Follow up:
THE VIRGINITY HIT
Columbia Pictures
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, pervasive language drug and alcohol use.
RUNNING TIME: 86 minutes
URL: TheVirginityHit.com
Written and Directed by: Andrew Gurland & Huck Botko
Produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, Peter Principato, Paul Young
Executive Producers Owen Burke
Cast: Matt Bennett and Zack Pearlman
Studio Synopsis:
Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, founders of the online site Funny or Die and the guys behind some of the most raucous comedies produced today are always on the lookout for new talent and they have found it with The Virginity Hit. This movie is down and dirty filmmaking at its finest in just about every way one can imagine. It’s four guys, one camera, and their hilarious experience chronicling the exhilarating and terrifying rite of passage: losing your virginity. As these guys help their buddy get laid, they’ll have to survive friends with benefits, internet hookups, even porn stars during an adventure that proves why you will always remember your first.
J.P.’s Take:
Shot in a mocumentary style with a POV (point of view) perspective, the high school raunch fest invites the audience to partake in its blatant nature as it follows Matt, Justin, Jacob and Zack as they embark on a sex-capade for Matt (Matt Bennett). As the only member of the “men” group, who hasn’t lost his virginity yet, the film follows for the most part Matt, who’s planning to get it on for the first time with his longtime girlfriend Nicole (Nicole Weaver). That is until Matt receives word that Nicole had cheated on him. As a result, the foursome conceive a plan to embarrass Nicole by setting microphones in the hotel room, where the couple was supposed to do the deed.
The rest of the film becomes a quest for Matt to lose the virginity in various ways with more humiliation, marijuana binges, and an opportunity with a popular, sexy porn star — by the name of Sunny Leone.
With these misadventures, it doesn’t mean the film isn’t funny or daring at times. Audience members will be treated to a smorgasbord of hilarious and squirm worthy scenes. One particular scene has both of the qualities I mentioned above, when a 25-year old woman named Becca, via YouTube, offers herself to Matt. She makes Matt go through obstacles, like purchasing an expensive suit or practice certain sexual positions with a blowup doll, before he can enjoy her company. Without telling you the details, it is a worldwide nightmare for Matt.
Although the premise doesn’t break any new ground, the only real difference between this movie or comedy films, like “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” or “Good Luck Chuck,” is in the way it’s packaged. The mocumentary-style film pieces cell phone and professional camera shots together like patchwork, which gives the effect of an Internet sensation-turned documentary. After about 20 to 30 minutes, “TVH” starts to wear its novelty like a badge of honor with shaky hand held shots and grainy picture quality. It also seems to go through the motions of an adult sex comedy, making the most of sex-obsessed language married to sadistic humiliation. The result is that of a low budget reality show, which appeals to the YouTube/Facebook generation, with a raw vision of teenagers going wild on display.
“TVH” relies on these typical boyhood fantasies of sexual exploits — complete with naked women, sexual activity and drug use — for its sincere in your face attitude. As a whole, everything blends in pretty well together, and just for a moment, I believed I was watching a teenaged reality TV series. But then reality set in and that idea was quickly debunked by it’s own over scripted free action. They seem to go where they please, and do as they please. It seems these kids have and endless supply of money.
Coming out of theater I still didn’t know what to make of this film. But now that I’ve had some time to reflect, I found “The Virginity Hit” to be somewhat satisfying — though it’s not for everyone due to the uncomfortable subject matter. I have a feeling it will become a cult favorite like a couple of year’s ago documentary-styled “American Teen.” However, it’s certainly not for everyone taste. Though not bad, you won’t find me buying a ticket anytime soon.