All About Sex
All About Sex is, as the title suggests, all about sex. It is also specifically about Casey (Natalie Linez), Morgan (Emma Deckers) and Sage (Dakota Gorman), three young women in “quarter-life crises”. The feature follows them as they navigate working life, romance and – of course – sex.
This film is unabashedly crude and frank in its depictions and discussions of the titular subject, but the script also works to balance the ribald jokes with moments of genuine pathos and strong character development. The erotic encounters covered in the piece include a full range of experiences, even the absurd and upsetting, but they all feed directly into the story and don’t overstay their welcome (if they do, it’s done deliberately). There are a few jokes that are slightly below the belt but not enough to detract from the overall experience.
Sex is obviously a focal point in the narrative, but it’s used effectively as a springboard to discuss a range of aspects in regard to growing up and adult life, such as its intersection with mental illness and the societal expectations placed on young people. These parts of the plot live and die on the delicate balance between comedy and tragedy and the movie does a great job at shifting tones to give these sensitive topics the breathing room and nuance they need.
Where the screenplay occasionally falters, it’s picked up by the strong performances of the leading ladies; Linez, Deckers and Gorman all rise to the task of encapsulating the full spectrum of feelings that are associated with becoming an adult, delivering emotive performances and providing sturdy foundations throughout.
Gorman’s directorial debut is an ambitious piece that attempts to explore complex concepts and emotions across several intersecting narrative threads. While it’s a little rough around the edges, All About Sex delivers a thoroughly entertaining exploration of adulthood that perfectly represents the messy and awkward experience of growing up with an irreverent but honest creative hand.
Umar Ali
All About Sex is released digitally on demand on 26th July 2021.
Watch the trailer for All About Sex here:
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