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Movies / On DVD / Queens (aka Reinas)
Queens (aka Reinas)

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Queens (aka Reinas) (2006)

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Reviews Counted: 30

Fresh: 13

Rotten:17

Average Rating: 5.3/10

Consensus: It hints at something greater, but ultimately, Queens lacks the substance necessary to set it apart from similarly themed Spanish comedies.

Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Synopsis: Director Manuel Gómez Pereira (BETWEEN YOUR LEGS) spins a fictional tale around a pivotal landmark in Spanish history with QUEENS. July 3, 2005 marked the day that gay marriage was legalized in Spain, so Pereira constructed this light... Director Manuel Gómez Pereira (BETWEEN YOUR LEGS) spins a fictional tale around a pivotal landmark in Spanish history with QUEENS. July 3, 2005 marked the day that gay marriage was legalized in Spain, so Pereira constructed this light comedy about the impending nuptials of three gay couples, who are planning to tie the knot on the very day the law changed. But in an interesting twist Pereira shifts the focus of his film away from the soon-to-be happy couples and instead weaves an amusing narrative around several of the mothers (played by Verónica Forqué, Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes, Mercedes Sampietro, and Betiana Blum) who are set to see their sons drift off into wedded bliss. As the mothers fuss and fight, a full range of concerns come to the fore, with issues of class and money raising their ugly heads, and Pereira deftly illustrating that there's very little difference between preparing for a gay wedding or a or straight one. The director throws in a few wickedly funny eccentricities throughout, with sex-mad Forqué's constant fornication threatening to throw a shadow over her son's big day, and Sampietro's homophobic mom being elected to wed all the couples. Pedro Almodovar's earlier comedies such as WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS? frequently come to mind, although Pereira's film is lighter fare, with the director more interested in raising laughs than in raising awareness. But QUEENS isn't designed to make any deeply political points beyond its basic premise, just to provide some entertainingly mindless viewing, largely thanks to excellent performances from its leading troupe of actresses. [More]

Starring: Verónica Forqué, Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes, Mercedes Sampietro

Starring: Verónica Forqué, Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes, Mercedes Sampietro, Betiana Blum

Director: Manuel Gomez Pereira

Director: Manuel Gomez Pereira
Screenwriter: Yolanda Garcia Serano
Producer: Joaquin Oristrell
Composer: Bingen Mendizabal
Studio: Regent Releasing

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Reviews for Queens (aka Reinas)

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Ratings Image

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.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
David Noh
Film Journal International
Ratings Image

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/30/06
Toddy Burton
Austin Chronicle
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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.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
10/06/06
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
Ratings Image

Pedro Almodovar-flavored but quite tame.

Full Review Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel | comment Comment
10/05/06
Laura Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Ratings Image

The frantic artificiality of the script rarely allows the characters to breathe. This is dinner-theater farce, featherweight and juiceless.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
09/29/06
John Hartl
Seattle Times
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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.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
09/28/06
Bill White
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
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Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
09/23/06
Dallas Morning News
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Manuel Gómez Pereira's frantic direction is nonstop and the exhaustion of excess will get to you.

Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | comment Comment
09/23/06
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan
Ratings Image

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.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
09/22/06
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
Ratings Image

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.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
09/15/06
G. Allen Johnson
San Francisco Chronicle
Ratings Image

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
09/08/06
Teresa Budasi
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
09/07/06
Jessica Reaves
Chicago Tribune
Ratings Image

We may be deep in Telemundo territory, but that doesn't diminish the glow-in-the-dark charisma of these impressive ladies.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
09/07/06
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ratings Image

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.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
09/01/06
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
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An ungainly, broadly played comedy.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
08/25/06
Michael Rechtshaffen
Hollywood Reporter
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With five overbearing mothers and six overshadowed gay sons, this Spanish meet-the-parents ensemble farce aims for Almodóvar but falls far short.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
08/25/06
Melissa Levine
Village Voice
Ratings Image

Queens is distinguished from a hundred other slick screwballers only by virtue of its theme -- the first mass gay wedding in Spain. Otherwise, it's middle-of-the-road formula fare all the way.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
08/25/06
Jonathan Holland
Variety
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Ratings Image

A dithering but generous Spanish farce, Queens follows the coming nuptials of three gay couples by focusing on their overbearing mothers.

comment Comment
08/25/06
Jeannette Catsoulis
New York Times
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Ratings Image

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.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
08/25/06
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Ratings Image

[A] frothy, occasionally charming romantic comedy.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
08/25/06
Stephen Williams
Newsday
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Queens (aka Reinas)

August 24, 2006: Critical Consensus: "Invincible," "Worms" Score; "Idlewild," "Beerfest" Mixed
This week at the movies, we've got four underdog stories. An average Joe tries to play pro football ("Invincible," starring Mark Wahlberg), the new kid in school tries... More...

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Related Forums for Queens (aka Reinas)

REEL_REVIEWER
(Queer)-QUEENS livens up the comedic potential of gay marriage by adding the MOTHERS!
by: REEL_REVIEWER 12/9/06


REEL_REVIEWER
(Queer)-QUEENS livens up the comedic potential of gay marriage by adding the MOTHERS!
by: REEL_REVIEWER 12/9/06


REEL_REVIEWER
(Queer)-QUEENS livens up the comedic potential of gay marriage by adding the MOTHERS!
by: REEL_REVIEWER 12/9/06


REEL_REVIEWER
(Queer)-QUEENS livens up the comedic potential of gay marriage by adding the MOTHERS!
by: REEL_REVIEWER 12/9/06
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