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AMY'S ORGASM Send This Review to a Friend
Julie Davis, a one woman dynamo who has written, directed, edited, starred in and co-produced (with Fred Kramer) the provocatively titled "Amy's Orgasm," hones in on the anxieties and problems women face in their quest for happiness, individuality and a mate. Her approach is romantic comedy spiced with sharp personal observations, and a certain amount of this is charming and entertaining. But as the film set in Los Angeles wears on, her character Amy becomes insufferable and somewhat of a royal pain.
The film develops a severe case of the cutes, and by the end, there's the sort of compromise that undercuts much of what Davis has been saying, as Amy has to lighten up if she is to live with anyone, including herself. There's plenty of candor all along with respect to sex, which gives "Amy's Orgasm" a leg up (so to speak) on more reticent films.
The contradiction for Amy is that she is a celebrated author of self-help books, yet she can't help herself and is as vulnerable as many of her readers. But the film isn't helped any by the absurdity of Amy Mandel, who is Jewish, looking for solace from a priest by showing up for confession. The priest (Jeff Cesario) is getting turned on.
The most unlikely candidate for Amy to become involved with is Matthew Starr (Nick Chinlund), a broadcasting shock jock (shades of Howard Stern) who loves to talk about women as objects and gives Amy a rough time on his program. But her feisty interview responses intrigue him and he makes a play for her. Oddly, she finds him different than his on-air persona. The mere idea of her seeing him is anathema to her overbearing publicist Janet (Caroline Aaron), who makes the press agent profession look even more brash than usual. Janet has her own sex problems to work out.
Being a one-woman everything on the one hand gives Davis a distinction. If there can be a Woody Allen, why not a Davis? But even Allen could use some good advice now and then, and "Amy's Orgasm" could have benefited from advice that might have made Amy less grating and more likable. Perhaps even another leading actress would have been in order. A Magic Lamp release.
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