Swung

Not sure why its rating is so low, but I enjoyed it. Chose it thinking it would be something I could laugh at, but it turned out to be a drama that was well-performed and held my interest. Definitely enjoyed seeing Ms. McGovern in a role far different from the annoying oracle she played on Downton Abbey. The sex scenes are erotic enough but not overdone, and the focus is on the relationship of the couple.

Not really anything special, except for the fact that it stars Elena Anaya, who I really like. Otherwise, this seems like an excuse to make a p**** without making a p****. Not that I mind, but it just didn't do much for me.

That being said, her name was Alice in the movie, which is my name. And in the first few minutes of the movie, Alice mentions Joan - her neighbor from across the way. This movie also includes the name of my sister, as if to reinforce the connection being personal to me. So yes, this is a yet another entry into my Joan/Alice connections collection! In that way, I guess this movie is pretty special.

On another note, Elena must have a connection with the name Alice herself, because she was featured in the TV show Jett a couple of years after this movie was made, where she played the nanny to Jett's daughter, Alice. And everything comes full circle!

And now that I think about it even more, no wonder the connections are there. My girl Joan Jett would just love the eroticism that these characters strive for.

I had really hoped "Swung" was going to be one of those inspired indie dramas that I'm always seeking out, but soon enough, seemed the choices the writer got more implausible and felt borderline Hollywood cliche and melodramatic. A beautiful spainish journalist living in Edinborough or Glasgow? is competing with colleages for racy stories at work, and since her husband has ED, maybe investigating swingers will spice up his intimate life. Then the storyline takes these almost TV movie twists, things that are funny aren't meant to be humorous, like overdosing on viagra. Later, they cast Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey) as an american tantrist and guru. Why not a british tantrist? These choices just seemed out of place the whole movie and it affected the flow and quality of the experience, which made me convinced it's a first time director. Sometimes less is more, and I felt that the good set-up of the movie wasn't followed through.

Seen on DVD. Here I am at the beginning, thinking that this story will go somewhere and seeing good actors laying out a reasonable plot. But the more they exposed their characters, the more I started shouting at the screen to 'get real!'. The male lead, David, seemed like a 'normal' guy at first, but he became more unbelievable as the movie went on. Who would really act like that!? He's got this attractive partner who wants him sexually, and he can't get it up. Yet, there he is, only minutes later in the movie wanking off to some swinger ad. Oh, come on!

What he gets away with doing at the swinger club in the end is not believable - the club would never have let that happen (and we viewers should know that), yet we are shown a preposterous scene just to get to the end of the movie/plot where they 'live happily ever after'.

I only wonder: is this anything like the book? or, have the filmmakers left out important plot points?

2015 was quite the year for erotic mainstream movies with troubled men and women. This is another exhibit, in this case the two main characters are a couple, but the man has issues ... performing. One of the worst fears for men, that is not connected with death. Although I reckon some might say it feels the same for them (not me saying that).

Elena Anaya gives quite the central performance and while there is some melodrama and other things that might "weaken" the impact this may otherwise have had on you, this is still quite intriguing. What helps people get off and what does it do to relationships? Can the relationship survive certain incidents? Tough questions and tough answers - and while there is nudity and lust, this probably will not excite you the way it may sound at first. This is a drama after all