Review of Spanking the Monkey (1994) by Jason Y — 15 Apr 2004

Written and Directed by David O'Russell.

[b]Genre[/b]: Comedy/Drama.

[b]MPAA[/b]: not rated.

[b]Runtime[/b]: 100 minutes.

[b]Plot Summary[/b]: Raymond Aibelli is a promising medical student ready to begin a prestigious summer internship. But Susan, his mother, is immobilized by a broken leg, and his father Tom, a travelling salesman, makes Raymond stay home and take care of his mother, an attractive though unhappy woman. - IMDB.

Its title would lead you to believe that its all about masturbation. I assure you that "spanking the monkey" is not its concern. David O'Russell's debut film is a sad and harrowing look at incest and child abuse. While its characters aren't exactly likeable, they are no doubt intriguing. The storytelling doesn't exactly use conventions in pacing or plot, but it takes its time in involving the audience. Many will be turned away, believing it to be empty and devoid of purpose. Others will delve into the I-can't-believe-this-happens part of their brain and realize this film for what it is. It is a hard subject to document, but I feel as if [i]Spanking the Monkey[/i] does a good job. And Jeremy Davies does a great job.

If you like [i]Spanking the Monkey[/i], you might also like...

- [i]Happiness[/i] (Todd Solondz, 1998) - Three middle-class New Jersey sisters all have their problems with their families and sex lives. - IMDB.

- [i]Welcome to the Dollhouse [/i](Todd Solondz, 1995) - Insightful look at an unattractive 7th grader as she struggles to cope with un-attentive parents, snobbish classmates, a smart older brother, an attractive younger sister, and her own insecurities. - IMDB.