The Sex Monster

decent film and humorous. Mariel Hemingway plays the role perfectly. a funny film and enjoyable as she tries to deal with her feelings.the situations she gets into is funny and the way she gets out is also funny.when i heard the plot i didn't think Mariel Hemingway could do such a role. i was wrong.

Do not be misled by the title into thinking this is the latest in a long and star-studded line of the Playboy movie of week fare. This is actually an amusing if someone self-fulfilling and happy meal packaged film. Its focus is on a Husband (Mike Binder) and his subservient and submissive wife (Mariel Hemmingway) who is finally convinced her to give in to her natural female instincts and allow another woman into the marital bed. What starts off down the trail of many a male's fantasy quickly goes astray when it is apparent that he is no longer needed in the bedroom.

Mikes downward spiral is amusing as he goes from shear disbelief that he is living the playboy ideal to pleading with his wife to refrain from sleeping with his baby sister. The movie was written and directed by Mike Binder who acquits him self nicely as he takes on the role of protagonist and victim during the some 94 minutes running time. Though never fully rising above the straight to video look, the film does not bore or detract from the comedy of a now fully functioning sex monster wife, who is out to sleep with just about every woman she comes across. Mariel Hemmingway is rather amusing and begs the question, where in her career did she go wrong? She is both pretty and entertaining, qualities it would seem, should have destined her for Julia Roberts heights. Alack alas the movie gods are cruel by nature it would seem. Stephen Baldwin makes a fleeting appearance as a business partner whose wife appears to have been locked in a tower for most of her adult life.

Those looking to find something to pass time, have a laugh and have the message "be careful for what you wish, you may just get it" beaten into you, can rest assured you will find what you are looking for here. However for those of you, who may have seen the title and thought that it would be an excellent way to get your rocks of, I suggest you go find one of those Playboy movies of week I discussed earlier.

I've often heard it said that reality is never as good as fantasy. That's one of the lessons found in this movie. Marty (Mike Binder) is feeling a bit bored in his marriage to Laura (Mariel Hemingway.) To "spice" things up a bit, he suggests that they invite another woman into the relationship - although one suspects that Mike's real purpose is to fulfil his own fantasies rather than to spice up the marriage. After resisting, Laura agrees very reluctantly to invite one of her co-workers into their bed. Nervous at first (and there's even a certain sweetness to her nervousness about the first encounter) Laura turns into a lesbian sex monster - as the title implies - seducing every woman she can. Meanwhile, Marty feels increasingly jealous and left out. So, Marty's reality was less exciting than his fantasy, and he learned the importance of the old proverb "be careful what you wish for because you might get it." I liked - as I noted - the real sweetness of Laura's nervous first encounter, and there were some funny moments scattered throughout this - especially in the last few minutes, and Laura's encounter with Evie.

The problem with this, though, was the character of Marty. I didn't like him - not from the start. I didn't like him pushing his wife into something she didn't want, and then - having pushed her to go along - I didn't like him blaming her for all the consequences. Not liking Marty is a major problem in this movie, because the whole thing is shot basically from Marty's perspective. He's rarely off camera, and the character grates, which really makes it hard to enjoy this, even though it does have a few moments now and then that are worthy of a laugh.

For those wondering, this really isn't a movie for voyeurs. There's no explicit sex scenes; most of what happens "between the girls" is implied but not shown, and what is shown is mostly Marty's reaction to what he's seeing. It's certainly not a family movie by any means, but it isn't explicit. If you can get past the Marty thing (or, if you have a less negative reaction to him than I did) you might well find this enjoyable. Unfortunately, Marty really made this a mediocre viewing experience for me.

The Sex Monster does have one of my personal Top 10 opening film credits scenes. You certainly will enjoy seeing the lovely Mariel Hemingway dancing with a bunch of assorted beauties wearing a tight little number and carrying a corny but cute smile while doing it. The movie is another low-budget HBO type film featuring a cast of has-beens and never weres. It's much more bearable than the usual chintzy J-Lo or Meg Ryan romantic comedy but it doesn't have bring anything special to the table other than the "bisexual" angle. It has it moments but you still feel for Hemingway. She was at one time a great actress appearing in acclaimed films like "Manhattan", "Personal Best" and "Star 80". Still, it's leagues better than that film she did with her late sister Margaux called "Lipstick". As for Mr. Binder, he doesn't remind me of anything special but there are bits of Woody Allen in him.

Mariel Hemingway is a really cutie. She is now 40 years old and has made about 38 movies. However, aside from this zany "Sex Monster" I only remember seeing her act in the 1987 Superman IV - when she was 26 years old.

This fracical comedy is without any visual sex scenes which makes it a disappointment to it's name. (Open kissing and overdubbed moaning does not a sex scene make.)

Mike Binder wrote, directed, and starred in this film. I would guess that it's a family affair with Jack Binder producing. Maybe Mariel is associated with the project. But, she really needs a more in depth script in which to act. She has been in the movie industry too long for such light comedy fluff.

Ms. Hemingway still has a pretty face that the camera can spend more than five seconds a "take" showing and a great physical presence. She should be offered roles more powerful.