My Awkward Sexual Adventure

In the first scene of "My Awkward Sexual Adventure" the Jordan (Jonas Chernick) is making love to his girlfriend Rachel (Sarah Manninen) in such an impassioned and mechanical way that she falls asleep (who wouldn't). The obvious break-up follows; she needs more passion and different sexual experiences.

As sad as it seems; these five opening minutes of the movie are the smartest, funny moments I saw in a movie this side of the Atlantic. There are no stupid or dumb or scatological jokes involved; simple a few utterly realistic but absurd moments and dialogs.

Jordan is not a dumb or clumsy person (well it has a few moments). He is an accountant with all the insecurities, limitations, fears and lack of commitment of a person living by the numbers. He needs Rachel to be with him; sex is not that important.

He has to go, on his planned vacation to Toronto, alone (the scene at the airport is another masterpiece) to visit his pal Dandak (Vik Sahay always funny) who offers to be his sexual mentor against Jordan will.

After a few comical situations; Jordan ends in an strip club trying to get a sexy photo with a beautiful girl to make Rachel (who is having a very sexual and orgiastic vacation) jealous. By Karma, meets Julia (Emily Hampshire) a stripper, sweet but very disorganized; totally against checking even her bills; basically his opposite.

He soon realizes that without loosing up; his future with Rachel is dead; he ask Julia for a crash course on freedom, taboos and sex. What follows are the different chapters of Jordan education process.

It is pretty obvious how things will end; but every chapter that follows is staged with intelligence and good taste; but do not even think the movie is tame; it just has good taste. There is plenty of nudity male and female but never out of context. In fact, one of the funniest scenes in the movie it is likely to be too much for MPAA but it will be a real sin to cut.

Acting is superb; Jonas Chernick (also producer and writer) is a seriously funny person; he improves after his experiences but is still the same person a little more confident. Sarah Manninen handles the bitch girlfriend character with class. She just an insecure person that is never sure what she really wants. Emily Hampshire as the stripper, is able to be tender but strong; enough to fall in love with her.

I hope this movie gets distribution in USA and UNCUT. It is really a surprise that a not so original story could be handled with such an intelligent way.

My Awkward Sexual Adventure is about relationship obsession and sexual abilities. People tend to obsess over their relationship and screw it up because of that. This movie is a good example of that.

The good. Jonas Chernick, the writer who also plays the main character, and Sean Garrity, the director, know a thing or two about strip clubs, strippers, and massage parlors, because they are well portrayed, if on the gritty side. The characters are solid and very interesting, if a bit simple. Lots of good laughs. Refreshing take on life. The end is well made and realistic. The end credit scene is absolute genius! I loved it, and I left the theater smiling at the montage.

The bad. The intro is very uncomfortable to watch because the guy is so totally incompetent, however, it gets better. The "month later" transition is awkward at best, but you get right over it. The start of the end credit comes abruptly right in the middle of the screen while there's voice over from the couple.

The ugly. There's still this idea that somebody has to get out of the sex trade to have a life.

The result. If you get over the uncomfortable part at the start, you'll have fun.

When you go see this film, you almost certainly know what you are going to get. However, my expectations of being low were conquered by an above average story and is decently uncliched. But my main problem with My Awkward Sexual Experience is the characters. They lean too far one way so it tries to tug at your emotional strings and this try-hard approach is too cringe worthy for a really pleasant viewing experience.

This film almost works perfectly, but the things that fail this film almost take it down. Characterisation and poor decisions by the filmmakers are almost devastating, but are saved by how original and different the storyline and plot are.

Directed by Sean Garrity, this Canadian film made its Each Coast Premiere on the Gen-Y night party as part of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival at Atlantic Station. This tale is about Jordan (Jonas Chernick) who has hit a road block in his love life. His girl friend notes that he is a bad lover and needs some time away. These love birds were planning a getaway trip and Jordan ventures on his own to gain insight of his best friend Dandak (Vik Sahay) who is a bit of a player in his own right. Through a series of misfortunes, Jordan befriends a stripper who promises to tutor Jordan into the mysterious ways of love. Some scenes are hilariously funny while others show case the vulnerabilities in seeking that one special person. Saw this as part of the Atlanta Jewish Film festival

Having said that, whilst it is not up to the same comedic level of Night Shift, it is very watchable and you get some great cunnilingus tips!

It does pile on a few in-vogue and improbable cliches, like the stripper is surprise surprise in the wrong profession (cue to reform and get out of the game). She is an amazing cook with a very specific fetish on Australian produce (understandable as it is good), who if she could only get a commercial kitchen would become a successful commercial chef. Like cooking for 2 or 200... eh! All the same.

In the end though I enjoyed it, would even watch it again, and this time take sex tip notes. :)