The Sex Monster

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.

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.

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.

Concept: Husband wants wife to sleep with another woman (in a 3 way), but doesn't know what to do when she starts liking the idea. This movie has a strong 'be careful what you wish for' tone and moral. The husband is the main character, and the camera follows him everywhere. Even the sex scenes occur off screen; as the viewer is lead into the kitchen after the the all-important man.

Since this is a comedy, it can be forgiven for being completely out of touch with the feminine side. The film has every right to make fun of the male predicament. Maybe someone else wants to watch this, but I'd be immensely more interested in a story that had the same sort of wit, but showed how a female misunderstood the other sex, and had the camera following *her* around.

When you're not expecting much, it doesn't take a masterpiece to impress you. I watched The Sex Monster knowing that it had a bisexual-relevant theme, but uncertain of whether it would be a positive or negative portrayal of bisexuality and sexual experimentation in general. I was not disappointed.

Mike Binder somehow managed to take all of the tired stereotypes about gender and sexuality, weave them into exaggerated characters, put the characters in awkward situations, and make it all uproariously hilarious. Some viewers, no doubt, will interpret the caricatured portrayals as perpetuating outmoded stereotypes and perhaps even contributing to those stereotypes. But Binder's wit is both subtle and blatant: the dialogue makes use of every cliche imaginable, yet is still fresh and funny.

If you're cheek is prepared to accommodate your tongue, definitely see this movie (rent it! and then buy it to show all your friends). Be warned, though, that what you assume about people may be forever changed.