Review: Sex Drive

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on October 17, 2008

A couple weeks ago, a movie called College was released. Meant to be a Judd Apatow-style sex comedy, the advertisements claimed this would be this generation’s Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds or American Pie.

Those predictions were wrong. The movie fizzled like cheap champagne on New Year’s Eve. It made just over $2 million on opening weekend and finished off its theatrical run barely breaking $4 million.

I’m not saying that Sex Drive is going to do any better at the box office, but if there was a film that had a shot at being the defining sex comedy for this generation (unless you’d consider Superbad to have already won that distinction), then this film could do it.

Starring a cast of virtual unknowns in the leads, Sex Drive follows a dorky high school senior who meets a total hottie on the internet. After Photoshopping himself on the body of a football player and getting her to think he’s a stud, he plans to drive several states away to meet her for a night of sex.

Along for the ride in his brother’s stolen GTO is his best friend at school who, despite being a dork himself, seems to have all the powers over the ladies. His other best friend (who happens to be a girl that he also has a crush on) tags along for the weekend trip.

Over the past few years, Hollywood has come under first for its PG-13ification of various genres. Horror movies and teen sex comedies are the worst hit. Nothing says “lame” like what could be a raunchy and hilarious film that pulls its punches. Fortunately there are films like Sex Drive, which remind us of how funny a film can be when it goes the distance.

Sex Drive is raunchier than you’d expect, and it works. It definitely puts the “sex” back in the teen sex comedy.

There’s not a whole lot of new ground covered with this movie, making it a mix of American Pie and Road Trip. However, the jokes worked, and I found myself laughing out loud in many scenes. There’s plenty of raunchiness, nudity, sex and comedy to make the trip worth it.

While the leads aren’t big names, the great performances come from supporting characters that fill the gaps of the film. You’ve probably seen Seth Green’s Amish mechanic character in the television commercials. Fortunately, there’s a lot more funny scenes with him beyond what you’ll see in the trailers. Additionally, James Marsden, who has had a good run of scene stealing performances as of late (specifically in Enchanted and 27 Dresses), plays the over-testosteroned brother to hilarious effect.

The Upside: Supporting roles by Seth Green and James Marsden.

The Downside: Next time you eat a donut, try not to think of dildos.

On the Side: I’m pretty sure that the Amish don’t have a Rumspringer celebration for their youth.

Read more articles by Kevin Carr