Sex Drive

Sex Drive

2008

Comedy

Rated: R

Running Time: 109 minutes

Starring: Clark Duke, Amanda Crew, James Marsden, Seth Green, Josh Zuckerman

Directed By: Sean Anders

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Outline

A guy and a couple of friends head cross country to meet a girl he met on the internet.

Review

I would have been disappointed if a movie titled Sex Drive wasn’t funny. Although it was an unoriginal blend of American Pie meets Road Trip it still was a good time. Sex Drive is the story of Ian. He is a virgin and will do anything for his first sexual conquest. That includes driving cross country with a couple of friends to meet a girl he found on the internet.

The film has a very original opening scene (yes sarcasm) where Ian is caught masturbating in front of the family. After that though the film settles down into a pretty decent comedy. The story is decidedly stale with the virgin trying anything to lose his V card. But besides that this character driven comedy has enough laughs to make it viable. When Ian and his two friends, Lance, and Felicia start to drive cross country the film is at its best and the crazy shenanigans ensue. This film works for your laughs and while at times the humor is forced like a scene involving a hick and his genitalia showing. Most of the time the humor is spot on, like when the three of them rage with the Amish, or when Ian puts on a hilarious doughnut costume.

This film is all about its well played characters. The lead Ian played by Josh Zuckerman plays a great virgin. He wasn’t especially funny but he allows his solid co-actors to bounce their jokes off his nerdy straight laced character. His best friend Lance played by the hilarious Clark Duke keeps the movie going always in the right direction. While he does not have the looks to play the ladies man he is portraying, it is almost funnier because of that fact. His random comments and advice on love had me laughing right through the movie. Ian’s other friend Felicia played by Amanda Crew also did a nice job. She also wasn’t the funniest but had a believable look and added to the film more than subtracted. The highlight of this movie for me was Rex played by James Marsden. Picture Stifler from American Pie meets Chet from Weird Science. This guy is a homophobic, car loving, foul mouthed, bully of epic proportions. He is fantastic in this role and it is great to see that from a guy who is known for being the "other" guy from the Notebook. Lastly I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Seth Green’s cameo as a sarcastic Amish guy called Ezekiel. He doesn’t have a huge role but he kills it with his awkward double meaning talk.

So the film takes you all over the map as they head cross country and really there aren’t very many poor scenes. While some things are funnier than others this film is never boring and provides ample laughs. The story is forgettable and the whole angle where Ian is looking for love instead of just sex was miserable. Forgive this movie its faults and just sit back and enjoy a film that has everything from giant black dildos to catfights.

Director and writer Sean Anders should be commended for putting together a solid if not spectacular comedy. He gets ample laughs from a virtually unknown cast and this film is never boring. While he took the easy way out on an uninspired script he never the less makes up for it with outrageous situations and funny characters. Overall I thought he did a good job when it easily could have been terrible.

I give this movie a surprising recommendation and while the story isn’t the greatest the characters are certainly worth the watch.

T Factor + If you like crude humor this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you need original storylines for your movies this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: American Pie, Road Trip