Pagafantas (Friend Zone) (2009)

Gorka Otxoa, Sabrina Garciarena, Óscar Ladoire, Kiti Manver, María Asquerino ... see more  , Julián López , Michel Brown , Barbara Santa Cruz , Ernesto Sevilla

A hopelessly lovesick young man finds himself repeatedly cast into a platonic role vis-à-vis the girl of his dreams, in this contemporary romantic comedy from Spain. Lanky and awkward teen Chema (Gork... read more a Otxoa) still struggles to come to terms with a recent break-up from Elisa (Barbara Santa Cruz). Evenings now consist of systematically combing the town with best pal Ruben (Julian Lopez) to try to find an adequate replacement. She arrives -- or so Chema thinks -- in the form of the gorgeous Argentine waif Claudia (Sabrina Garciarena), an aspiring hairstylist who asks Chema to let her try out her craft on him (when she suggests that they re-do his hair in the style of Enrique Bunbury -- a singer whom he detests -- he unflinchingly agrees). Unfortunately, viewing Chema as a boyfriend or a lover is the furthest thing from Claudia's mind, and she perpetually refers to him as a friend, treating him with tremendous insensitivity. Meanwhile, at Chema's house, his paternal uncle Jaime (Oscar Ladoire) repeatedly turns up, nurturing feelings for Chema's single mother, Gloria (Kiti Manver), and determines to win the woman's heart. Director and co-screenwriter Borja Cobeaga packs the film with dozens of gags from first frame to last, and renders his film unique by resisting crude and raunchy humor throughout, and instead opting for family-friendly wit. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi