Allen as writer and director remains behind the camera for this one and the story line and characterizations concern finding true romance as opposed to settling, the following of one’s sexual desires with the complications that can result and the craziness of a relationship that can have an enduring attraction even though the lovers can be disastrously mismatched.

This delightful stew, spiced throughout with Allenesque humor, is touched off by the arrival of two women friends to Barcelona—Scarlett Johansson as the more adventurous and reckless Cristina and Rebecca Hall as the less daring Vicky, who is engaged to be married to the attractively respectable, but programmed Doug (Chris Messina). When Javier Bardem appears as the seductive artist Juan Antonio, the women are taken aback by his frank proposal—fly with him to the town of Oviedo for a weekend of good food and good sex, Juan sleeping with both. Vicky tries to put him in his place, but Cristina, ever in search of excitement and romantic opportunity, is willing. We soon see both gals in an airplane and the games begin.

The ménage à trois is not between Juan, Cristina and Vicky, but occurs when Juan’s estranged but possessive ex-wife Maria Elena, a spitfire played by Penélope Cruz, turns up. She once put a knife into Juan. How the threesome of Juan, Cristina and Maria Elena evolves and the ensuing results are amusing and best left to discovery. Meanwhile, Vicky nurses a secret and the contrast between the emotional and sexual forces released in her and the prospect of a life with Doug, who arrives in Barcelona for their marriage, create a crisis.

Others in the mix are Vicky’s relatives, Patricia Clarkson as Judy and Kevin Dunn as her husband Mark, with whom the young women have been invited to stay. It turns out that Judy is living a story of her own.

Allen keeps all of the action running smoothly, often to some catchy music that sets a jaunty tone, and his cast members are terrific. Johansson is immensely appealing to the eye as usual, and Hall exhibits a feisty sparkle and intelligence that gives her character both sophistication and vulnerability. Bardem comes on as many a woman’s dream of an irresistible lover and Cruz has never been as wild. Clarkson also can be a scene stealer.