I'M SO EXCITED!

Over the course of his colourful career, Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar has become a major highlight of world cinema. His films, most recently the scintillating 'The Skin I Live In' (2011), have garnered great love from audiences and critics alike. Amid his classics though, there have been the occasional misses, and while it isn't as great a miss as it could have been, his latest comedy 'I'm So Excited!' definitely falls into that category.

The film mostly takes place on a commercial flight to Mexico City, stuck flying around in circles when the landing gear stops working. The economy passengers have been put to sleep, but the first class passengers have become suspicious, and begin to question the flight crew about the delay. Over the course of the flight, everyone (including the pilots) get drunk or high or both, releasing their carnal desires and deepest secrets without an ounce of subtlety.

If anything, 'I'm So Excited!' is worth it for the breezy, silly humour that fills every frame. Almodóvar's candy-coloured, camp-as-hell world is a visual delight, and the director and his team are clearly having a blast. The problem is, the content of the film is so slight and inconsequential that nothing ever sticks; no lasting impression is made. The screenplay is riddled with cliché, especially in relation to the gay flight attendants who fulfil every stereotypical trope, and the convenience with which these people are all on the flight seems horribly contrived. Perhaps that's the point, and there's always the suggestion that Almodóvar is going for allegory here, but it's never clear enough to give the film purpose. Maybe something has been lost in translation.

There's also a bizarre dance number at the centre of the film that probably boils down to a moment of indulgence for the director, albeit an entertaining one. The performances are all fine and enjoyable and the film moves along at an agreeable pace, but the final result leaves very little impression. Definitely worth a watch for the silly enjoyment of it all, but certainly not one of the director's more memorable achievements.

PICTURE & SOUND
Transmission have decided to only release 'I'm So Excited!' on DVD, but while it would have been nice to see the colourful palette of the film in high definition, not much has been lost. The 1.85:1 transfer is a great DVD transfer, with good detail and colours bouncing off the screen. The same can be said for the Dolby Digital 5.1 track, which gives good balance between dialogue and music. English subtitles are provided.

SPECIAL FEATURES
No special features are available with the film.