My Big Night

This riotous pop masterpiece from Spain's Alex de la Iglesia chronicles the accidents, romances, conspiracies and backstage shenanigans that beset the taping of an unusually fraught New Year's Eve variety show. The agitated extravaganza is headlined by pompous singing icon Alphonso (played with self-satirizing brio by real-life singer Raphael) being stalked by a tunesmith with a murderous grudge. Alphonse's younger beefcake counterpart Adán (Mario Casas) is sought by a groupie looking to snatch a sample of the legendary Lothario's semen.Out in the house a runaway crane takes out an extra, who is promptly replaced by endearing nebbish José (Pepon Nieto) -- though José too may be doomed to some grievous bodily harm if he continues to pursue his comely colleague Paloma (Blanca Suárez), a woman with a history of unintentionally maiming every man she fancies. The hosts hate each other, the director can't contain the chaos, and riot police are called in to quell the violent demonstration erupting right outside the studio doors.