The Laws of Thermodynamics (Spanish: Las leyes de la termodinámica) is a 2018 Spanish comedy film directed and written by Mateo Gil. The film is a romantic comedy, but is presented partially as a documentary with protagonist "physics geek" Manel attempting to explain the characters' behaviour and emotion using the laws.
Contents
Cast
Vito Sanz as Manel
Berta Vázquez as Elena
Chino Darín as Pablo
Vicky Luengo as Eva
Irene Escolar as Raquel
Josep Maria Pou as Profesor Amat
Andrea Ros as Alba
Daniel Sánchez Arévalo as Daniel Sánchez Arévalo
Alicia Medina as Modelo Anuncio
Marta Aguilar as Chica Orgullo
José Javier Domínguez as Camarero
Txell Aixendri as Enfermera
Carlos Olalla as Psicólogo
Production
The Laws of Thermodynamics was produced by Zeta Cinema, Atresmedia Cine, and On Cinema 2017 and it had the participation of Netflix, Televisió de Catalunya, Atresmedia, ICAA and ICEC.
Release
Distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia, it was theatrically released in Spain on April 20, 2018. It was released on August 31, 2018 on Netflix streaming in certain regions.
Critical reception
The film has received mixed reviews, and holds a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a score of 45 on Metacritic. Critics tended to praise its original concept, but criticized the characterization and romantic plotting as shallow, with the LA Times complaining that "Gil’s overly clever notion wears out its welcome" and "Manel and Elena are wispily drawn characters with predictable arcs". Variety was more positive, calling it a "fizzing, restless, wholly singular fusion of physics lecture and romcom" stating also that "The love story and the academic treatise gradually impinge on each other more than they inform each other". The Hollywood Reporter likewise stated "Though it is intermittently witty, visually playful and laudable in its attempt to appeal to both head and heart, Laws abandons its characters to its big concept".