One of the most laughably absurd criticisms I've heard thrown at A Good Old Fashioned Orgy is that none of the characters has any sexual chemistry. Hello, we're talking about an orgy here! "Chemistry" couldn't be further from the point....not that I have any experience in these matters, but to me that seems pretty obvious. I can think of few things far more awkward than a room full of naked folks getting it on in front of each other, and it only gets worse when they're all friends. But that's exactly what we're in store for in this film, the latest R-rated home run in what has been a string of them this summer. A Good Old Fashioned Orgy isn't just another throwaway sex comedy. It's a film with genuine, likable characters with very real friendships put through a rather unique test.
Jason Sudeikis got off on the wrong foot with me in Hall Pass, coming off as a poor man's Vince Vaughn, but in this film he finally gets a chance to strut his comedic stuff and I was totally diggin' it. He plays Eric, a marginally responsible manchild facing a first world crisis: his playboy dad(Don Johnson) is selling his lavish home in the Hamptons, the site of Eric's crazy weekend theme parties. The "White Trash Bash" was particularly raucous, drunkenly hitting on his sexy realtor(Leslie Bibb) before forgetting she even exists. Eric's a good guy, but maturity hasn't come easy, and he basically lives for those weekend blowouts with his tight knit group of 30-something buds.
Eric and his friends must find a way to save their hang out, while also preparing for one final bash. He comes up with an idea that only a dude with the sex drive and mentality of a teenager could come up with: an orgy. While it may seem like the perfect setup for an explosion of fratboy jokes about penis size and performance, there's a surprising level of intelligence and insight to be found in the script. For once, this is an R-rated comedy that doesn't lean heavily towards males like The Hangover
, or does the total 180 and gears towards women like Bridesmaids
.Everybody has their shot to get a little dirty.
Eric's best bud, Mike(Tyler Labine), a raucous stoner with a blurry moral line, is all for it but doubts it'll ever happen. Doug(Martin Starr) wants in for the sake of giving himself a wild story with which to build his career as a rock star, although the considerations of his girlfriend(Angela Sarafyan) seem secondary. The funny thing is the guys don't have to do much to win the ladies over. Alison(Lake Bell), a stuffy but sexy psychologist jumps in after leaving her stuck up douche of a boyfriend. Sue(Michelle Borth) has been harboring feelings for Eric since high school and sees it as a chance to finally score with him, while Laura(Lindsay Sloane) wants to prove to herself that she can be sexy. The ensemble cast is probably the film's greatest strength. They all have a very easy charm and seem to be having a great time together, a must for a film like this which hinges on the loyalty of these friends. Sudeikis is as likable as he's ever been, a goofball in the Judd Apatow mold. Tyler Labine has been a personal favorite of mine for years, making for a far less irritating sidekick than Zach Galifianakis.
As you would expect, it does drift into some pretty raunchy material but it never felt excessive or frivolous. Even as Eric and Mike make the foolish decision to venture into a secretive swinger club(located in a mattess shop of all places) to get some orgy advice from a seasoned pro(David Koechner), it never goes overboard and remains off kilter without degenerating into one of your nastier sex comedies.What surprised me most, and is probably the reason why I've come to love this film the way I do, is that it defied my expectations in every way. Movies like this aren't new, with a recent example being the excellent indie film, Humpday
. In that film, two heterosexual men decide to have sex with each other as a way of presenting "art". Humpday was marked by realistic dialogue by the two main characters, who were essentially both trying to find a way to prove to themselves that they still mattered. A similar theme runs through this film as well. These are all people in their 30s, who are seeing their lives quickly flashing by, and need to find a way to make their mark. There's truth to be found here if you want to look for it, but even if you just want an adult oriented laugh or two, you'll be more than satisfied. If you don't laugh at the Eric/Mike kissing scene, I'm personally coming over and checking your pulse.Yes, there is a kissing scene, and you might be surprised to know there is an actual orgy. Most movies like this spend the entire time letting the characters talk themselves out of the big finale. The wait and the payoff is well worth it, especially in the blundering beginning when nobody knows quite how to kick the festivities off. You're not going to get full penetration or anything, but it's better(and far funnier) than anything you'll see late night on Skinemax.
