Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)

After winning a BAFTA for directing the romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Mike Newell tackled the romantic drama Love in the Time of Cholera (2007), not to be confused with Love in the Time of Corona (2020). Based on Gabriel García Márquez’s same-named bestseller, this skinematic adaptation centers around Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) and Florentino Ariza (Javier Bardem) whose love for one another lasts from 1880 to 1930. After seeing Mr. Bardem’s bod, we can understand why he won Fermina’s heart. But back when he was young (Unax Ugalde) and initially smitten by Fermina, her father (John Leguizamo) was furious over the union and vowed to put the brakes on their relationship. Years go by, leaving the love-struck lad yearning and Fermina coming down with a burning case of cholera. In fact, cholera-mania is sweeping the whole town! Doctor Juvenal Urbino (played by an often shirtless Benjamin Bratt) comes to Gio’s rescue. He turns her head while her poor former suitor (now portrayed by Bardem) must stand by and hope for her to come to her senses. Decades pass as Ariza amasses some moolah, scores some hoo-hoo, and waits (and waits and waits). Luckily the movie treats us to Javier’s flesh along the way. In one scene, we find him on top of a woman driving his Bardong into her. The room is dark, but flashes of light reveal his smoldering Spanish cheeks. Most of the nudity is “tasteful” which explains why we’d like to taste Bardem and Bratt!