at once. One of the husbands-to-be is… More Writer and director Manuel Gómez Pereira takes a look at the funny side of same-sex marriage in this farcical comedy. Magda (Carmen Maura) is the manager of a posh resort hotel that is to be the site of a marriage ceremony bringing three gay couples together at once. One of the husbands-to-be is Magda's son Miguel (Unax Ugalde), who will exchange vows with Óscar (Daniel Hendler). However, while things are harmonious between Miguel and Óscar, Óscar's meddling mother, Ofelia (Betiana Blum), is making life miserable for everyone. Narciso (Paco Léon) will be tying the knot with his lover, Hugo (Gustavo Salmerón), but both are having family problems -- Hugo's uptight parents, Helena (Mercedes Sampietro) and Hector (Tito Valverde), aren't sure if they're willing to attend, while Narciso's man-hungry mom, Nuria (Verónica Forqué), threatens to make a spectacle of the ceremony. And actress Reyes (Marisa Paredes) will be on hand to see her son Rafa (Raul Jimenez) marry Jonas (Hugo Silva), who happens to be the son of her gardener Jacinto (Lluís Homar). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Manuel Gómez Pereira
Written By: Yolanda Garcia Serano
Genres: Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 25, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Dec 5, 2006
Studio: Regent Releasing

Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
It feels like [Pereira] just plucked the men themselves from atop a wedding cake and stuck them in his movie, where for the most part they stand decoratively around and watch the women make suds from all this soap.
G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
With what amounts to 20 characters crossing paths, Pereira's job description might seem more traffic cop than director, but he rises to the challenge and adds style and splashy color to boot.
Teresa Budasi, Chicago Sun-Times
Spanish director Manuel Gomez Pereira certainly draws inspiration from his compatriot Pedro Almodovar -- several of the actresses are even Pedro alums -- but the film falls short of Almodovar's usual depth and complexity.
Jessica Reaves, Chicago Tribune
Unfortunately for director and co-writer Manuel Gomez Pereira, all the energy in the world isn't enough to compensate for the superfluous plot lines and outrageous overacting that weigh down this bit of warm-hearted Spanish fluff.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We may be deep in Telemundo territory, but that doesn't diminish the glow-in-the-dark charisma of these impressive ladies.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Pereira goes in for lots of time shifts and split screens, piling on the contrivances like so many costume baubles when a single string of pearls would do.
David Noh, Film Journal International
While straining credibility at times, offers some appealing scenes of quiet reflection, as well as a refreshing celebration of the ineffable allure and power of being middle-aged.
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
The star-heavy cast, which includes such big Spanish names as Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes and Veronica Forque, are a treat to watch even when their dialogue isn't all it could be.
Laura Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Pedro Almodovar-flavored but quite tame.
John Hartl, Seattle Times
The frantic artificiality of the script rarely allows the characters to breathe. This is dinner-theater farce, featherweight and juiceless.
Bill White, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The cast is perfect, but the script is like a low ceiling, keeping a lid on what should have been a confluence of riotous misadventures.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
Manuel Gómez Pereira's frantic direction is nonstop and the exhaustion of excess will get to you.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
For all its contrivances, the film is cheerfully rude and surprisingly generous to the mothers, most of whom find sizzling new romances at an age when their American counterparts are reduced to sexless dithering or played as humiliating punch lines.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Queens" is an appealingly glorious mess of a movie that is not helped out by an overcomplicated chronological structure. As gay marriage is becoming legal in Spain, Helena(Mercedes Sampietro), a judge, is reluctantly set to preside over a ceremony of… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Queens" is an appealingly glorious mess of a movie that is not helped out by an overcomplicated chronological structure. As gay marriage is becoming legal in Spain, Helena(Mercedes Sampietro), a judge, is reluctantly set to preside over a ceremony of 20 gay and lesbian couples, not the least because her son, Hugo(Gustavo Salmeron), is marrying Narciso(Paco Leon) in that ceremony. Miguel(Unax Ugalde) and Oscar(Daniel Hendler) & Jonas(Hugo Silva) and Rafa(Raul Jimenez) are two other couples featured but the overall focus of the movie is squarely on the parents, especially in the case of Jonas and Rafa. This approach takes something away from the movie because it is the grooms' day first and foremost, not the parents'. And I am all for good roles for older women especially if it involves Carmen Maura but this is not really the right place...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Queens" would have been much better if it had focused on just one couple or if it had been made as a documentary. At the very least, a lesbian couple could have been included for diversity's sake.[/font]
Sunil J

Drenched in telenovela but enjoyable and silly.