User Reviews

Although its premise didn't look too promising, "El año de la garrapata" is quite an entertaining and surprisingly well directed film. Lately teen comedies have been more full of bathroom jokes than of intelligent humor, and that's why my expectations were pretty low. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

Although the film presents an unbelievable and certainly not recommendable lifestyle (be a bloodsucker to your parents as long as you can) it does so in quite an amusing way. The cast is very good too, specially Félix Gomez, María Vázquez and Víctor Clavijo, the three of them extremely promising rising stars. Verónica Sánchez has been better both in cinema ("Al sur de Granada") and TV ("Los Serrano"), but here she looks rather absent-minded. Javier Veiga is a victim of miscasting, and he does as much as he can with his disagreeable character.

The only thing I can say is that I was amused all throughout the film. Maybe it's not high cinema, but it's a more than acceptable summer movie.

Overall rating: 7/10

This initial feature film made by Galician director Jorge Coira is solidly anchored at the bottom of Coira's output, placed there by an inordinate shallowness of style and, notwithstanding some camera cleverness, a dreary emphasis upon usage of foul language by virtually the entire cast, not one of whom offers a winning performance, not unexpected in the event, due to the script's tired plotting, and less than effective characterization. The storyline revolves about the tedious actions of Fran (Félix Gómez) who has recently completed nine years of college study while having no clear concept of the career path that he wishes to follow. Although his fiancée Ana (Verónica Sánchez) has no difficulty with organizing his future as also do his parents with whom he resides and who point Fran toward a "business" occupation, against their son's fervent wishes. The Spanish word for "tick" is Granada and a viewer is apparently being expected to feel a dollop of sympathy for Fran during his attempts to achieve a tick-like or "slacker" lifestyle, as he sponges off his parents. Fran's closest support comes from his friend Morgan (Javier Veiga) who believes himself to be a sort of master slacker. The director apparently attempts to demonstrate, with only fair results, that Fran is some type of universal figure, but the plot line does not generate adequate enough interest to avoid its being classified as merely a banal melodrama. Additionally, Morgan's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic as the piece progresses, putting paid to his previous sophistic rambling, during the film's first pages. It is clear that Coira is a skillful technician, but one who requires a more substantive tale to tell than this.

I enjoyed with the movie, it is quite funny and the different characters have their own funny stories,so if you don't like one,you will like other.. To me,the character of Ana is a bit boring.I think she looks angry /bored in all the movie and makes you feel uncomfortable,she doesn't deserve a lovely boyfriend like Fran.I never liked Fran had her as girlfriend..i think he was more alive and easy to see,and that he deserved a girl funnier and nice.

I think Felix Gomez was the king of the show.He was amusing,lovely and funny.I was glad of seeing him in all scenes. Javier Veiga was cool too,and Victor Clavijo,with his role of "intelligent serious boy" was funny and interesting too ,even tough his role was not important enough :)

The movie reminds me,in some parts,to Trainspotting. The typical group of friends with problems,relationships and a touch of laughs and comedy.