Amy's Orgasm

In the context of grand cinema, "Amy's Orgasm" is a zit. However, in the context of romcom fare, this flick is somewhere around the middle of a very large heap. A naive but lively Niagara of prattling about the usual stock love vs sex stuff we've all seen before, "Amy's O" does little to distinguish itself and will probably play best with teen females at sleep-overs because of the in-your-face vulgarities, sexual emphasis, and obvious girl power bent. Passable stuff for the public at large, "Amy's O" is a marginal though worthy effort for a relatively young auteur who apparently put this flick together almost single handedly. (C)

Story about writing a book for all women just because one had some unhappiness and feels righteous enough to advise all women to avoid the mistake she herself made. Then about hypocrisy of doing what she advises others to NOT do. Then the obvious Howard Stern reference (maybe she in real life is a fan???) and the goody-goody exaggerations of this character. Then the sellout to the "happy ending". All in all a very bad story. But nicely shot.

Cute, slightly offbeat romantic comedy is funny and I recognize some of the lead's attitudes and actions from girls I've known, so it kind of helps me figure out why they do some of the things they do, and I liked the way they would move from what was happening to what she was hearing and imagining, as when a guy's comments about having stayed with an ex for the good sex translating in her mind to a diatribe about her being fat. Movie has a rather cynical view towards self-help pop psychology books, which I think is justified. The big speech near the end of pretty stupid, the sort of unrealistic thing you see in Hollywood movies all the time. Not successful on all levels, and if I felt like it I could pick apart this or that, but overall it just works and is quite entertaining.

For me, what "Amelie" was to Paris, "Amy" is to Los Angeles. Amy"s O is a witty, well conceived and acted presentation and resolution (the cop-out ending!) of a feminist argument, alive with larger than life characters, each contributing a perspective on the argument, which is of course, maintaining female self esteem in a traditional relationship. The best of this genre - funny and intellectually satisfying - 9/10

Julie Davis directs, writes and stars in this more often than not frustrating comedy. A self-help author(Davis) goes against the grain of a book that skyrocketed her to fame. She convincingly writes about why love does not work; because love is just dressed up sex. Hasn't sex always been about command and power? Probably too educated for her own good...the young writer finds herself falling for a radio shock-jock(Nick Chinlund)with a well known reputation for his four month romances with cover girls and air heads he interviews on his show.

The dream/fantasy scenes if not titillating can easily become frustrating. The young woman fends off her publicist's(Caroline Aaron) lesbian advances. And confessions to her foul-mouthed priest(Jeff Cesario)are actually entertaining. This movie is like waiting for that kiss at the end of a date...and it doesn't come.