What's Better Than Sex???

My friends have always accused me of being more like a guy than a girl in the random sex with strangers category. Safety aside, it's always been my belief that there's a major difference between sex for physical gratification and sex for love. Sometimes, you're lucky and you can combine the two but it ain't always that way. I mean, how many of us "fell in love" with the first person we had sex with? You may have convinced yourself at the time that it was love but really, was it?

Well, I'm not here to argue with you or to go through your list of sexual partners (although hey - the comment section could get quite interesting if we go in that direction...). Today, it's about a review on a movie that goes down this initial path that a one night stand can be all about pure, lusty, sex, with absolutely no commitment and no complications.

The story involves two of age, consenting adults. Neither of which are in committed relationships (so relax, for those of you about to get your panties in a wad).

Cin (Susie Porter) and Josh (David Wenham) meet at a party, chit-chatting for only moments before they share a cab ride home. Presumably, when they both enter the cab, they're both going to their own, separate homes. On the drive, they make more small talk and Josh tells Cin that he's visiting from London and would only be here for three more days. Cin, noticing her increasing attraction to him, thinks that because he's only going to be around for a couple of days means that she could definitely have a one nighter with him without those complications. Josh is also thinking the same thing but awkwardly, the two aren't sure how to brooch the subject. After all, they are complete strangers.

When the cab stops at Cin's house, she says her goodbye's and walks towards her apartment. Realizing that she needs to take the bull by the horns, she turns around, walks back to the cab, and invites Josh in for a cup of tea. Being a guy, of COURSE he accepts! he heh Moments later, they're in her bed, screwing like rabbits. This continues for most of the night and into the next morning.

But now, the awkward moment...It's daylight and the one night thing is over. But the problem is that Josh doesn't want to leave and Cin doesn't want him to either. They both chalk it up to lusty, unadulterated sex. Is that what it is? Or is it something bigger and better?

Ah, well this is the part where I tell you that you have to see the movie in order to get the rest of the scoop.

The movie, written and directed by the same man Jonathan Teplitzky is formatted in a way that is both believable and entertaining. Part of me really wants to pick my words carefully on why this is such a neat movie. You see, I'm tempted to call it cute, funny, and sweet however, I'm worried I might give you the wrong impression. It is all of those things, but what makes it a movie you should see is the details that Mr. Teplitzky zooms in on. For example, in the opening scenes, the camera moves around the bedroom, showing you momentary shots of where things occurred that you never got to see - the removal of clothes in a haphazard fashion, the condom wrapper torn like someone was in a great hurry, etc... It leaves something to our imagination and when the actors wake-up to deal with the morning, there's an awkward seriousness in the air that makes you - the viewer - totally sensitive to the next few moments of possible dialog.

Instead of the movie moving through the typical scenes, the director opts to have the actors tell part of the story ala He Said, She Said. In my opinion, this style hasn't been overused however, even if it has been the actors, Susie Porter and David Wenham display a sense of vulnerability in their roles that I just haven't seen in any other movie formatted this way.

The cliches are abundant (woman pushes man away, man doesn't understand what he did wrong) however you'll get over that because of the realness that both the actors bring to the table. I swear, it didn't even look like acting to me...

And speaking of them - it's refreshing that neither of them are model-looking individuals. It's distracting enough to see Susie's boobies sometimes (cause they're so nice) and David's butt (great shape!).

The nudity and sex scenes are handled tastefully however, be aware that if you are at all a sexual being, you might yourself a tad bit turned on. ahem