Rating: 
Summary: PENELOPE, BOSSA NOVA AND GASTRONOMY
Review: If, like me, you're a fan of spanish actress Penélope Cruz, you will certainly buy any DVD she appears in even if it features a nepalese film dubbed in swedish with bulgarian subtitles only, won't you ? Now if you're not particularly attracted by Penelope's radiant smile, I understand that you hesitate in front of this Fox presentation.WOMAN ON TOP is a romantic comedy directed by the venezuelian born director Fina Torres in 2000. Add a little magic with the intervention of a Sea Goddess -Yemanja-, a brazilian orchestra with a few love songs in portuguese and two or three comic second characters like Monica the transvestite or Cliff the fitness addict TV producer and you'll have a funny comedy to rent. Nothing special in the bonus features department with the usual trailers. Images and sound OK. A DVD zone Penélope reserved shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: Mindless
Review: Other reviewers have outlined the plot, such as it is. A majority of this movie consists of close up shots of Penelope Cruz which can be duplicated by simply staring at her photograph. The plot is time worn. Although Ms. Cruz's character is supposed to be one of a confident woman who is intelligent enough to do quite well on her own, her choices in men indicate no such intelligence and would suggest all that women want in life is to be in the arms of a man. I was still waiting for the movie to develop into something when the credits began to roll. Don't waste your money. If you really want to see it, rent before you buy.
Rating: 
Summary: cute and makes you want to cook!
Review: Penelope Cruz plays a married woman, a professional chef with severe motion sickness, which is only cured when she is in control i.e. when she is on top. One day, she comes home to find her husband cheating on her becasue he needs to be on top. She leaves and goes to California, where she meets her old friend who is a transvestite, and inadvertently lands a job as a...chef on a TV cooking show. Her husband has followed her to win her back and sneaks onto the show to serenade her. This is aratings hit and in order to keep her job, she has to let him be part of the show! This happens while she is involved with a new man. It's a romantic little romp and it will lift your spirits!
Rating: 
Summary: spectacular
Review: Saw this flick at the cine here in Colombia. Funny, poignant, pokes fun at american and brazilian culture... plus it stars Penelope Cruz!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Brasilian-flavoured romantic comedy
Review: Self-described "straight" men (who make up a startling number of movie critics) love to disparage a movie like this by calling it a "chick flick." "No car chases, no explosions, no video-game special effects, no grisly deaths, so could it REALLY speak to me?" In fact, "Woman on Top" is a "woman's picture" on many levels: directed by a woman (Fina Torres), written by a woman (Vera Blasi), and starring gorgeous Penelope Cruz, who takes close-ups like a '40s screen goddess. One might wonder, would it not have been more appropriate to cast a Brasilian in the role of Isabella? Any objections about casting Ms. Cruz as a Brasileira are soon overcome as you watch her performance. This is a sensitively-written, beautifully-photographed, perfectly-scored, and exquisitely-acted film about one woman's search for her locus of control and comfort. Isabella Oliveira (Cruz) searches for her centre of control geographically (Bahia, Brasil and San Francisco, USA) as well as emotionally (exerting control over her destiny, achieving success in her career, choosing her best romantic prospect). The soul-searching the character undergoes is completely believable, thanks in no small part to Cruz' natural, understated performance. Director Torres also gets wonderful performances from Murilo Benicio (who plays the impossibly handsome Toninho), Harold Perrineau Jr (as the outrageous Monica), and Mark Feuerstein (as smarmy but completely adorable television producer Cliff). Benicio finds the right combination of physical presence and wounded Latin pride to make us cheer for his character, but we end up also caring for each of the main characters. It's another variation of the classic fish-out-of-water shtick, or perhaps more like siri-out-of-moqueca (in keeping with the Bahian theme). Bahia is portrayed as exotic and sensual, but San Francisco is also exciting and full of opportunities. The notion of the "exotic" is toyed with here, as the Big Hollywood Phonies want to make the Isabella personage less "ethnic," which is the galvanizing moment for the character's identity on many levels. She changes, as she must, but remains fundamentally "herself," just more in control of her life. Upon her arrival in America, Isabella is asked by San Francisco's one cabdriver (or so it seems), "What planet are you from?" Isabella's reply: "Brasil." This film is rich in irreverent humour, gorgeous music, believable dialogue, and cute little touches (the Asian 411 operator, the Caribbean cabbie, the caprices of Iemanjah, etc). The ending feels so right, so natural, it makes the entire experience of viewing this film all the more rewarding. I would highly recommend this film to lovers of warm-hearted romantic comedies, or even just good "chick flicks." An absorbing and worthwhile film.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Brasilian-flavoured romantic comedy
Review: Self-described "straight" men (who make up a startling number of movie critics) love to disparage a movie like this by calling it a "chick flick." "No car chases, no explosions, no video-game special effects, no grisly deaths, so could it REALLY speak to me?" In fact, "Woman on Top" is a "woman's picture" on many levels: directed by a woman (Fina Torres), written by a woman (Vera Blasi), and starring gorgeous Penelope Cruz, who takes close-ups like a '40s screen goddess. One might wonder, would it not have been more appropriate to cast a Brasilian in the role of Isabella? Any objections about casting Ms. Cruz as a Brasileira are soon overcome as you watch her performance. This is a sensitively-written, beautifully-photographed, perfectly-scored, and exquisitely-acted film about one woman's search for her locus of control and comfort. Isabella Oliveira (Cruz) searches for her centre of control geographically (Bahia, Brasil and San Francisco, USA) as well as emotionally (exerting control over her destiny, achieving success in her career, choosing her best romantic prospect). The soul-searching the character undergoes is completely believable, thanks in no small part to Cruz' natural, understated performance. Director Torres also gets wonderful performances from Murilo Benicio (who plays the impossibly handsome Toninho), Harold Perrineau Jr (as the outrageous Monica), and Mark Feuerstein (as smarmy but completely adorable television producer Cliff). Benicio finds the right combination of physical presence and wounded Latin pride to make us cheer for his character, but we end up also caring for each of the main characters. It's another variation of the classic fish-out-of-water shtick, or perhaps more like siri-out-of-moqueca (in keeping with the Bahian theme). Bahia is portrayed as exotic and sensual, but San Francisco is also exciting and full of opportunities. The notion of the "exotic" is toyed with here, as the Big Hollywood Phonies want to make the Isabella personage less "ethnic," which is the galvanizing moment for the character's identity on many levels. She changes, as she must, but remains fundamentally "herself," just more in control of her life. Upon her arrival in America, Isabella is asked by San Francisco's one cabdriver (or so it seems), "What planet are you from?" Isabella's reply: "Brasil." This film is rich in irreverent humour, gorgeous music, believable dialogue, and cute little touches (the Asian 411 operator, the Caribbean cabbie, the caprices of Iemanjah, etc). The ending feels so right, so natural, it makes the entire experience of viewing this film all the more rewarding. I would highly recommend this film to lovers of warm-hearted romantic comedies, or even just good "chick flicks." An absorbing and worthwhile film.
Rating:
Summary: Wow! I have to give it a star?
Review: Stupid scenario, bad production, medium performance.
Rating:
Summary: A feather-light date flick
Review: This feather-light romantic comedy has a script that is as skimpy as Penelope Cruz's wardrobe. The comedy, while mildly amusing, is extremely predictable as is the ending. The film succeeds at being very sexy without any actual sex, relying on Cruz's provocative looks and the unshaven machismo of Murilo Benicio, who plays her husband. It drips with schmaltz at every turn to the point where it becomes extremely corny at times. Probably the best part of the film is the airy Brazilian music. As a showcase for the talents of Penelope Cruz, this film is one-dimensional. It provides an opportunity for us to see a full measure of her alluring beauty, but the role does little to expose the breadth and depth of her acting ability. Likewise, Benicio's role is so stereotypical that it offers little by which to judge his acting. Harold Perrineau, Jr. turns in the best all around acting performance as Monica, Isabella's cross dressing assistant and best friend. This is a film to just sit back and enjoy, like a breezy spring day. It is charming and fluffy with little to dislike. I rated it a 7/10. It makes a good date flick for the young at heart.
Rating:
Summary: Tries so hard to be quirky
Review: This film was a real letdown. With a star as charismatic and charming as Penelope Cruz it's hard to make a truly unbearable movie. But director Fina Torres has just done that. The story about a woman who flees to San Francisco to escape from her miserable life in Brazil, this movie was full of possibilities.But it fails on every level. The romance is cliche. The comedy is so very predictable. And the movie tries so very hard to be quirky..but it ends up being annoying.
Rating:
Summary: It's About Love...Among Other Things
Review: This is a story about food, motion sickness and love-- but not necessarily in that order. "Woman On Top," directed by Fina Torres, stars the alluring Penelope Cruz as Isabella Oliveira, a young woman endowed with both a gift and a curse; her gift (besides being beautiful) is that she is an absolute magician in the kitchen, having learned the culinary secrets of exotic dishes at an early age in her home town of Bahia, Brazil. Her curse is that she has always been susceptible to motion sickness, a condition which at the most inopportune times has had a significantly debilitating effect on her. As with her cooking, however, Isabella learned early on how to master the situation. To overcome it, she learned, she simply has to be the one in control-- in a car, she has to drive; on the dance floor, she has to lead; she takes the stairs instead of the elevator; and even while making love, she has to take charge. And, as is often the case with one who aggressively works to overcome a difficulty, it's made her strong. Without even thinking about it, Isabella has learned not only how to transcend her problem, but how to control her own life, as well, which is good-- up to a point. But as she one day discovers, it can also lead to certain complications; complications that have to do with matters of the heart. With love. One day, at a restaurant near the beach in Bahia, Isabella meets a young man, Toninho (Murilo Benicio), who happens to own the restaurant. When he sees Isabella, it's love at first sight. He is swept away by her beauty, and when he discovers what she can do in the kitchen! well-- he simply does not rest until she consents to be his wife. And it's a marriage made in heaven. Almost. They love each other passionately, and with Isabella in the kitchen, the restaurant begins to thrive. But while Toninho is out in front with the customers taking bows, Isabella is hidden away doing the cooking. Which is fine with her; they have each other, and they are doing what they love. Still, there is the matter of Isabella having to be the "one on top" all the time, and even though Toninho understands why, it begins to subtly eat away at his ego. After all, a man must be a man, no matter what-- and when finally, though he loves Isabella deeply, he feels he must give into his "urge" and do something to reaffirm his masculinity, problems begin to arise. And that's when Isabella discovers how mixed the blessings of her life are, and realizes that she, too, has some reaffirming to do. So she makes a decision and sets a course that ultimately changes her life, as well as Toninho's, and soon she is many miles from home, settled in San Francisco, where she is about to use her expertise to tantalize the palates of an unsuspecting public. With more than a touch of spice, Torres serves up a touching, and often amusing love story that is every bit as pleasurable as the many delightful dishes Isabella concocts with the touch of her magic ladle. It's an engagingly sensuous and romantic film, with implied sensual overtones that makes it a banquet rather than just a one course meal. Torres, you could say, is quite a chef in her own right. She tastefully plays up and maintains the romance throughout the film, and her use of that as her main ingredient is what makes her story and her film so appealing. That and the fact that she has some delicious characters with which to work, beginning with the wonderful Penelope Cruz. Cruz is simply marvelous in this role, parlaying her natural beauty and charisma into an endearing, memorable character. She uses all of her charms to great effect, while establishing a character whose moral tenets are never in question. Isabella's dignity is never compromised, and the passion she exhibits in all areas of her life have a sense of refinement that makes her accessible and someone you can readily embrace without qualification. Cruz is quite simply a class act, and the fact that she could create a character of such singular, sensuous virtue is a tribute to her abilities as an actor. Benicio pulls it off well, also, creating a likable cad in Toninho. He's a macho guy, but when it comes right down to it, he's not afraid to let you see his weak side, and Benicio shades him perfectly with that sense of humanity that makes him real and someone to whom you can relate. By showing you the boy that still resides within the man, you can at least understand him somewhat, instead of just wanting to whack him upside the head to make him wake up. It's a good performance, and he and Cruz definitely have some chemistry together. The supporting cast includes Harold Perrineau Jr. (Monica), Mark Feuerstein (Cliff), John de Lancie (Alex), Anne Ramsay (TV Director) and Ana Gasteyer (Claudia). This is a romantic comedy that should appeal to a wide audience, as Torres has successfully navigated the waters of the genre, keeping "Woman On Top" afloat while avoiding any stereotypes or tired cliches. It's a refreshingly romantic film that steers clear of anything close to being "sappy," without ever letting you lose track of what it's really all about, which is food, love and motion sickness. And not necessarily in that order.
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