Spread (2009)

A sex comedy centered on a serial womanizer and his jilted lover.

Director:

David Mackenzie

Writers:

Jason Hall (screenplay) (as Jason Dean Hall), Jason Hall (story) (as Jason Dean Hall)

Stars:

Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche, Margarita Levieva

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ashton Kutcher	...	Nikki
Anne Heche	...	Samantha
Margarita Levieva	...	Heather
Sebastian Stan	...	Harry
Rachel Blanchard	...	Emily
Eric Balfour	...	Sean
Ashley Johnson	...	Eva
Sonia Rockwell	...	Christina
Maria Conchita Alonso	...	Ingrid
Derek Carter	...	Delivery Guy
Sarah Buxton	...	Helen
Shane Brolly	...	Prince Stelio
Josh Richman	...	Club Bouncer / Himself
Jordan Black	...	Kevin
Peter Marc Jacobson	...	Plastic Surgeon

Storyline

In Los Angeles, Nikki is homeless, car-less and closing in on 30, but he's amoral, good-looking, and adept in the sack, moving from one wealthy woman of 35 or 40 to another, a kept boy-toy. His newest gig, with Samantha, an attorney whose house overlooks L.A., is sweet, although it's unclear how long she'll put up with him. Then Nikki meets Heather, a waitress. Is the player being played, or might this be love? What will Nikki discover?

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | shaving pubic hair | pick up artist | player | womanizer | 

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Taglines:

It's a business doing pleasure.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 July 2009 (France)

Also Known As:

Spread

Filming Locations:

Royal Carlton - 5611 Carlton Way, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$122,948, 16 August 2009

Gross USA:

$250,618

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,035,862

Company Credits

Production Co:

Barbarian Films, Katalyst Films, Oceana Media Finance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ashton Kutcher prepared for his role by speaking with Warren Beatty who played a similar character in Shampoo (1975). He also read Neil Strauss's non-fiction book "The Game", which is about pickup artists.

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Goofs

As the fiancee's family own the NY Rangers, he would not likely send an overnight letter from his home address. It would be from a corporate address.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nikki: My whole life it was obvious I was going to end up in this city. I don't want to be arrogant here, but I'm an incredibly attractive man. I can't help it, I don't try to be, I just am. When I was a kid my mother's best friend used to tell me that I was gonna be a little heart breaker. Turns out she was right. Her husband came home from work one day and found us fuckin' on the Stairmaster. Los Angeles, California - that's where all the beautiful little heart breakers go to live the ...

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: The Men Who Stare at Goats/A Christmas Carol/Precious (2009)

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Soundtracks

Been So Long
Written by Colias
Performed by União
Courtesy of Common Folk Records

User Reviews

Surprisingly Good

After reading a few reviews, I expected this movie to be a mildly pornographic rom-com. As the credits scrolled, however, I was surprised to find that this movie was not only well made and well casted, but the story behind well thought out too. Although some aspects of the story were clearly unreal (like the glamour and ease with which Ashton Kutcher picked up women), I thought that some things portrayed in Spread were rather accurate. One idea, which Nicky (Kutcher) mentions several times, is how people run to LA to pursue their dreams- but how the reality is that nothing is quite as magic as it seems. Most movies, having been made in Hollywood, would not necessarily incorporate this into the story. But this movie daringly features not only this but other controversial issues, and is therefore quite thought provoking. On the surface I can see why people thought the scenes of sexual nature were unnecessary, but really, the sex was part of the story. It was showing what Ashton Kutcher, who plays a gigolo, did to survive. And it showed how meaningless it all way for him. Overall I really enjoyed this film, and think that it carries a much deeper meaning than one would presume.