Old Joe
Hollywood had to bring out a movie just like this one. Firstly the name used, for me had to be the name, then the topic following the name is also very creepy and ironic. I will explain later why I feel the way I do about this movie, and what I will describe are the thoughts and ideas that I have had, when it comes to the whole deal that I guess is ‘Amy's Orgasm'.Amy Mandell is a sophisticated, beautiful 29-year-old self-help author who, having been burned by men over and over, has made it her mission to convince women that they don't need men to feel fulfilled. Desperately lonely and having trouble practicing what she preaches, Amy meets Matthew Starr, a shock jock known for his sexist on-air antics, irresistible charm, and sexual prowess. Amy finally throws down her guard and dares to experience the most elusive orgasm of all -love. This movie was written and directed by its star, Julie Davis, which created some problems for me. Firstly the screenplay, while not being completely bad, had some downfalls. At times, the main character of Amy was hard for to me like or even understand. While some of the other characters were a bit too much, such as Amy's parents and her priest, who I feel is the most unrealistic character I have seen in a movie for a long time. Then look at what was contained in the movie's screenplay, with all these different notions of love and relationships. In the end, I felt that the story overanalysed love, and started to become boring, repetitive, predictable and confusing. Davis did a pretty good job in directing the movie, although I did have problems with her overall visions for the film. I was not a big fan of the way that we hear all these various voices churning through Amy's head, as they really do show that this girl has no right to give out advice on love, when she is totally confused on the issue herself. However, I did like the movie's preempting about what sorts of situation Amy might like to be in, via her very deep sexual fantasies. Amy Mandell (Davis) is a woman famous for writing a book called ‘Why Love Doesn't Work', loved by many thousands of women, but widely criticised by the media. It was a very open role from Davis, as she would show herself in many personal predicaments, and then would also talk about many issues that most of us shrug away from. While on her interview bandwagon, Amy is interviewed by Radio DJ Matthew Starr (Nick Chinlund), who initially we are meant to think is a really sick jerk. But as Amy and the audience get to know Matt, he shows himself to be a pretty reasonable sort of guy, someone Amy could love. While I like Matt as a movie character, it is all a bit too freaky for me, for two reasons. One my name is Matt and the situation I found myself in just a few years ago was with a girl named Amy. This movie had to use those two names! And, two, I once wanted to be a radio DJ like Matt, making AO seem all the more coincidental. We also meet some other interesting characters in AO. Amy's publicist, Janet Gaines (Caroline Aaron) is a strange woman and we learn quite quickly what sort of person she is. While Amy's parents (Mary Ellen Taylor and Charles Cioffi) are very cold and callous when it comes to their daughter and what has happened in her life. Yet Amy's friends, young couple Don (Mitchell Whitfield) and Elizabeth (Jennifer Bransford) help their friend feel better about life and love. However, the priest (Jeff Cesario) is character, who I am sure many people would love, but I did not appreciate here.
This movie also reminds of other things I have seen on TV and in cinema lately. Firstly, the downer for this movie is the way it brings back bad memories of a film that did not like, the disgraceful 2001 Josh Hartnett film '40 Days and 40 Nights'. The area AO reminds me of that film is the stupid way it involves religion within the context of a film that deals primarily with a human view on sex, just not good enough if you ask me. The other thing is how much better CBO's ‘Sex and the City' handles all the issues involving, relationships, love and sex. Unfortunately, AO was unsuccessful in dealing with these issues.AO also brings back some bad personal memories for me. An example of this is the moment in the film where Amy asks Matt a very personal question about his sex life. Now, while most people would have no problem with questions of this nature being asked of them, I have regretted admitting this to other people, especially those who did not deserve to hear about it. I have also learnt that this movie's was originally titled, ‘Why Love Doesn't Work', a much better title than Amy's Orgasm in my opinion. I am a bit confused as to the change in name for the video release. If any other name had been used in this film, I think I could have stomached it more than I have, but by using the name ‘AMY', it really does bring back memories for me of a person who I have forgotten. I have also forgotten the personal things that she told me about her life, like her deep sexual feelings, her very lurid sex life and what many of her orgasms were actually like. To say that these words and images affected me is an understatement. So a movie with this name was always going to be difficult for me to like, which just so happens to be the case.CMRS gives ‘Amy's Orgasm': 1.5 (Bad – Ok Film)
Charles Herold (cherold)
Cute, slightly offbeat romantic comedy is funny and I recognize some of the lead's attitudes and actions from girls I've known, so it kind of helps me figure out why they do some of the things they do, and I liked the way they would move from what was happening to what she was hearing and imagining, as when a guy's comments about having stayed with an ex for the good sex translating in her mind to a diatribe about her being fat. Movie has a rather cynical view towards self-help pop psychology books, which I think is justified. The big speech near the end of pretty stupid, the sort of unrealistic thing you see in Hollywood movies all the time. Not successful on all levels, and if I felt like it I could pick apart this or that, but overall it just works and is quite entertaining.
jagaleigh
OK, kiddies. I first saw this film at a friend's house. We were listening to music, drinking lots of beer, and the TV was on mute but the closed captioning was on. I have to say that this film looked damn good from what I saw. I decided to rent it on a more sober evening. This film turned out to be the biggest movie rental mistake of my life.
There are a few laughs to be had, and I really did like the cast; BUT THE STORY WAS RIDICULOUS. SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!"Women need a man to be complete"? I am no feminism-activist-man hater-girl power-freak....but c'mon. "Women NEED men and that's what makes us smarter"? I like guys as much as the next redhead, but women NEED men to be complete like men need us to change the channels. I mean, WTF? Women and men may want each other, and that's great (to me), but this overly needy film almost made me throw up. I didn't get this movie. First she's against men, then she needs them. Then she doesn't. Then she does. Then she is controlling and giving every woman a bad name. Then she can't and won't have sex and then she does. Then she is crazy. She even got a priest to quit his job and he was happier that way.
Help?! If this movie comes on cable, see it. Then you can either agree with me or think I am a nut. DO NOT RENT IT. I'll never get my $4.10 back and I am sad about it. I should note that I expected to LOVE this movie. How disappointing is that?
