We caught an early sneak peak of the post-“Superbad” teen comedy, “Sex Drive.” The movie had its moments, but some of it was terrible. While funny in parts, but the prime majority of the jokes were based solely on how sexually vulgar, crude, or gratuitous it could be. Rarely was the film clever. It’s like the writers thought, “Hey, dildos are funny and so are condoms! Especially when they are flung on to some one’s face!”
The film is about an 18 year-old mall employee, Josh Zuckerman, who, under false pretenses, meets an attractive girl on the Internet and they decide to meet so he can finally have sex. His dumpy yet Casanova-esque best friend, Clark Duke, tags along as does his other best friend/girl of his dreams, Amanda Crew. The three friends travel from Illinois to Tennessee in the virgin’s older brother’s 1969 GTO Judge. Shenanigans ensue involving plenty of nudity, sex, penises, and the Amish. Of the group of Amish people, is the film’s high point and only actually funny character, Seth Green. His character didn’t need to be hit in the head with an anal bead to get laughs nor did he need to show any skin.
“Sex Drive,” doesn’t try hide its predictability. We know that the main character is in love with the semi-attractive girl who has been his bff for the last decade and all of it is expected. The “Superbad”-ish vulgar notes were sometimes amusing (let’s note that Apatow film is eons better), but it isn’t that difficult to come up with boner gags, let alone multiple ones. Amusing in a juvenile way, yes. But so much of the jokes were all about shock value. Let’s say it though, it’s bad, but kind of funny.
One last thing worth mentioning is that it was nice to see James Marsden play a douchebag that wasn’t liked by anyone. Normally he just plays the romantic rival asshat. (see: “X-Men,” “Superman Returns,” “The Notebook,” “Enchanted”) His character got old because all he did was call the main character versions of the word “homosexual.” Funny right?
This film won’t cater to our average reader. This movie was made for the lowest common denominator jackass who enjoys watching an infertile woman shit on a prison toilet. Since we saw it for free on a whim with little expectations, we were surprised how much we laughed, but we’re not about to recommend you spend your hard earned dollars. [C]