Sex Tape

Year: 2014
Genre: Comedy, Sex Comedy
Directed: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Rob Corddry, Rob Lowe, Ellie Kemper, Nat Faxon
Production: Sony Pictures

Sex Tape breaks the cardinal rule of comedy: It’s not funny. I realize humor is highly subjective but I watched it in a theater full of the prime demographic (underage teens who snuck in and the Happy Madison crowd) and a pin could be heard dropping due to the lack of laughter. What’s more, Sex Tape couldn’t even satisfy on a prurient level. That’s right, a movie called Sex Tape didn’t even titillate.



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Ultimately “Sex Tape” follows “No Strings Attached” and “A Good Old Fashioned Orgy” in the unnecessary trend of raunchy sex-related comedies that are light on both sex and comedy despite having some pretty impressive casts. I put money on the DVD release putting emphasis on the “unrated” version providing no extra skin but cheaper, dumber jokes that were taken out for good reason. If I were you I’d just save your money.

The story begins with Annie (Cameron Diaz), mother of two, reminiscing over the glory days when her husband Jay (Jason Segel in his 5^th role playing a character named Jay or Jason) and her used to go at it like rabbits. Cue the montage of “comedic” sex scenes which conveniently cover up the good bits. After the two realize things aren’t how they used to be, they come up with the idea of making a three hour sex tape. Due to a synching mix-up, Jay accidently delivers the sex tape to friends and family including Annie’s possible business partner and their own children.

Okay, let’s say you buy into the unlikely scenario and let’s say that two people who make their living on the computer (she’s a blogger, he’s a music exec) don’t know how “the Cloud” works or know how to remotely remove the video; I doubt you’d swallow the frenzy of half-concocted ways they attempt to get the video back. Jay nearly get’s mauled by a German Shepherd and Annie does cocaine when they simply could have said “Hey I need my iPad back, there are a few things synched on it that I don’t want you to see.” Simple, quick, to the point and doesn’t have to involve breaking and entering. But hey, this is a comedy…things don’t have to make sense.

And make sense they certainly don’t. Absurd moments meant to be funny include Rob Lowe’s straight businessman rocking out to Slayer with pictures of his face imprinted on Disney iconography hang in the background, Jack Black playing a porn proprietor taking two minutes to list off the competition and Rob Corddry and Ellie Kemper having sex in a minivan; none of which is funny. I think I let out a brief, fleeting chuckle twice. I laughed more watching “Saving Private Ryan” than this movie. All I was thinking while watching it was how far the two leads have just fallen. It’s surprising that a movie of such abominable quality can be penned by Segel and Nick Stoller, the duo responsible for The Muppets reboot.

You fools! Foools!

Final Grade: F