A young Penelope Cruz is the centerpiece of "Jamon, Jamon", a comedy/drama which doesn't manage to conjure up much of either. The flick is busy enough as it wanders through moments of melodrama and mild humor and the presentation is okay. However, there's a little too much ham in the ham in this flick about a poor pregnant woman (Cruz) who wants to marry the son of a wealthy family the matriarch of which has other plans. Given subtitles for non-Spanish speakers, sex which isn't very sexy, poor atmospherics, and a nebulous purpose as negatives, the general public can whack at least a half a star from Ebert's liberal 3.5 rating. Worth a look for those into genreless foreign flicks or anyone who wants to see naked bullfighting or Cruz's bare breasts. (C+)
Review of Jamón, Jamón
