TWO MUCH

Spain/US, 1995, 113 minutes, Colour.
Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Daryl Hannah, Danny Aiello, Joan Cusack, Eli Wallach.
Directed by Fernando Trueba.

Two Much in the film where Antonio Banderas met Melanie Griffith and they subsequently married - though not in the film. He marries Daryl Hannah.

The film is co-written and directed by Fernando Trueba, who won an Oscar for his Spanish period film La Belle Epoque. It is co-written with his brother David and with novelist Donald E. Westlake (The Hot Rock and other action and criminal stories).

This kind of story works better on the Continent where it seems to be more believable and is done with a lighter touch. The story is about two sisters, one of whom becomes infatuated with an art dealer and imposes on him for a marriage. However, he falls in love with the more disdainful sister. The film spends a lot of time with Antonio Banderas changing into the two different alleged twin brothers and trying to deal with the two sisters.

Joan Cusack gives a very good performance as his assistant (the kind of thing she was to do two years later in Grosse Point Blank. Danny Aiello plays the gangster who is softer than his surface because of his psychiatric sessions.

The film has its entertaining moments, the stars do their best, although Antonio Banderas is really given an impossible task to portray the two brothers believably.

1. The popularity of romance, farce? A successful blend or not? American/Spanish collaboration?

2. The title, the twins, the farce?

3. The Florida settings, wealthy homes, gangsters, art galleries, ordinary apartments? The musical score?

4. Art and his background, his predicament with Gene, at the funeral, escaping in Betty's car, the whirlwind romance and sex, the proposal of marriage, his accepting? His meeting with Liz in the shower, the embarrassment, his falling in love with her? His relationship with his father? Coming from Spain, setting up in Florida? Gloria and the management of the office? Manny and his art - and Art having given up painting, managing the artists, giving Manny his favourite painting? His letting himself into the predicament with Betty and Liz - unable to get himself out except by extravagant behaviour?

5. The farcical aspects with the creation of Bart, the phone calls to each other, the different appointments, dinners, the maitre d' at the restaurant and his disdain, the bed and shower sequence, at the art gallery?

6. Betty and her flibbertigibbet style, marrying Gene twice, the importance of the number 3, her fights with Gene, infatuated with Art and the car, the sexual relationship, Liz and her advice, going to the gallery, meeting Gloria, going to the dinner, Art spiking her wine, being in a coma, the next morning, the wedding, overhearing Gene's declaration via the phone, marrying him again?

7. The contrast with Liz, serious, accusing Art of being a gigolo, attracted by Bart and his opinions, going for coffee, the dinner, the visit to his apartment, taking the painting, not believing the truth, finally convinced?

8. Gloria and her work at the office, her quips, going out with Manny, romance?

9. Art's father, the story of his being in Spain, the Lincoln Brigade, his flirting with Gloria, with Liz, the card game, the reckless driving, trying to save his son?

10. The psychiatrist, losing his ring at the beginning, at the wedding, dealing with Gene and with Betty, finding the ring at the end - and his comment about Freud?

11. Gene, his henchmen, tough, sentimental, reliance on his psychiatrist?

12. The build-up to the wedding, Art trying to be both characters, talking with himself, the phone, his being left at the altar?

13. His going back to work, painting, Gloria and the gallery, his exhibition, Liz's exhibition, the happy ending?