Caught Up in the ‘Frenzy’ of Youth’s Many Passions

“Not Love Just Frenzy” lives up to its title. This fast and funny tale of three young Madrid women and their gay pal confusing love and sex, but having plenty of adventures in the process, offers much of the uninhibited energy of early Almodovar. But unlike Almodovar even at his friskiest, this picture has nothing serious in mind beyond a good time, which is exactly what its trio of writers-directors--Alfonso Albacete, Miguel Bardem and David Menkes--deliver in smart and lively fashion.

Yeye (Ingrid Rubio), an exquisite brunet, and Maria (Beatriz Santiago), who wears a scarlet wig, are roommates of unexpected naivete and eager for experience. They are art students, as is their gay friend Alberto (Gustavo Salmeron), and they all hang out at a disco where Monica (Cayetana Guillen Cuervo), a hard-edged blond, works as a bartender while trying to launch an acting career.

Yeye pines for an absent Lothario, Max (Nancho Novo), and Maria pines for a fellow student, Carlos (Juan Diego Botto), whom she can see in his apartment from her own. Meanwhile, Alberto has a steamy encounter with Alex (Javier Albala), hoping it won’t be just a one-night stand but also zeroing in on a model, David (Liberto Rabal), in his and Yeye’s painting class.

On the run from a messy business in Barcelona, Max, a professional call boy working for the ruthless Cristina (Bibi Andersen, an Almodovar favorite), turns up at the bar where Monica works, seeking Yeye, but is swiftly waylaid by Monica. Despairing of Carlos seeing her as other than a friend, Maria tries the personals columns, only to confuse a Barcelona cop, Luis (Javier Manrique), posing as a journalist in his search for Max, with someone responding to her ad. Complications escalate amid a respectable amount of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Weaving in and out of the plot are a trio of dizzy drag queens, Divva (Daniel Mirabal), Jacky (Paloma Tabasco) and Dolly (Juanfra Becerra).

The film’s cast is youthful, capable and great-looking. Its trio of writers-directors, who call their company Frenetic Films, know where they’re going and how to get there with style and dispatch. They have a sure sense of how much emotion their material can sustain, and then briskly move on with the story, accompanied by a dynamite, eclectic soundtrack. Individually or together we should be hearing more from the “Frenetics,” but don’t hold your breath: It took this film four years to land on American screens.

* Unrated. Times guidelines: some fairly explicit sex, nudity, language, drug-taking.

‘Not Love Just Frenzy’

(‘Mas Que Amor Frenesi’)

Nancho Novo: Max

Cayetana Guillen Cuervo: Monica

Ingrid Rubio: Yeye

Beatriz Santiago: Maria

Gustavo Salmeron: Alberto

A Jour De Fe^te release of a Peliculas Freneticas production. Writers-directors Alfonso Albacete, Miguel Bardem, David Menkes. Producers Fernando Colomo, Beatriz de la Gandara. Cinematographer Nestor Calvo. Editor Miguel Angel Santamaria. Music Juan Bardem. Music consultant Juan Cook. Costumes Paloma Lopez, Vito y Vida. Production designer Alain Bainee. In Spanish, with English subtitles. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Exclusively at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 478-6379.