'Only Human' suffers from dumb stunts, buffoonish characters

I suppose it is somehow comforting to know that it is not just the United States that makes intelligence-insulting comedies about screwed-up families.

Magnolia Pictures 'Only Human' C The verdict: An overly broad meet-the-prospective-in-laws family comedy, not helped by the Jewish-Palestinian theme. Directors: Teresa de Pelegri, Dominic Harari Starring: Norma Aleandro, Guillermo Toledo, Maria Botto, Mariana Aguilera, Fernando Ramallo Run time: 85 minutes Release date: June 16, 2006 Rating: R for some sexual content, nudity and language. On the web Official movie site Rate 'Only Human'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

But if you can simply accept that fact, then you will not have to waste an hour and a half watching the straining, but terribly unfunny Spanish film, Only Human, which first played locally at the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival in December.

At the film's center is a pair of young, can't-keep-their-hands-off-each-other lovers, Leni and Rafi, who visit her Jewish family in their Madrid high-rise flat. What she has neglected to prepare them for is the fact that he is Palestinian. Hey, what could it matter, right?

After all, Rafi is hardly the strangest one at dinner, next to Leni's suddenly fervently religious brother, her belly-dancing, highly sexed, single-mother sister and her blind, but gun-toting grandfather.

A stew of those characters would have been sufficient, but instead married co-directors Dominic Harari and Teresa Peligri put them through stupid human tricks, like Rafi dropping a block of frozen soup out the apartment window, hitting and possibly killing Leni's father below. Cue the laugh track.

Then there's the hooker and the duck swimming in the bidet. Don't ask. Strictly for those who find broad Hollywood comedies hilarious.