So, to my own surprise, I was actually keen to see the cast return for another round. For those who didn't get the chance to catch up, the hard fought inter-regional love of Rafael (Dani Rovira) and Amaia (Clara Lago) hasn't lasted, despite their apparent ability to quash the differences between their Andalusian and Basque heritages, and to win over Amaia's father Koldo (Karra Elejaide). Ocho apellidos catalanes opens with Koldo enlisting Rafael's help to scuttle the marriage of Amaia to an insufferable Catalan hipster, Pau (Berto Romero).
Everything that made the first film enjoyable is turned out again for the sequel but the balance is a little off this time around. Where the north south divide worked because everything was in good fun and neither group came off as any more hard done by than the other. With the (broadly ridiculed) Catalans added into the mix and a mother-in-law deceiving sub-plot (reminiscent of Good Bye Lenin!) on display, the comedy leaves an oppressive taste in the mouth.
Politics aside, the farcical elements built into the film's climax don't work, so Ocho apellidos catalanes collapses in a heap worthy of a Catalan castell. It is all very messy and, by film's end, also pretty sour.
★★
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