Four's a Crowd (2022 film)

Four's a Crowd
Theatrical release poster
SpanishEl cuarto pasajero
Directed byÁlex de la Iglesia
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRita Noriega
Edited byDomingo González
Music byRoque Baños
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Entertainment Iberia
Release date
  • 28 October 2022 (2022-10-28)
Running time
99 minutes
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish
Box office€4.3 million

Four's a Crowd[1] (Spanish: El cuarto pasajero)[2][3][n. 1] is a 2022 Spanish road romantic comedy film directed by Álex de la Iglesia, starring Alberto San Juan, Blanca Suárez, Ernesto Alterio and Rubén Cortada.

Plot

In the wake of using a car-sharing mobile app to cope with his economic problems, Julián, a divorced man, meets Lorena, whom he begins to travel with to Madrid on a regular basis in his Volvo XC60, falling romantically for her. He is about to open up his feelings in one of those travels, but the situation takes an unexpected turn because of the selection of the rest of passengers.[5][6][7]

Cast

Production

Jorge Guerricaechevarría took over co-writing duties alongside director Álex de la Iglesia.[11] Rita Noriega [es] was charged with the direction of photography.[12] The film is a Telecinco Cinema, Pokeepsie Films and Te Has Venido Arriba AIE production and it had the participation of Mediaset España, Movistar+ and Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group.[13] Filming began on 25 January 2021.[6] Shooting locations included Bilbao (marking De la Iglesia's film return to his native city after his feature debut Acción mutante),[14] Álava, La Rioja,[15] and Madrid.[2] The production was temporarily halted due to a COVID-19 positive test.[16]

Release

Distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia S.L.U.,[13] the film was set for a 4 November 2022 theatrical release date in Spain,[17] then rescheduled to 28 October.[2] It was the largest opening of the weekend (and it made the second-largest grossing overall after Black Adam).[18] It had an in-year gross of €4.3 million.[19]

Reception

Raquel Hernández Luján of HobbyConsolas rated the film with 78 points ("good"), deeming it to be a "funny, surprising and at times even delirious" comedy, as well as an "anti-buddy movie that makes you laugh", highlighting the character design, the plot twists and the full commitment to their roles on the part of the two "immense" San Juan and Alterio as the best things about the film, while citing certain "trite" elements pertaining the romantic comedy subplot as a negative point.[10]

Fausto Fernández of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars highlighting the duel held between San Juan and Alterio, "worthy of The Hitcher... or Planes, Trains and Automobiles" as the film's standout.[20]

Miguel Ángel Romero of Cinemanía rated the film 2 out of 5 stars deeming it to be an "endless and fun trip in BlaBlaCar, [yet] too trite".[21]

Sergi Sánchez of La Razón rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, highlighting the reformulation of the romcom genre under a road movie structure (which manages to "work and entertain") as the best thing about the film, while dismissing the fiction taking place in a hotel, slowing down the pace, as the worst thing about it.[22]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2023 10th Feroz Awards Best Comedy Film Nominated [23]
78th CEC Medals Best Music Roque Baños Nominated [24][25]

See also

Informational notes

  1. ^ Originally titled El cuarto pasajero, it was temporarily billed as "Blablacar", later recovering its original title.[4] It was stylised as El Cu4rto Pasajero.

References

  1. ^ Hopewell, John (19 May 2022). "Alex de la Iglesia's 'Four's a Crowd' Pounced On by Filmax (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  2. ^ a b c "Primeras imágenes de 'BlaBlaCar', la nueva comedia de Álex de la Iglesia". Cinemanía}. 17 May 2022 – via 20minutos.es.
  3. ^ Lang, Jamie (29 January 2021). "Álex de la Iglesia Gets 'Perfect Strangers' Band Back Together For 'El cuarto pasajero' – Global Bulletin". Variety.
  4. ^ D'Ocon, Manuel (3 August 2022). "El cuarto pasajero' de Alex de la Iglesia: te contamos todo lo que sabemos". Fotogramas.
  5. ^ "El Volvo XC60, actor de 'El Cuarto Pasajero', la nueva 'road movie' de Álex de la Iglesia". El Español. 22 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b Rivera, Alfonso (1 February 2021). "Álex de la Iglesia comparte coche con El cuarto pasajero". Cineuropa.
  7. ^ a b c Silvestre, Juan (29 January 2021). "Alex de la Iglesia arranca el rodaje de 'El cuarto pasajero'". Fotogramas.
  8. ^ a b "Álex de la Iglesia estrena la comedia romántica 'El cuarto pasajero'". Noticias de Álava. 26 October 2022.
  9. ^ Serrano, Ana (18 October 2022). "Blanca Suárez y Rubén Cortada, dos (y algunos más) en la carretera". Glamour.
  10. ^ a b c Hernández Luján, Raquel (19 October 2022). "Crítica de El cuarto pasajero: vuelve un Álex de la Iglesia desternillante con un par de maletas de mala leche". HobbyConsolas.
  11. ^ "El cuarto pasajero". 1 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Álex de la Iglesia y Rita Noriega comienzan el rodaje de "El cuarto pasajero"". Camera and Light Mag. 29 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b Granger, Tom (29 January 2021). "Spanish 'Perfect Strangers' Team Reunite For Road Movie 'El Cuarto Pasajero'". Deadline Hollywood.
  14. ^ Atutxa, S.; Araluzea, A; Guerrero, Borja (28 January 2021). "El rodaje de "El Cuarto pasajero' de Álex de la Iglesia continúa en Bilbao". Deia.
  15. ^ Ruiz, Luis J. (26 March 2021). "Los sancionados por la fiesta en un hotel de Logroño forman parte del equipo de rodaje de Álex de la Iglesia". La Rioja.
  16. ^ "El rodaje de la nueva película de Álex de la Iglesia, en cuarentena por un caso de Covid-19". El Español. 9 February 2021.
  17. ^ "'El cuarto pasajero', de Álex de la Iglesia, se estrena el 4 de noviembre". Cine con Ñ. 18 February 2022.
  18. ^ Rull, Carles (31 October 2022). "'El cuarto pasajero' de Álex de la Iglesia debuta sin superar a 'Black Adam' en taquilla". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  19. ^ "Una recuperación más lenta de lo esperado en 2022". Audiovisual451. 7 February 2023.
  20. ^ Fernández, Fausto (28 October 2022). "Crítica de 'El cuarto pasajero': un nuevo viaje de Álex de la Iglesia". Fotogramas.
  21. ^ Romero, Miguel Ángel (24 October 2022). "Crítica de 'El cuarto pasajero'". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  22. ^ Sánchez, Sergi (28 October 2022). "Crítica de "El cuarto pasajero": el triunfo de la anarquía ★★★☆☆". La Razón.
  23. ^ "Premios Feroz 2023 | Palmarés completo: empatan 'As bestas' y 'Cinco lobitos' en cine y 'La ruta' y 'No me gusta conducir' en series". Cinemanía. 29 January 2023 – via 20minutos.es.
  24. ^ "'As bestas' y 'Cinco lobitos', las más nominadas a las Medallas CEC". Cine con Ñ. 15 December 2022.
  25. ^ "'As Bestas', participada por RTVE, triunfa en los premios CEC con 9 medallas". rtve.es. 7 February 2023.