A Gun In Each Hand (Una Pistola En Cada Mano)
Starring: Javier Camara, Ricardo Darin, Eduard Fernandez
Directed By: Cesc Gay
Reviewed by Danielle Muir
[rating: 3/5]
A Gun In Each Hand is one of those charming, mildly entertaining films that is worth your time on a rainy day – or for anyone who wants to bask in the splendour of Spain and live vicariously. The whole is comprised of several light-hearted, dialogue-centric segments revolving around various middle aged men and the issues with the women in their lives (each man named after a letter of the alphabet). In one, a man attempts to woo back his ex-wife (whom he divorced after meeting another woman). In another (the most entertaining), a husband follows his wife to the house of her suspected lover – running into an old friend as he waits on the park bench outside.
This is essentially the layout of each scene – people meet, they speak for around twenty minutes, something is revealed or agreed upon, the scene ends. The script is just amusing and interesting enough to keep the pace bearable, but when we reach that ninety-five minute mark we are more than ready to depart.
The cinematographer has done a wonderful job making suburban Spain looks glorious, with the sandstone buildings and primary colours popping on screen a definite drawcard as the middle aged men stand and act befuddled against their scenery. The look of the film is probably the last hook in your attention that keeps you from boredom, otherwise the whole experience would have been a bit too passé for interests sake. That said, there are some charming moments that will entertain Spanish film lovers or those who sympathise with the tribulations of middle-aged marriages and friendships, such as the office worker bored with his wife who blunders when propositioning his fellow colleague Mamen. He’s your typical office nerd, she’s your typical hot-blooded Spanish seductress.
There really isn’t much I can say other than this seems to be a nice film, with nice people – those who enjoy foreign comedies will find it mildly entertaining, those who struggle finding humour in regular Western comedies should steer clear.
A Gun In Each Hand is showing as part of the 16th Spanish Film Festival at Palace Cinemas
