'THE VIRGINITY HIT': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
Andrew Gurland and Huck Botko co-write and co-direct this fake documentary take on the 'virginity losing' teen sex comedy. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay produced the film (the teams last co-writing effort 'THE LAST EXORCISM' was produced by Eli Roth, so the duo is good at getting high profile money men to back their films apparently). The film is cast entirely with unknowns and was reportedly shot for under a couple million dollars. It's in limited release now but hasn't performed as well as expectations and probably won't be widely available to the masses until it's video release (although Ferrell and company are fighting for a wider theatrical release).
Matt Bennett, Zack Pearlman, Jacob Davich and Justin Kline star as Matt, Zack, Jacob and Justin; four guys who make a pact to all lose their virginity one year and as they do they all take a hit off a special bong (this is where the film's title comes from). As the film opens we see an elapsed time montage as three of the four friends all hit the bong and share with each other their experiences. The rest of the film becomes about the three buddies helping the last virgin Matt 'score' anyway he can. Matt and Zack grew up together in the same house, since Matt was nine when his mom passed away from cancer. Zack takes it upon himself to document he and his friends' quest for Matt to have sex and their exploits; the entire film is played out documentary style with snippets of video from the boys' wild experiences here and there.
The 'fake documentary' gimmick has been a little overused lately but it's never been used in a teen sex comedy that I can recall and it works beautifully here. The story, of course, has been done many times before and there's nothing really new or original in the joke material but still the film feels very fresh and unique. All though the movie is light on 'laugh out loud' moments it's still extremely amusing and entertaining. The actors are all very natural and impressive and the directing and editing are both clever and effective. It really feels like were watching real people, the movie is so well done that we get caught up in the characters and don't care if their humor is childish or overdone. As we get to know the characters the movie does become more 'laugh out loud' funny as well, just like with a real friend, once you get to know these guys you can't help but like them and find them amusing. I'm a big fan of all the teen sex comedies I had growing up as well as more recently ('AMERICAN PIE' and 'SUPERBAD' are classic). All though this film might not be as hilarious as those it is refreshing and new and memorable all in it's own way.
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95Zjdlcbe0
Andrew Gurland and Huck Botko co-write and co-direct this fake documentary take on the 'virginity losing' teen sex comedy. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay produced the film (the teams last co-writing effort 'THE LAST EXORCISM' was produced by Eli Roth, so the duo is good at getting high profile money men to back their films apparently). The film is cast entirely with unknowns and was reportedly shot for under a couple million dollars. It's in limited release now but hasn't performed as well as expectations and probably won't be widely available to the masses until it's video release (although Ferrell and company are fighting for a wider theatrical release).
Matt Bennett, Zack Pearlman, Jacob Davich and Justin Kline star as Matt, Zack, Jacob and Justin; four guys who make a pact to all lose their virginity one year and as they do they all take a hit off a special bong (this is where the film's title comes from). As the film opens we see an elapsed time montage as three of the four friends all hit the bong and share with each other their experiences. The rest of the film becomes about the three buddies helping the last virgin Matt 'score' anyway he can. Matt and Zack grew up together in the same house, since Matt was nine when his mom passed away from cancer. Zack takes it upon himself to document he and his friends' quest for Matt to have sex and their exploits; the entire film is played out documentary style with snippets of video from the boys' wild experiences here and there.
The 'fake documentary' gimmick has been a little overused lately but it's never been used in a teen sex comedy that I can recall and it works beautifully here. The story, of course, has been done many times before and there's nothing really new or original in the joke material but still the film feels very fresh and unique. All though the movie is light on 'laugh out loud' moments it's still extremely amusing and entertaining. The actors are all very natural and impressive and the directing and editing are both clever and effective. It really feels like were watching real people, the movie is so well done that we get caught up in the characters and don't care if their humor is childish or overdone. As we get to know the characters the movie does become more 'laugh out loud' funny as well, just like with a real friend, once you get to know these guys you can't help but like them and find them amusing. I'm a big fan of all the teen sex comedies I had growing up as well as more recently ('AMERICAN PIE' and 'SUPERBAD' are classic). All though this film might not be as hilarious as those it is refreshing and new and memorable all in it's own way.
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95Zjdlcbe0