Review of Volver

VOLVER (2006) ** Penelope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Duenas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, Chus Lampreave, Antonio de al Torre, Carlos Blanco, Maria Isabel Diaz, Neus Sanz. Overrated Pedro Almodovar melodrama about a young woman named Raimunda (Cruz, however in arguably her best work to date, proving she is not a fluke despite her Hollywood- ization of lesser fare) who must come to terms with her past and present: namely the apparent return from the dead ghost of her beloved yet troubling mother and the unexpected killing of her less-than honorable husband. The usual colorful characters and production design attempt to make the film flavorful but ultimately it is a stale carbon copy of many of Almodovar's life lessons as soap opera that is getting a tad long in the tooth.