Love & Sex (2000)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Am I Missing Something?

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

"Monique" magazine writer Famke Janssen (as Kate Welles) nearly goes down when her article on how to please men is rejected. Tall and experienced in the oral act, Ms. Janssen tries not to blow her job by re-submitting a piece on relationships. Then, we follow Janssen through a linear array of men. The centerpiece of these is pseudo avant-garde artist Jon Favreau (as Adam Levy). The pair adopt kittens and argue over who produces a bad smell in bed... When she gets bored, Janssen takes up with muscle-toned Josh Hopkins (as Joey Santino), an actor who admires Robert De Niro. Also figuring prominently is fender-bender Noah Emmerich (as Eric). There are a few funny, well-written scenes by director Valerie Breiman, especially those involving Janssen and the secondary men. However, the leading players are more annoying than likable, and you may not care about their ability to reconcile differences.**** Love & Sex (1/24/00) Valerie Breiman ~ Famke Janssen, Jon Favreau, Josh Hopkins, Noah Emmerich

I have to say I am stunned by the number of rapturous reviews of this film. It is nothing but a lonely-Friday-night fantasy for 30-something single women, full of clichés, predictable jokes and paint-by-numbers plot turns. Take Annie Hall, change the point of view to the woman's, and give it a warm-and-fuzzy "happy ending." Oh, and while you're at it, get rid of all the charm, witty writing, surprises and ideas.Jon Favreau struggles mightily to inject some unpredictability and edge into this film, but there's just no saving it. This is the cinematic equivalent of being licked by a golden retriever -- cute and warm for a minute or two, but leaves you feeling icky and in need of a wash.

My wife and I watched it quite by accident recently. Very funny, warm and witty. Reminded me of Blind Date, Continental Devide, but more clever. We laughed and cried at the foibles of both the main actors. The story line is intriguing with pertinent flashbacks. Modern and timely. I was hooked in an early scene where Adam says "You think this is a joke? Here's a joke. Two guys walk into a bar and one of them is a 30 year old stand up comedian who lives with his parents." His rival melts away. The line about her faking her documentaries regarding a particular act being more beneficial to the ....ee than to the ....er was priceless. All the previous relationships were germane to her frustration with men.

To keep from being bored during "Love and Sex," first I tried to think of all the movies this was imitative of: "Breaking Up" with Russell Crowe and Salma Hayek (though that had a more original ending), "About Last Night" with Rob Lowe, and a lot of TV shows. Second was admiring just how gorgeous Framke Janssen is so I couldn't believe for a nanosecond that she could have a problem getting a date. She is certainly in line to give Julia Roberts a run for her money, literally-- and wasn't Julia in some movie with this same plot or other? Third was trying to figure out why the writer/director bothered to give Jon Favreau's character the Jewish name of Adam Levy; he even refers admiringly to eating a ham sandwich.Fourth was trying to figure out why some critics had given this a good review which is why I was in the theater.(originally written 9/2/2000)