Review of Hysteria (2011) by Dinesh P — 19 Jul 2013

Hysteria is a cute little romantic comedy that takes a, um, tongue-in-cheek look at the invention of the vibrator.

In Victorian England, during the late 19th Century, women with anger or sadness (or pretty much anything emotional) were given the medical diagnosis of hysteria. It was believed that their blues were being caused by an overexcited uterus, and that manual stimulation of the women's genitalia--thus inducing a paroxysm--was the cure. Hugh Dancy plays the young doctor who becomes so good at his job that his hand becomes injured. His wealthy benefactor and friend, played by Rupert Everett, is attempting to make an electric feather duster; and the vibrations of the device gives the two men a great and lucrative idea.

The movie could've been quite lewd and vulgar; but instead it, um, comes across quite satirical. It's cute and smile-inducing rather than--excuse the pun--hysterically funny. There is nice, um, physical chemistry between Dancy and his two love interests in the film; but the, um, stiffness of the cast has more to do with the script than the period. In attempting to be cute and sarcastic, the movie sacrifices laughter. Such an interesting topic should have been, um, explored deeper by letting the cast, er, dig deeper and get wilder. For a movie about vibrators, its a little calm; it needed some more, um, stimulation.

I give Hysteria three stars. It's a solid C grade, a 75. It's a fun way to pass the time, though, especially if you're home alone and you're looking for a temporary thrill to pass the time until you can have something more substantial. Yes, I'm talking about the film. Pervs.