Amateur Night

This is a textbook example of how Hollywood can screw up a really good story. This had the opportunity to be funny and entertaining and even touching. Unfortunately it didn't meet any of those goals.

I was hoping that we'd get a story that played out over a few weeks and let the characters grow into people the cared about. Instead we got a story crammed into a single jumbled night and tied everything up with a crappy bow at the end. The entire thing was just disappointing and flat. The few attempts at humor were either gross or cringe inducing in their awkwardness. It didn't elicit a chuckle, much less any actual laughter.

As another reviewer stated, it wasn't a bad movie - it just wasn't a good movie either.

As someone who graduated from law school during an economic downturn and then waited tables for a while before finding a good job, I could relate to this out of work architect who suddenly finds himself working as a driver just to get by. However, beyond that the movie was full of surprises, including some cringeworthy scenes of the main character washing the "hardware" (sex toys) before a bachelor party.

This movie is as much a comment on the gig economy as it is funny and sexy. There is also an oddly sweet honesty about some of the interpersonal relationships depicted in the story.

I recommend this film for something to make you laugh and to put things in perspective at the end of a long day. (But I definitely do not recommend watching it with your parents or with young children.)

The plot should have made it hilarious, but bad writing, a poor choice for the lead and slow direction made for a lifeless, humorless film. Not worth the time.

Guy Carter (Jason Biggs) doesn't get his needed architecture job. His pregnant wife Anne (Jenny Mollen) had quit her job and they are close to losing their health insurance. Anne finds a driver job for Guy on Craigslist. Instead of delivering pizzas, it turns out to be driving around hooker Nikki (Janet Montgomery). On the first stop, he mistakes the S&M with Dr. Kurtz (Steven Weber) as actual abuse. That night, he has to act as a pimp for a bachelor strip show for Nikki, Fallon (Ashley Tisdale), and Jaxi.

This may have some real experiences. It doesn't automatically make it funny. There are some minor laughs but it's never sustained. Biggs is not always likable. Montgomery has the better role as the hard-nosed hooker. Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse are able to bring out some interesting moments but it needs a comic writer to pump up the script.

There is only one other review on this page currently (dated 7 Aug 2016) but I think it sums things up nicely, and I find myself almost completely in agreement with it. There are, however, a few things I would like to add.

I don't feel like I have wasted my time if the film has managed to maintain a smile on my face, and I can learn a few things along the way. In this case, the film definitely informs the viewer of several interesting things regarding the modern sex industry, while at the same time making a study of the struggling middle class and its increasing crossover into taking more desperate measures in order to get by.

If I had to point out faults it would be that there are a few issues/sub plots the director raises but then doesn't fully address, and in fact just completely brushes them aside in order to provide the film with the desired ending.

But to sum up, as long as you watch this film in a situation where sex topics are not going to cause embarrassment, I regard it as worth watching and a bit of fun.

Oh, and I'll disagree with the other reviewer and say that Ashley Tisdale would by my pick. ;)