Woman on Top (2000)

34% of critics liked it
(97 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(7,686 ratings)

Love, sex, and food combine in this sensuous romantic comedy. Isabella (Penelope Cruz) is a master chef who suffers from severe motion sickness, requiring her to be in control of her movements at all times. This need extends to the bedroom, but her husband Tonino (Murilo Benicio), who owns the… More Love, sex, and food combine in this sensuous romantic comedy. Isabella (Penelope Cruz) is a master chef who suffers from severe motion sickness, requiring her to be in control of her movements at all times. This need extends to the bedroom, but her husband Tonino (Murilo Benicio), who owns the restaurant where she works, doesn't like to make love in the fashion suggested by the title. This is hardly the only thing about their relationship that she finds stifling, and when Isabella discovers Tonino in bed with another woman, she leaves for America, where with the help of cross-dressing friend "Monica" (Harold Perrineau Jr.), she becomes a star as the host of a TV cooking show, Passion Foods Live. Woman on Top was the first American film from Venezuelan director Fina Torres. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Fina Torres
Written By: Vera Blasi
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 22, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Dec 18, 2001
Studio: Fox Searchlight

Critic Reviews

Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The film is something of a subtle accomplishment -- a commingling of froth, sensuality and moral awareness that somehow works.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
Flavor? Amusingly piquant with traces of honey. Aftertaste? Thin.
Andy Seiler, USA Today
It's all coy and fey -- and painless to digest.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
There's a forced sprightliness, here, that reminds me too much of how people get at the end of a party -- you know, when they've stopped having fun but can't quite muster the will to leave or clean up the trash and vomit.
Scott G. Mignola, Common Sense Media
Penelope Cruz and little else in this so-so comedy
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"Woman On Top" is a chick flick with so much colorfully spicy Brazilian food being passed around as a shared aphrodisiac, that audience couples will be running out the cinema for food and bed.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Cruz smolders with sexuality.
John Venable, Supercala.com
Wildly mediocre.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
May remind you of Like Water For Chocolate without the tragedy and subtitles.
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs
How is it possible for a movie about two hot Latin lovers and spicy South American food, to be so bland?

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer D

Other than crazy sexy Penelope Cruz, I think Harold Perrineau was my favorite part! Sassy crossdresser. Fab! However, I think the story kinda lacked and shouldn't have ended like it did (she went back to the jerk who cheated on her?! Really?!) ... BUT! I did like the fairytale… More
Other than crazy sexy Penelope Cruz, I think Harold Perrineau was my favorite part! Sassy crossdresser. Fab! However, I think the story kinda lacked and shouldn't have ended like it did (she went back to the jerk who cheated on her?! Really?!) ... BUT! I did like the fairytale aspect of it (I'm such a sucker for that kind of stuff) and it was pretty sexy.
Leigh R

It was alright.
Marcus W

FUCK!!!! Damn stupid film! It was going brilliantly: Penelope falls in love with Mr. handsome, slick and smooth, he treats her like crap, so she leaves and then thanks to a nifty witchcraft subplot has her love for him taken away. She goes to America where she's a success -… More
FUCK!!!! Damn stupid film! It was going brilliantly: Penelope falls in love with Mr. handsome, slick and smooth, he treats her like crap, so she leaves and then thanks to a nifty witchcraft subplot has her love for him taken away. She goes to America where she's a success - getting her own cooking show, but husband follows and tries everything to get her back. Meanwhile she meets another guy who's genuinely decent and infinitely more likeable, but instead of bringing out "the passion" in him (this movie is all about "passion"), she undoes the spell and goes back to her ex!! Sure, to start with he lets her go on top, and doesn't shove her away in the kitchen anymore, but he never really changes and you don't believe that within a few weeks he won't be cheating on her again. All through the film I found myself wishing he would get hit by a tram (this being set in San Francisco), but no. Penelope Cruz is good in this and it does feel a tad biographical: woman goes to America to make the most of her talents but everyone just wants to see her breasts. In my head I'm going to imagine that she didn't go back with the greasy latin crooner, but as that's only in my head this film only deserves two stars.
Ina S

Sooo, Penelope plays a very bad, very stereotypical Brazilian. So the movie is cheesy and very very predictable. But you know what? Penelope is so hot in this, I'll just give it 3 stars for that. Yeah, I am that gay, I suppose. ;-)
Leo L

Great!