Speaking of Sex

This movie was similar in many ways to a French sex farce. So I guess you'll have to call this an American sex farce. The script was well thought-out, though there were a few characters which didn't get enough air time.

James Spader played a neurotically geeky psychiatrist, which is a bit of a different character for him, as he usually plays sexual deviants. Good manic performances by Jay Mohr, Melora Walters, and Lara Flynn Boyle. Bill Murray and Catherine O'Hara also shown in their supporting roles. Phil Lamarr had a hilarious line, despite being only a cameo appearance.

There were several intermingled stories playing all at once. It was well done because if one story started to drag, they could switch to another story to keep the interest fresh. This is really light-hearted stuff, but it did have some very subtle comic moments in places that you might miss if you don't watch it more than a couple of times, so watch it at least a couple of times.

I don't know exactly what went wrong with this movie, Bill Murray can do comedy, Jay Mohr was funny in Mafia, but I think it was the script that has messed this movie up big time. I know it's hard to make up good jokes, and all the good stuff has already been used in other movies, but is that really a reason to resort to sh***y sexual jokes? I mean, you can make BIG sexual jokes, that are almost revolting (the sperm gel used by cameron diaz in there is something about mary) but will freak people out and make them laugh, or you can do the other jokes.. and sadly they have chosen for the save path. These jokes are weak, I have the idea that the writer is a bit afraid of sex himself, and tries to write the trauma away with this dreadful story.

But enough about the story what about the cast? lot of semi-great names, but no real big names, that is not a shame, I think the actors did pretty good considering the script that was given them. None of them are truly great, Lara Boyle is candy for the eye as usual, but nothing more. The characters are just flat, no crazy persons (a good comedy must have a weird or crazy person in my opinion) they are all at the same level. Even a veteran like Bill Murray delivers a meagre performance. Almost like the director said "people! don't try to be too funny" they seem to be held back by something.

And last, but not least, the directing. I think the director did a good job I like the short flashback thing were he let's the picture slide into the screen. Also the "private eye and victim woman" telephone conversation with 2 other people was brought very good. The director did his best and made a movie what was a 4 out of 10 into a 5 out of ten.. so 5/10, maybe nice for the die hard Murray fans. But not very funny.

This broad sex farce fell through the cracks in late 2001, despite an outstanding pedigree; it was produced by the great Alain Sarde (The Pianist, Vera Drake), helmed by the gifted John McNaughton (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Mad Dog and Glory), and scored by George Clinton, and sports a first-rate cast including James Spader, Bill Murray, Melora Walters and Catherine O'Hara. That sounds like a surefire commercial home run, but the movie never received a proper U. S. theatrical release.

Though it isn't difficult to see why French producers initially greenlit the project, it's also likely that the wall-to-wall explicit dialogue and subject matter may have scared off U. S. distribs. The movie is so gleefully raunchy and lewd that it feels like a relic of the 70s - it has the same open-armed embrace of freewheeling sexuality that comedies like John Byrum's Inserts and Bertrand Blier's Calmos did - lots of droll talk about sexual anatomy and orgasms and technique.

For those viewers willing to run with this, Speaking has a promising setup and numerous belly laughs during its first 70 minutes or so, and a couple of plum performances - one by Spader, as a harried, sexually starved therapist, another by Murray as a sleazy, toupé-wearing attorney - the kind of scuzzbucket who might later specialize in defending Me Too predators. These two are a joy to watch. Walters also does first-rate work as a sweet but naive housewife, swimming way out of her depth with these sharks. And some of the same McNaughton directorial gifts that were on display in Henry and Mad Dog and Glory manifest here - particularly his sneaky and subtle way of visually establishing character. Another bonus: his clever approach to filming Spader and Walters's first tryst, which includes witty smash cuts to screaming African masks at the point of climax.

Initially, we may feel we're in for a home run with this picture. But after the first hour, the material begins to lose steam. Two recurring jokes - one involving a couple of cutesy poo euphemisms for genitalia and another about the Spader character's masterful sexual technique - may earn a smile the first time, but get repeated ad infinitum. On top of this, none of the final narrative reversals work at all. The third act feels as if it may have been cut, given a hastily introduced and abandoned thread about the sexual commercial exploitation of Walters's character that leaves a rancid taste in our mouths.

I wouldn't necessarily discourage anyone from seeing this - the film isn't a total wash, and it has its pleasures. But it falls short of the greatness of Henry and Mad Dog and eventually wears out its welcome.

This is a sex farce where the actual sex is by far superior to the rest of the movie. The title tipped me off, it's too on the nose and unsubtle. The script is entirely about sex. That usually would be very much in my "pro" column. The sex scenes and quick cuts are by far the funniest things in the movie. The problem is, the movie is ENTIRELY about sex. Next to nothing about the characters, the setting, nothing. There are no characters to connect to. Nothing to root for or care about. The plot is incoherent. The acting is broad and unfunny. In a later interview, the director said he wished he had told his actors to play it straight. Amen to that! James Spader, as Roger Klink (har har), gives a jittery, gaspy performance. Talk about playing against type. As the film went on, it bugged me that he never seemed to speak in complete sentences. Spader, Bill Murray and Catherine O'Hara, all excellent comic performers, are weighed down by the clumsy script and terrible pacing. In the small part of Dr. Klink's ex-wife, Megan Mullalley gives by far the best performance, in part because she has the most rounded, interesting character. You know there's something wrong with a film when a minor character is better written than the leads. Lara Flynn Boyle as Dr. Paige, an unstable marriage counselor is awful. The rest of the cast is capable, nothing special.

If you have nothing better to do, this movie is an okay diversion, but don't go out of your way.

Feeble attempt at what should've been a screwball farce, this AB-shot flat comedy is the result of a decent script meeting the wrong director. Walters & Mohr are good, but I really wanted the movie that Spader was acting in. #nitrosMovieChallenge.