Review of Sex Drive (2003) by Gregory M — 13 Apr 2013

'Sex Drive', Written and Directed by Sean Anders, and based on the novel by Andy Behrens is not a complete failure, just mostly. The movie is about the teen obsession with internet chatting and dating. It fails to understand and present the concept in the same manner than 'Nick and Norah's Infinate Playlist' fails to present it's concept of the teen obsession with I-Pods. The difference is that 'Nick and Norah' was mildly entertaining and 'Sex Drive' is not.

This film follows the trend some modern movies have started in giving the characters only a first name. I truly believe that may be part of the reason the characters are two dimensional. Giving the characters first and last names is just smart. It completes them and humanizes them, allowing the actor more of a chance to play up on both names. Anyway, Ian(Josh Zuckerman) is a high school virgin(Seriously, that is not an uncommon thing to be, though Hollywood seems to think it is) who created a profile on a web dating service, photoshopping his head onto the picture of a muscular jock. The joke is that he's actually a scrawny nerd. Fed up with his brother's ruthless gay jokes and unsuccessful attempts with women, especially with his best friend, Felicia(Amanda Crew), Ian decides to steal his brother's car and drive for 9 hours to meet up with a girl who he's been chatting with over his fake profile.

Well, already you know that they'll probably end up in many misadventures which include: Partying it up at an Amish rock concert, almost getting killed by trailor trash wife beaters, getting pissed on by a crazy hitchiker, and a shoot out(in which Ian dons his alter ego - Giant Mexican Donut Man). All of these things are far too over the top for any of it to be the slightest bit funny.

At one point in the film, Ian gets an erection on the stage with an abstinence youth group as an unwed mother shares her story. Why does he get the erection? Because there are naked girls off stage in the wing. The host, however, avidly claims that Ian is perverted for getting aroused by listening to the story of the unwed mother. This is a classic example of trying too hard to be funny, ending up completely unfunny. The girls are part of the group and wouldn't start undressing right in the wing in front of their leaders and counselors. Also, is there a reason none of them had bras? Also, the host was standing right next to the wing and looked straight at Ian who was not looking at the unwed mother, but at the naked girls. So, it is impossible to think that the host could ever mistake what was actually arousing Ian. Therefore, the joke doesn't work. There's absolutely no logic behind it.

The homophobic jokes are redundant and unnecessary. Yes, it's funny that his brother, Rex(James Marsden) is homophobic through out the whole film, and then ends up being gay. But listen to the words Ian uses as narration in prologue to his brother coming out: "We finally found out what Rex had stuck up his ass." That's kind of not very funny. The movie assumes that gay guys are either perverts or ass holes.

Anyways, don't see it. It's not worth the money, and it shouldn't be making a profit from you. Just to clear the air, I screen films for free and do not pay my precious money to see any of the films I review on my site. I think it's important for me to sit through the awful films so that you don't have to.