Film Review: ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ is an Old Hollywood Tribute of a Musical with a Stirring Turn from Jennifer Lopez

Retreating into the world of movies is something almost any cinephile does from time to time. Now, for someone in as desperate a situation as our heroes in Kiss of the Spider Woman, it’s all but a survival technique. Depicting this in a similar way to how he did it in Chicago (which he wrote), filmmaker Bill Condon revisits a formula that works. Is everything smooth sailing here? Definitely not. Is it overall a successful film that rewards the admittedly long time investment? I certainly think so.

Kiss of the Spider Woman has an uneven quality from time to time and overstays its welcome, but when you’re watching the musical numbers, it’s easy to get swept up in the Old Hollywood of it all. That’s where Condon is at his best. Plus, that’s where Jennifer Lopez gets to shine, and she’s the best part of the movie, overall.

Taking place in 1983 Argentina during the country’s military dictatorship, political prisoner Valentín Arregui (Diego Luna) is given a new cellmate when Luis Molina (Tonatiuh) is transferred into his. Molina is a gay window dresser who has been thrown into jail on bogus indecency charges, but he’s been placed into Valentín’s cell by the prison warden (Bruno Bichir), in the hopes that he can get some intelligence out of him. Instead, something far more imaginative happens.

Initially, Valentín doesn’t want to hear from Molina, choosing to be quiet and read. He’s a true believer and dedicated to the cause. Molina, however, is a dreamer, and when they finally start to break the ice, it’s because of Hollywood movie star Ingrid Luna (Lopez). Molina is a huge fan and begins telling Valentín about her and her movies, which we break into for various musical numbers. As that bright and glorious escape presents itself, a friendship emerges, even as the desperate nature of their situation only gets worse.

Jennifer Lopez is best in show with a role that perfectly suits her, though Tonatiuh and Diego Luna are good as well. The gentlemen just have occasionally stagey scenes to deal with, which throws off the pacing of the film. Things liven up when Lopez gets to sing and dance. She inhabits the movie star and makes Ingrid the character you most want to spend time with. That extends to the world of the film within the film, too. In addition to the aforementioned Bruno Bichir, supporting players here include Tony Dovolani, Aline Mayagoitia, Josefina Scaglione, and more.

Writer/director Bill Condon could have tightened his script a bit, though his direction of the Old Hollywood type scenes make up for it. Whether it’s the Colleen Atwood costumes or Lopez’s work, you’re sucked in to every musical number, even if the songs aren’t especially memorable. It just all feels right. Kiss of the Spider Woman drags in the prison, though when we break out within our heroes’ imaginations, so too does the flick.

Kiss of the Spider Woman is a great 100 minute movie that runs 128. That just makes it simply a good film, with a very good Jennifer Lopez supporting turn as its backbone. Fans of the original flick and Broadway musical will notice the small changes, without question, but will likely appreciate what Condon and company have pulled off here.

SCORE: ★★★