User Reviews

¨El Otro Lado De La Cama¨ movie , a Spanish blockbuster , was a huge box office success earlier ; packing twisted relationships , comedy , dances with intense sensuality and including agreeable melodies . It is a funny picture dealing with couple relationships , jealousy , lies , family conflicts and many other things . Pedro is really happy and very much in love with his sweetheart , enticing Paula , but things go wrong as Paula leaves her mate Pedro ; as she is having an affair with Javier who treats her a very special way . But that's not all: a new attractive girls appear in their lives and all of them fall in love . Meanwhile ,Javier thinks she is cheating him with her lesbian friend .As various couples entwine on their search for love .Sometimes the game of love requires a little cheating... If love is only a game...Why not cheat?

Romantic Spanish comedy with good actors , spectacular musical numbers singing charming and nostalgic songs from the 80s , and nice direction . A film rich in troublesome loving stories , where love is the central theme seen from various points of view , as temptation , jealously and betrayal . This is an agreeable as well as uneven comedy in less than 114 minutes of length and yet with an air of naturalness and credibility rarely match . The best parts of the movie are the choreographic numbers and known songs adapted in original model with roots in pop music of the eighties ; recreating the essence of the classic songs by body movements accompanying sensual melodies and lyrics . This is an enjoyable musical comedy including love stories in which there is lesbianism , homosexuality , threesome , as well as the ordinary Spanish clichés . Colorful story of loves and jealousy in which predominates songs and musical spectacle . It has some moments of enjoyment as well as amusement and others quite a few embarrassing . Regular and unbalanced , but gaining the sympathy almost at all times . Bad timing results to be the voice of the singers with the actors , it is less achieved . Main actors as Ernesto Alterio , Natalia Verbeke , Alberto San Juan, María Esteve steal the show , interpreters who provided a considerable boost to the result . All of them play and dance wonderful and classic Spanish songs of the eighties from known bands and singers as Tequila, Kiko Veneno , Los Rodríguez , Ariel Rot , Julio Infante Alejo Stivel ,Nacho Mastretta . With only one original song ¨No se que hacer¨ composed by Coque Maya. As famous songs who performed are the followings : Las chicas son guerreras , Echo de menos , Dime que me quieres , Salta , Mucho mejor , Luna de Miel , among others.

Furthermore , dances and choreography by Paco Berdayas are pretty well , following Emilio Martinez Lazaro's ¨El Otro Lado De La Cama" style "Scandalous" or ¨¿ Porque Se Frotan Patitas ¿¨ (2006) by Alvaro Begines and François Ozon' ¨Potiche¨ and ¨Eight Women¨ . Glamorous and colorful cinematography by Juan Molina . And followed by a sequel : sequel that turns out to be an amusing picture "The 2 Sides of the Bed" in which 3 years passed and the boys seem to have matured . It was originally written and professionally directed by Emilio Martínez Lázaro . Initially, this movie was entitled "C'est magnifique" and the numbers were intended to be mimed. This seemed terrible to Emilio Martínez Lázaro and he decided that the songs had to be sung by the actors themselves.He was born in 1945 in Madrid , location in which he often shoots his films . He is a Spanish prestigious cinema director . Emilio is a director and writer, a good filmmaker expert on comedies as he has proved in : Los Peores Años De Nuestra Vida (1994) , El Juego Más Divertido (1998) and Amo Tu Cama Rica (1992) , drama : Las 13 Rosas (2007) La Voz De Su Amo (2001) , Musical as : ¨Al Otro Lado De La Cama¨ (2002) starred by Ernesto Alterio , Paz Vega , Natalia Verbeke , Guillermo Toledo , Ramón Barea , Alberto San Juan , María Esteve Nathalie Poza , Secun de la Rosa , and ¨Los Dos Lados De La Cama¨ (2005) . Being especially known for this ¨8 Apellidos Vascos¨or "Spanish Affair" considered to be the biggest box office in Spanish cinema and he is nowadays shooting ¨8 Apellidos Vascos 2¨ .

Lightheaded romantic comedy about two couples who changes partners and find their own way to happiness and understanding. The movie has the charm, witty and vitality of Latin movies (especially movies produced in Argentina and Spanish) but is far from be a great achievement on the genre or even a memorable piece of work. Mixture of love story, comedy and musical, 'Otro lado de la cama,El' give us a good work from the director, some ingenious scenes (like the scene in the theather, where Pedro(played by Guillermo Del Toro)appear as the 'Melon Kid') and a sympathetic cast, where you cand find the beauty of Paz Vega and Natalia Verbecke. In fact, the movie is a good amusement but don't expect to find the same intensity and impressive ideas thay you can fin in movies directed by Almodovar (at least, some of them) or Alejandro Almenábar.

I give this a 6 (six).

First of all, I love musicals, but I like to know beforehand that that's what I'm getting myself into. Ummm... we were enjoying this one as a fun romantic comedy when all of a sudden the male lead breaks out into song and a bunch of dancers appear out of no where!?! Not that it's bad, it's just that, well, NOTHING was mentioned about it on the packaging [again,do the people who write the blurbs actually watch the movies??]... The songs are in keeping with the overall tone of the film, and the dancing quite funny [hopefully intentionally so], but it's just that when you're not expecting them it can be one of those "Oh...my... we've rented a musical!?!?" It's a fun and funny movie, just be warned.

First of all, Damn ,, those ladies are pretty hot n sexy n cute. the performance is nice. well its a comedy movie , nothing serious in it. so i would say its ok that ending is suks.

2 couples , and everyone is a cheaters . cant control whats " between in legs" . so they all do whatever the feelings let them to do. and even in the end, its kinda bad ending but still they made it funny.

Emilio Martinez Lazaro, the director of this romantic comedy with music, is a man that appears to be in tune with what is going on with young people in Spain. He presents them in the form of a sophisticated circle of friends inter connected in a lot of ways. This film is light, in sharp contrast with other Spanish movies, whose directors believe they must deal with heavy themes that deal in politics, or the civil war or other local matters that have no appeal to a world audience.

The only thing wrong with the film are the many songs the director, and his screen writer, David Serrano, insist in having the characters sing at key moments of the action. The songs are just plain horrible!

The director had the good sense to cast Paz Vega, one of the most beautiful actresses from Spain, in the role of Sonia. She and Ernesto Alterio, make a nice couple. Also, Guillermo Toledo is excellent as Pedro. Natalia Verbeke, Alberto San Juan and Maria Esteve also contribute to make the film enjoyable.

The director shows promise, as his next film will probably prove.

This movie is aimed squarely at a female audience. The male characters are thinly drawn cartoons, and there's not much here for guys to enjoy besides some fairly limited female nudity. Movie musicals are difficult to execute properly. When this film broke into song, I just found it clumsy and I almost herniated myself attempting to suspend my disbelief.

The achingly gorgeous Paz Vega _almost_ salvages the movie on her own ... she is definitely headed for mainstream worldwide stardom. I plan to see her in Spanglish - she has already had several nightly starring roles behind my eyelids. The only thing that may hold her back is her too-strong facial resemblance to a young Winona Ryder. Perhaps if Ms. Ryder's film career stays off the tracks, that will make room for Ms. Vega's ascent.

the funniest movie i've ever seen, it's not a typical love story, it's politically incorrect, unusual and it has no taboos. some people may find it obscene, pornographic or bad-mannered. the truth is that this movie is a great example of comedy, funny but not senseless like austin powers or torrente(which are funny but don't have any kind of plot. this one is a serious musical movie with an interesting plot and some great rock songs on it. i would recommend it to everyone who wants to spend a nice time. if catholic church told us not to see it it must be good, funny and modern.

An engaging song and dance musical about two couples who get off with each other's partners. All very light hearted feelgood adult stuff in the style of many a light Shakespeare or Mozart comedy, but updated to include lots of nitty-gritty. The cast are drop dead gorgeous, they have mottos like "there's not enough f***ing in the world" and are ultimately tolerant enough about each other's misdemeanours and tendency to be economical with the truth. All politically correct, with lots of mixed sexual orientation to keep it bubbling, a private detective who gets it all on video (after solving the mystery of how JFK committed suicide and how Marylin Monroe never really died), unexpected exposures and reverses, and it all turns out happily at the end like some Oscar Wilde farce. Not to be missed.

Difficult to know the reason why somebody would like to make a movie as dull and tasteless as this film. Is not funny but sad to see how an empty story goes just showing characters and scenes without any meaning at all.The best is the end just because we can just forget quickly this silly and sleepy film. The worst is the music, awful songs! Maybe they tried to copy Dancing in the Dark? The Spanish version? Is it this a version of the Dogma in the Iberian style? Whatever this movie try to be is a total failure.

This movie is well written, well directed, well acted, and fresh.

The sex is integral to the movie, and only modest amounts of skin are shown.

This is great comedy.

It's subtle, and deserves a viewing.

You are at first drawn into a plot involving infidelity, but the behavior slowly spreads to all four of the primary characters, and by movie's end the entanglements are complete and there is much fun to be had.

Do rent this.

I was frankly getting a little bored even of World Cinema until I happened upon this little gem. It's everything Dennis Potter's (r.i.p) Singing Detective could/should have been but wasn't.

As you'll appreciate from that summary, it has acting and singing - but don't let that put you off - PLEASE don't let that put you off. I hate musicals myself but this is FANTASTIC. Witty, wry, sexy - the lot.

If you don't learn anything from this movie, can I stay at your house?

It is a wonderful film. Watch it. Buy it. Steal it if you have to.

An engaging song and dance musical about two couples who get off with each other's partners. All very light hearted feelgood adult stuff in the style of many a light Shakespeare or Mozart comedy, but updated to include lots of nitty-gritty. The cast are drop dead gorgeous, they have mottos like "there's not enough f*cking in the world" and are ultimately tolerant enough about each other's misdemeanours and tendency to be economical with the truth. All politically correct, with lots of mixed sexual orientation to keep it bubbling, a private detective who gets it all on video (after solving the mystery of how JFK committed suicide and how Marylin Monroe never really died), unexpected exposures and reverses, and it all turns out happily at the end like some Oscar Wilde farce. Not to be missed.

[The cast isn't known in the U.S.-check the IMDb home page for this film for the full listing.]

Spanish director Emilio Martinez-Lazaro isn't as well known as his contemporary, much studied and highly regarded Pedro Almodovar. If "The Other Side of the Bed" represents his best work, I hope he and his films become more familiar to U.S. audiences soon.

Sparklingly clever and funny, this is a relationships comedy in an almost opera bouffe style with a measured dose of slapstick. Music - songs with funny lyrics (you have to follow the subtitles carefully)- and sprightly choreography more than highlight the story. Martinez-Lazaro creatively uses song and dance to bridge narrative portions, summarize a fast shifting plot-line and bring the viewer along in what otherwise would, however good the acting, be a fairly conventional and oft-told story of couples checking out their best friends in the sack.

And that story is:

Javier deeply loves the beautiful Sylvia and they have an uninhibited sex life. Paula dumps her adoring boyfriend,Pedro, for another man but she won't tell him who the guy is. He's Javier and she hounds him to tell Sylvia their relationship is over. Javier can't bring himself to do that so he continues enjoying vigorous bedroom calisthenics with both his adoring Sylvia and the increasingly irritated and losing patience Paula. Pedro sobs on Sylvia's shoulder. He's obsessed with Paula and has even hired a truly wacko P.I. (the guy wrote a book claiming J.F.K. killed himself) to tail Paula. Guess where unloading his grief on sympathetic Sylvia leads.

The women and the men both have friends also dealing with relationship issues. Everyone is likable-not a bad ass character in the whole film. Two women, Jennifer and Pilar, have small but highly humorous roles that add to the central quartet's roiling, almost out-of-control issues.

"The Other Side of the Bed" seems a bit like a Spanish Woody Allen film and "Everyone Says I Love You" springs first to mind. But this isn't a derivative take on a terrific Woody flick. Martinez-Lazaro has neither patience with nor interest in Allen's quest to uncover every known neurosis (no one in this film is remotely anhedonic) nor does he look for barely concealed powerful emotions as Almodovar does. His characters want stability as a second course to lust but they're not examining their childhoods, their relationships with mom or the impact of a turbulent world on their amorous activities. These folks want pure joy and they often find and express that wonderful quality in and with each other. Sylvia, Paula, Pedro and Javier are, I suspect, iconographic representations of what many of us fantasize about in terms of our own relationship experiences (usually fruitlessly). How can any viewer not like these young, hip, affluent libido-driven bed-hoppers?

Sundance scores here by making this flick available on DVD. Be sure to keep reading subtitles carefully as the end credits role.

The cast must have had a blast making "The Other Side of the Bed." Neither side, by the way, is suitable for kids as there's a fair bit of nudity and simulated(?) sex.

9/10.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BED is a musical / comedy about two couples. This is the end with any similarity on any American movie in several years.

Here the romance is not the main point. The sex is. The story is simple. Two couples (Javier / Sonia and Paula / Rafa), very good old friends. One day, Paula end his relation with Rafa for another mystery man (who is not other than Javier). They have a friendly break up, but Rafa obsessed tries to find out who is the other guy asking Javier for help. Javier, is not sure about leaving Sonia creating a crisis on his new relation with Paula, plus the problems trying to hide everything to his best friend.

On the other side, as Rafa gets more depressed Sonia gets hook on his tenderness and a few days later they are having an affair. Of course, Javier notices something happens to Sonia and goes to his friend for help. Add to the mess: another couple in a similar situation, a lesbian, a detective, a non stop talking friend plus some songs and dancing.

You can realise that the thing is not a tragedy even if it looks like that. And this is the best thing. Not only there is a lot of humor, but the end is not moralizing or sad; is just what EVERYBODY deep inside wished.

The acting ranges from excellent (almost all men) to very good (Vega, Verbeke and Esteve). Men characters are better developed than women´s, but (I believe) is because men´s reactions on this type of situations are funnier.

As I stated before, this movie is not about romance, is about how little things destroy a couple even when love still exist. And sometimes, the only solution is to clear our moral limitations and look for new things and experiences. That does not mean an orgy or an bizarre sexual experience, but just starting again in a different way.

I am a Christian, and according to my education, everything here is sin. But according to the Bible, who makes de mistake and repents (then learning from them) is the one to be saved.

My hopes are a commercial release for this movie and that the MPAA does not declare this movie NC-17 only because of the subject resolution. The nudity sex scenes are very light.

When Paula (Natalia Verbeke) leaves her mate Pedro (Guillermo Toledo), he misses her and looks for comfort with his best friends, Javier (Ernesto Alterio) and Sonia (Paz Vega). Paula is having an affair with Javier. The cuckold Pedro tries to find who is the secret lover of Paula, and hires a private eye. Meanwhile, while comforting Pedro, Sonia has one night stand with him and Javier thinks she is cheating him with her lesbian friend Lucia (Nathalie Poza).

"El Otro Lado de la Cama" is a sexy, delightful and witty comedy about betrayal and infidelity. The performances are very natural, the women are very sexy and gorgeous and in the end it is very pleasant entertainment. Paz Vega and Natalia Verbeke are really delicious and a collyrium for the men's eyes with their perfect bodies and breasts and beautiful faces. The conspiracy theories of the private eye Sagaz (obs: his name is also a joke: it means sagacious, smart in Spanish)(Ramón Barea) about John Kennedy, Marylin Monroe and Elvis Presley are hilarious. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Outro Lado da Cama" ("The Other Side of the Bed")

Greetings again from the darkness. What a delightful, odd romp of a film this is! Romantic Comedy is not the full label as the dramatic twists and musical interludes give the film a full body effect. Focusing on the male leads, Javier and Pedro, we are offered a glimpse into the insecurities of men in relationships. Both actors are excellent and Guillermo Toledo is truly remarkable as the hang-dog Pedro who has every reason to experience low self-esteem. Many outright hilarious moments and quite a few poignant ones as well. Paz Vega ("Sex with Lucia") dominates the screen in her scenes and has the female 6th sense to know what is happening even before it does! Let's just say most American filmgoers will struggle a bit with the pace of the film as the musical interludes purposefully keep one off balance. I will say the singing and dancing is comically bad, but I assume it was meant to be. If not, I don't want to know! Definitely one to check out when you are in the mood for something a little different.

I liked the WEST SIDE STORY/Umbrellas of Cherbourg combination

--- the characters exude understated loneliness and passion/longing in their (usually) solitary musings/hallucinations like the doomed lovers in the French film; while the superbly choreographed dances are lively, flamboyant and outrageous, as in the Robert Wise musical classic.

The picture's quality is so sleek, glossy and crisp- just like the sharply polished characters with their cool jobs and lifestyles. Although they tend to be alienating --- so "Melrose Place", they belong to a TV show rather than a movie, they're just too devastatingly gorgeous, hip and lucky--- some characters have the odd, downright pathetic (though emotionally lightweight) predicament that make us somehow care about them (and of course, envy them).

What further heightens my TV soap-opera comparison is the characters being trapped in the little world they created themselves, which, although very exciting, is also very stressful and complicated. Hence, the songs are mostly performed in small, enclosed places and in medium shots and close-ups, unlike in the grand, majestic West Side Story and Umbrellas of Cherbourg musicals.

The highstrung dramatic moments are kept in check by the funny, ironic twists and the characters' amusing weaknesses, and why is it that the men are such cads and a-holes and cute lovable hunks at the same time?

Despite the preoccupation with very personal "issues", the film manages to get some social commentary in. Though the guys in testosterone overdrive just wanna have fun, they acknowledge the warrior-like quality of women and the fact that it is they who control the sexual relationship. Likewise, the characters take "marriage" humorously and lightly- in fact, even mock it with a naughty grin.

Not a particularly illuminating and substantial film, but its bombastic, wacky dances, sexy anatomies galore and sizzling, riotous swinging-sex-partner-swapping action guarantee that you're in for an enjoyable rockin' and bed-rollin...

Best seen "on the other side of the bed" with your partner

The plot is simple, but effective. The humor is just brilliant. A musical comedy (or a comical musical) with six excellent actors.

I really enjoyed the film from the very first line to the great final with Calamaro's song.

I was in a good mood, and this film pull it even higher, even though I have to admit this always happens when Paz Vega is in a film.

It will not change your life, but it will certainly give you a good moment to remember.

Javier (Ernesto Alterio) has a problem. Pedro's (Guillermo Toledo - The Galíndez File, The Perfect Crime) girlfriend (Natalia Verbeke) just left him because she is in love with Javier. Javier still has Sonia (Paz Vega) at home. Now, he has to find the energy to satisfy both until he mans up and decides which is the one. Of course, the fact that Pedro is his best friend also complicates matters.

This is a romcom made the way romcoms should be made. People don't just run around falling in love; they also have sex. Shocking! Vega (Lucía y el sexo, Spanglish) is great as usual and tries to help Pedro get over his problem. Well, one thing leads to another, and things get complicated.

Other characters come in and out, like Leticia Dolera (Man Push Cart), to add to the comedy and, surprise, they break out in song and dance every once in a while. Natalia Verbeke can really sing.

Paula returns to Pedro and things really get exciting. Javier thinks Sonia is a lesbian, and Pedro and Lucis can't decide whether they want to tell they are back together. It's a mess.

This was one of the funniest films about relationships that I have seen.

I think I haven't enjoyed so much a film in years, is a great comedy that im sure anyone is gonna like. I would cualify it as one of the best and most original comedies of the last years. Guillermo Toledo, makes a great interpretation as well as the other actors and actress, this film is HIGHLY RECOMENDED!!!

This movie is very reminiscent of American sit-coms such as Friends, with only minimal character development and some halfway decent comedy, but then someone decided it would be a good idea to make it into a musical.

Why, oh why?! Quite apart from the badly-choreographed, fetishised female dancing sequences, the actors can't sing! The songs seem to encroach on the plot rather than aid it, and the fact that the songs are often shot in a different location (with completely different lighting, mise-en-scene etc) from the preceding and following scenes makes the film as a whole seem disjointed.

The time spent on the musical numbers would have been better used to provide a little more character development - after all, the film boasts an impressive cast, but sadly their talents are not exploited to their full potential.

This is a really funny film, highly recommended for everyone with a bit of a sense of humour. Not only the situations are extremely funny but also the dialogues. The worst part: when the actors sign. I´m sorry but they sign very bad, above all the boys (so I don´t recommend the original soundtrack but maybe I´ll recommend the original versions of the songs, spanish pop of the 80´s). Anyway, very good film. As I have said, you´ll laugh a lot.

Mark: 9/10

Welcome to the world of love in its perfect way, in a perfect movie. When I say love in a perfect way, I say it ironically because the love is not perfect in the film, but at least it is the way it should be. Emilio Martínez Lázaro invites you to bed and David Serrano puts the words in everyone's mouth; it's the perfect team.

To make a movie work, the people involved must be sure and confident enough to say: "I want to do this". Here, we presence a harmonious piece of cinema, with all its parts fitting correctly for the final product. I'm messing with harmony because there's music here; and mixing two amazing things like love and music, in this special way, requires courage.

The team succeeds in every objective planned. The songs chosen for each moment, sang by the original cast, with spectacular choreographing in any part of the city, that show us girls dancing alongside the character who's singing the songs. These songs go from happiness to sadness, and sometimes they are incredibly depressing.

The film is not excellent because it is not flawless; it has some obvious faults, compensated by the other wonders the movie offers. I was drinking tea when the movie started, so I turned on the light, planning to turn it off once I finished the tea, but I couldn't get my eyes off the screen.

The wonders of the film come with their characters and their way of being and talking to each other. Talking is how they hide the truth; because even best friends betray themselves. Groups of friends get together to comment about women, but they all have something hidden. Anyway, they say things like: "The people in this country are not happy because it is not having sex"; and: "There are studies that say that we are all bisexual".

Going back to the perfect way of love…As I say, I prefer reality, although I like unreal situations because they make me feel like impossible things can really occur. Now forget about "Nothing Hill", "Maid in Manhattan", "Love Actually" and all those beautiful but clichéd romantic comedies or dramas ("The story of us"); when you watch "El otro lado de la cama" you'll face the truth about romantic situations. The film also has a great comedic rhythm, and as love, humor comes from reality. It was not faked; I laughed out loud, more than when I watched any of the previous comedies.

The cast is another of the wonders the movie has; full of naturally gifted Spanish recognized actors which make their characters human enough. It would have probably been the same with any actors, but I loved to see this dream cast. Ernesto Alterio (Javier), son of the incredible Héctor, Argentinean as him but living in Spain, seemed at first a little forced to me, but ultimately came as the most natural actor of the cast, with great dancing skills and comedic touches, funny faces. The natural Guillermo Toledo (Pedro) is outstanding only with his way of talking, but then he has many more details included in his performance. Respected and recognized, also Argentinean Natalia Verbeke (Paula) shows her big amount of talent again in another fine performance. Then Paz Vega (God, she's gorgeous)…An extremely measured and calculated performance, with sensuality and charm as the complex Sonia. Alberto San Juan (Rafa) steals every scene with his simplistic view of life and, above all, sex. María Esteve (Pilar), Nathalie Poza (Lucia), Ramón Barea (Antonio Sagaz, a detective; and "sagaz" means sagacious)…A unique gem in Spanish cinema.