Writer-director Sudz Sutherland tackles an unusual subject for a romantic comedy — performance anxiety — without ever sounding like an unctuous TV talk show host.
Michael Joseph (Hill Harper) works part-time as a security guard so he can indulge his twin passions: Photography, which he hopes to do professionally and pornography, his avocation. At Pornucopia, his favorite X-rated video store, Michael puts the moves on new clerk Peaches (Kai Soremekun), but strikes out totally and retreats into fantasies of porn stars like Lisette (Marieka Weathered). While doing his wash at the laundromat, Michael meets gorgeous advertising executive Jasmine LeJeune (Marlyne N. Afflack), who's notoriously unlucky in love but thinks Michael is more sensitive and less aggressive than the wolves she usually dates. Their bond is cemented when she encourages Michael to pursue his love of photography. Then Michael agrees to go on a double date with Jasmine's cousin: Jasmine's cousin is none other than Peaches, who outs Michael as a porn addict and leaves Jasmine wondering whether he's suitable boyfriend material after all. And while Michael is tender and unselfish, he suffers from erectile dysfunction; only vicarious sex can arouse him. To further
discredit Michael, Peaches rigs a ballot box for Pornucopia’s "Win a Part in a Porn Film" promotion — Jasmine would be mortified if she thought she was going to have to share her beau with some slutty screen siren. If Michael wins the contest, he loses the girl.
Sutherland's potty mouth notwithstanding, he resists the urge to wallow his subject's inherent lewdness. Where most sex comedies involve infidelity
or unrequited lust, this film explores the idea that self-pleasure is a habit that can be addicting and sabotage real romance. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
