Sex Tape *
The only thing that Sex Tape can be commended on is how trim its leads have got for their parts – well, Cameron Diaz just looks even fitter. In fact, like all ‘cuddly’ comedians who lose weight, you spend the first ten minutes trying to get over how different Jason Segel looks, by which stage, engaging in the trigger-fire of dialogue between the screen married couple gets more difficult that you ultimately revert back to pondering over how trim Segel looks. It’s all pert bots, really, until a tame The Hangover reveal at the end.
Annie (Diaz) and Jay (Segel) are married with two kids and have a great, comfortable lifestyle. The trouble is, things have got too comfortable and hectic that the couple rarely have time to do ‘the deed’. Finally, getting a night off together with the kids around Grandma’s, they decide to get physical – like the olden days – and re-enact the Karma Sutra positions to camera (after a tipple too many). To their horror – and the power of today’s Cloud technology, they discover their ‘tape’ has been uploaded for all to see, prompting a desperate nightlong recovery of said video and hardware.
Diaz and Segel have already proven they have a natural comedic rift after Bad Teacher (2011), so this isn’t what’s the problem ere. There are even some odd funny moments of recognition for time-strapped parents to snigger over too. However, the general smugness of the screen family’s situation followed by the one running joke – ‘we’re going to be exposed, literally’ – soon wears a little thin. Added to which, there are scenes straight out of other successful comedies, like Steve Martin in Father of the Bride facing off some wealthy in-laws’ canine (Segel’s turn in this).
Perhaps the biggest (unintentional) snigger – followed by some eye rolling – is the blatant Apple (iPad) plugs throughout. Now this could be Sony poking fun, as some of the delivery is way too cringe-worthy to be taken seriously? Indeed, when they may or may not be being cynical we are later treated to a patronising lecture by YouPorn king and family man (played by Jack Black) about relationship matters. If this is tongue in cheek, it’s not obvious, but we can only hope it is.
Perhaps stay at home and take a leaf out of Annie and Jay’s book by making the most of your time together – but keep the technology at bay if the drinks are flowing – Sex Tape is a perfect example of ‘the oldies’ not fully understanding the dangers of new technology that kids seem to take for granted. Just don’t expect ‘bang for your buck’ if you go see this at the cinema; it lacks salacious flesh and sordid humour for someone classed R-rated!
1/5 stars
By @FilmGazer
