Spring Break
REVIEW: 'Sex Drive' is as funny as it should be fror a cliched comedy
STARS: 5/5
Madeline Ward
Issue date: 10/21/08 Section: Focus
If you see any raunchy, teen-oriented, Judd Apatow-influenced movie this year, make it "Sex Drive." In a world of comedy clichés played to death, some works made in the same factories rise above the rest to become the new standard, they accurately capture the youth of the times and make people laugh about it. Like "American Pie" and "Animal House" before it, "Sex Drive" is that film.
This marks one of the first comedies, with many more to come, that use computer graphics, like mockups of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, to help tell the story while the actors do their thing on screen. The ingenious use of flash camera techniques and fake internet uploads creates a funny, faux interactive air to the work. Not to mention that everyone that seems remotely familiar in "Sex Drive" is cast against their usual type.
The story follows a surprisingly suave, paisley-shirted Lance, and his best friend Ian, who is lovelorn, virginal and tangled up in a web of MySpace lies so deep he drives nine hours to Knoxville, Tenn., just to keep up with appearances. Ian, the dorky unsexed hero is actually a handsome, funny person through a series of unfortunate events, has been cockblocked at every turn. His best friend, who looks like he would play the Jack Black style schlep, is a ladies man that actually gets the ladies, and finds a way to drop Indiana Jones-like one-liners that don't come off as cheesy.
Even the sexually repressed, gay older brother, who compensates with way-over-the-line macho antics, helps keep the momentum in flashback sequences and in the initial setup of the road trip. James Marsden plays the part with an unexpected eagerness, like a puppy turned off its leash, which is understandable given that he's often chosen to play Prince Charming or soul-searching supporting cast in superhero films. There is a twist ending, making the thousand-mile journey and all its detours worth it.
Felicia, the girl next door and love interest that comes along for the ride is as spontaneous and bawdy as the boys.
These three makes up the cast of unknowns which after this movie may achieve some measure of "Saturday Night Live" stardom. Although they may never win an Oscar, they will certainly make you laugh more than anyone who does.
The best surprises in the film are the ones not shown in the trailer, including an appearance by a much-mocked band and depictions of "rumspringa," also known as the Amish spring break weekend, right out of a 20/20 news expose on "Horrors In The Heartland." There's also a certain sarcasm dished out by the Amish characters about how juvenile and uneducated the outside world treats them. If anything this film marks an end to the days of Amish exploitation in films like "Witness" and the "Devil's Playground." Seth Green, best known as Chris on "Family Guy" or Dr. Evil's son, dishes out dark humor as Ezekiel.
This marks one of the first comedies, with many more to come, that use computer graphics, like mockups of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, to help tell the story while the actors do their thing on screen. The ingenious use of flash camera techniques and fake internet uploads creates a funny, faux interactive air to the work. Not to mention that everyone that seems remotely familiar in "Sex Drive" is cast against their usual type.
The story follows a surprisingly suave, paisley-shirted Lance, and his best friend Ian, who is lovelorn, virginal and tangled up in a web of MySpace lies so deep he drives nine hours to Knoxville, Tenn., just to keep up with appearances. Ian, the dorky unsexed hero is actually a handsome, funny person through a series of unfortunate events, has been cockblocked at every turn. His best friend, who looks like he would play the Jack Black style schlep, is a ladies man that actually gets the ladies, and finds a way to drop Indiana Jones-like one-liners that don't come off as cheesy.
Even the sexually repressed, gay older brother, who compensates with way-over-the-line macho antics, helps keep the momentum in flashback sequences and in the initial setup of the road trip. James Marsden plays the part with an unexpected eagerness, like a puppy turned off its leash, which is understandable given that he's often chosen to play Prince Charming or soul-searching supporting cast in superhero films. There is a twist ending, making the thousand-mile journey and all its detours worth it.
Felicia, the girl next door and love interest that comes along for the ride is as spontaneous and bawdy as the boys.
These three makes up the cast of unknowns which after this movie may achieve some measure of "Saturday Night Live" stardom. Although they may never win an Oscar, they will certainly make you laugh more than anyone who does.
The best surprises in the film are the ones not shown in the trailer, including an appearance by a much-mocked band and depictions of "rumspringa," also known as the Amish spring break weekend, right out of a 20/20 news expose on "Horrors In The Heartland." There's also a certain sarcasm dished out by the Amish characters about how juvenile and uneducated the outside world treats them. If anything this film marks an end to the days of Amish exploitation in films like "Witness" and the "Devil's Playground." Seth Green, best known as Chris on "Family Guy" or Dr. Evil's son, dishes out dark humor as Ezekiel.
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