SEX TAPE (D+)

Bottom Line: With the promise of a more raunchy bite inherently built in to its title, this toothlessly overpromising, studio comedy seems content on giving its audience the shaft.  It poignantly (but only briefly) probes in to a few comedic truths of being married with children – continually poking fun at the hardships of planning and keeping activities straight – but it never fully rises to the occasion of becoming as witty as it actually thinks it is…  There are a few laughs to be had (courtesy of the up-for-almost-everything goofiness of Jason Segel and Rob Lowe) but the rest is a painfully plodding pedestrian romp through a lazily scripted, poorly paced, paper-thin and virtually porn-free plot.  …and although size rarely matters (right?), this anemically 95-minute look at the perils of cloud computing should have been tighter, more planned out – instead, it hurriedly thrusts the viewer in to a recycled state of benchmark moments that played for more laughs when they first appeared in FATHER OF THE BRIDE and THE HANGOVER.  Even the blatant rip-offs are limply executed.  It’s occasionally funny, yes – but mostly flaccid, flat and forgettably dull.  Awkwardly unaware of its unoriginality, this SEX TAPE kinda blows…just not in the way that might make it a better movie.

 

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Rob Lowe

Directed by: Jake Kasdan (BAD TEACHER and WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY)

Running time: 95 minutes

Studio description: Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) are a married couple still very much in love, but ten years and two kids have cooled the passion. To get it back, they decide - why not? - to make a video of themselves trying out every position in THE JOY OF SEX in one marathon three-hour session. It seems like a great idea, until they discover that their most private video has gone public. In a panic, they begin a wild night of adventure - tracking down leads, roping in friends, duping Annie's boss - all to reclaim their video, their reputation, their sanity, and, most importantly, their marriage. (c) Sony

 

Official site: www.sonypictures.com/movies/sextape/