SEX DRIVE is a film that I wasn’t particularly looking forward to. I didn’t really know who anybody in it was. I wasn’t familiar with any of the talent behind the film – and the trailers and red band material were funny, but what if that was as good as it got?
Right now we’ve got a wealth of wonderful comedy material coming from folks like Kevin Smith and the Judd Apatow Mafia – but this could have been just some knock off of SUPERBAD and it might just be a pale comparison.
Ummm… Let’s nip that fear in the bud, cuz this is a fantastic original comedy by whole group of talented folks, most of whom – you don’t know yet!
Let’s start with the breakout actor of the film, Clark Duke as Lance. Who? Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction. He had done an internet series with Michael Cera called CLARK & MICHAEL – and he plays Dale on a show I’ve never seen called GREEK, but folks – after you see SEX DRIVE – you’re going to mark him. Next year he’s in A THOUSAND WORDS as Eddie Murphy’s traumatized assistant and he’s just been cast in a small supporting role in Matthew Vaughn’s KICKASS. But for those that see SEX DRIVE, you’re going to be looking for the next film that he’ll headline, because Clark Duke can carry a movie.
He comes across as though a 19 year old Dudley Moore, with an American Accent, was cast in the parts that Matthew Broderick was getting in the Eighties. Remember the joy that Broderick had in FERRIS BEULLER’S DAY OFF? Just how much fun he was having – the joy that was on his face – Clark’s LANCE has that, he also has that confidence. Clark also has a bit of ARTHUR to him, a tad of that Dudley sense of style and flair. He’s an Alpha-Geek. He’s a nerd that knows how to get laid and has no fear of man, fowl or vagina, but make no bones about it, he’s a geek – a dorky looking fellow, an oddball that somehow everyone likes and women adore.
It’s a rare character to see in film, and not usually believed in, but there’s plenty out there. Especially these days where in some sects of society geeks are being raised with no stigma attached to it, they don’t know that that’s a bad thing. Well, they now have a cinematic patron saint of geek youth. He may be a lascivious sort, but he doesn’t want to be, he wants to find the right lady – but he’s an honorable friend that won’t lay with a girl if it could hurt anyone he cares for. He’s a fair sport. And an utterly awesome character.
The best known actor in the film is James Marsden – and he’s in fine fine form here as the aggressive “CHET-style” big brother. Now he isn’t CHET, but he is that brutal older brother to our main character, Ian (Josh Zuckerman), he’s constantly calling his younger brother gay for not having a girlfriend. He has an awesome car, he’s a motorbike freak and kinda like Moriarty when he gets angry. I once saw Drew – Nicholson out just like Marsden on the family’s garage door. It was unrestrained horror. But ridiculously funny to think about. There’s an awesome arc for Marsden’s Rex, but you’d have to be one helluva ass to spoil it. However, Marsden is on a comedic run – his work in HAIRSPRAY, ENCHANTED and SEX DRIVE makes 3 fantastic turns of the comedic sort. And honestly, each one is stronger & funnier than the one before. I’m fascinated to see what he has in store for us with his turn in David Russell’s NAILED, because we know how good David is with comedy already.
Then there’s Seth Green’s post-modern ironic take on an Amish Ezekial. It’s completely in the conception of the character and then Seth’s smartass delivery. But he’s one of the best ball-busting characters I’ve seen in quite some time. You get a hint of his character in the trailers, but I guarantee you, you’re not prepared for just how funny he is.
These three actors are the stand-outs, the cream of this very healthy crop of talent, but make no bones about it, the rest of the performers are consistently and constantly on.
Perhaps my favorite pair are these two slackers that try to hit on every girl that comes their way. They’re masters of the “bad pass” – a crude offer of sexual satisfaction, that often times gets a girl to address them, to be curious, but… well, for them it’s the pursuit, not the capture they’re good at – but no matter, they’re hysterical.
The basic storyline is about getting Ian (Josh Zuckerman) deflowered. This is his story, we see him at the beginning of the film trying to flirt via some form of messenger conversation with some gal calling herself Ms. Tasty. His friend Lance (Clark Duke) feels it’s paramount that he get past the issue of getting laid and take off on a several hundred mile trip to lay down with Ms Tasty. So he ‘borrows’ his brother’s motorized penis in pursuit of pussy. He’s taking his best friend Lance – and by chance the girl he’s crushing on, Felicia (the lovely Amanda Crew), who is crushing on Lance.
This is an R-rated comedy folks, one that has tits and a few other exposed areas as well… all for maximum comedic effect. The hottest of the gals, in my opinion, is Alice Greczyn’s Amish MARY – oh my. Please, let sexy Amish be the new sexy Halloween costume. But there’s a lot of attractive ladies in this film.
SEX DRIVE is an absurd, hilarious film about the pursuit of piercing the clefted peach, but through the ridiculous hilarity of it all – there’s that honest sweetness that comes with the issues dealt with. This isn’t an imitator, it is, in fact, the real deal. A hilarious, original sex comedy that you really must seek out.
|
