I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

This movie is called "Kika" yet does not tell the story of the cosmetologist, just smalls bits of it. It should be called "Nicolas meets Kika" or "Ramon meets Kika", which are the ones this movie is about. Nevertheless, Kika's appearance doesn't affect the plot line. Nick's crazy killing spree would've been far more interesting if there was any background at all, and at the beginning when Ramon's mother commits "suicide" it is very plain to see that someone else shot her in the chest, leaving the rest of the movie pretty predictable. I know this is supposedly a comedy, but the raping scene it's just awful and Kika's reaction afterward even more unrealistic. I wanted to see how Pablo was caught and Kika turned into lesbian, and formed a couple with Juana. Also I wanted to see more about Andrea Scarface's show and Juana's obvious lesbianism. I completely disliked this film, it didn't made me laugh even once and the only thing I can say I agree about, is Juana's lines about not wanting to shave because mustaches are not men's heritage only.

Kika is a movie whose plot sounds tasteless beyond belief if merely read aloud. After all it features an extended rape scene played for laughs; the rapist himself is a porn star who has sexually assaulted so many girls that his sister forms an incestuous relationship with him to take his mind off raping even more women. This is hardly typical comic fare it has to be said. Imagine if in 1979 Mel Brooks had decided to make a spoof of I Spit on Your Grave, the results would have been an absolute travesty. That's what the synopsis of Kika makes you think of. However, Kika was made by Pedro Almodóvar and for some reason he seems to be capable of making even the most grossly offensive material so completely ridiculous it comes at you in reverse and can be alarmingly funny. The rape scene in Kika is comedic and before watching the movie I simply could not understand how such a thing could ever be.The film is named after the cosmetologist played by Veronica Forqué. But the movie is not really her story, it has several memorable characters. Ramón is a young photographer whose mother commits suicide. Nicholas is his womanising step-father. The latter hires Kika to work on the corpse of Ramón, who comes back to life unexpectedly and embarks on a relationship with Kika. Kika's maid Juana is a lesbian who is in love with Kika, her brother Pablo is the porn star rapist. All the time in the background on the television is Andrea (a.k.a. Scarface) the host of a reality TV show that celebrates real life tragedy, death and destruction. The movie concludes with an unexpected serial killer plot strand.It's true that the story is somewhat chaotic. There are so many separate ideas in here that the film seems a bit unfocused. But because it is essentially a comedy this isn't really so much of a problem. While there is a lot of silly humour, the film is mainly a media satire. With this in mind the most important and memorable character is Andrea who is kitted out in some fantastically over-the-top Jean-Paul Gaultier outfits, including her street gear which includes a helmet with attached movie camera. Victoria Abril is really excellent in this role. She is simultaneously wicked and sexy at all times. The scenes of her broadcasting her show from a stage are the most visually iconic in the movie. She roams the streets of Madrid intrusively filming scenes of grieving people and aftermaths of violent encounters. She is the black heart of Kika.Despite the controversial moments it's simply impossible to take the events depicted at all seriously. Almodóvar's typical colourful aesthetic is present throughout and the tone is consistently absurd. This means that he gets away with material that would have been contentious otherwise. As it is, Kika is very entertaining.

I am not sure what Pedro was thinking when he wrote this film, considering he made the Oscar-nominated 'Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' five years earlier.The film tries too hard to be a comedy. Veronika Forque is over-the-top in her performance, which is the point in most of Pedro's films, but this is exaggerated. There is nothing comedic about the infamous rape scene, nor should rape be classified as comedy ever.I do appreciate the character Andrea, because she represents the media in how she considers every horrific event as news entertainment. Perhaps that is the point Pedro Almodovar wanted to make. Otherwise the rest of the film falls flat.Do not make this film have you turn away from such a wonderful director. His later works are masterpieces, and he only improves through age. I recommend any of his other films, especially 'Broken Embraces' or 'Volver'.

This film was the worst piece of garbage I have ever seen. The worst Almodovar film by far (and I've seen every one but Flower of My Secret and High Heels). No character development whatsoever, the film drags for the first 3/4ths of it, then is wrapped up haphazardly in the last 20 minutes. Rape is again treated nonchalantly by Almodovar, and Veronica Forque, who I'm told by my film professor was supposed to emulate Marilyn Monroe, is both irritating and flaky. Warning: this film has no cinematic value. A real bomb for Almodovar. Watch at your own risk.