Synopsis
“Sex Drive,” released in 2008, is a teenage road trip comedy film that Sean Anders directed. It is loosely based on the book “All the Way” by Andy Behrens. The film centers around the character Ian Lafferty who is a socially awkward teenager and a high school senior. Ian embarks on a long road trip across the country in hopes of finding love, or to put it more bluntly, sex.
In the movie, Ian is played by Josh Zuckerman, who depicts a socially inept teenage boy who conforms to the classic image of a “nice guy.” Ian works in a donut shop in the suburbs of Chicago and has a part time job in a mall donut shop. He has a long time crush on Felicia, who is his friend and is played by Amanda Crew, but to Ian’s dismay, he is too shy and lacks the confidence to confess his feelings to her.
While things seem dull in Ian’s life, they turn interesting when he begins to chat online with “Ms. Tasty,” who is a seductive woman. To Ian’s surprise, she really seems interested in him. After a while, Ian’s confidence buoys and he decides to take the plunge and meet her in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she has promised him sex with no strings attached. The only issue is that he has to put his hands on a car. Ian’s parents would never give him their car, so he resorts to stealing his older brother Rex’s prized 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge.
Rex, the hyper-masculine muscle-car a stereotype jock, is a character marvelously portrayed by James Marsden. He incessantly picks on Ian for being unmanly. Ian goes on the quest with his best buddies: the uncouth yet self-assured Lance (Clark Duke) and the grounded but secretly affectionate Felicia. As the trio journeys across the country, they encounter a plethora of outrageous, often crude antics, including being chased by a vengeful Amish man and getting caught up in a roadside religious play.
While Ianijnitiates the journey for a hookup, it quickly shifts into soul searching, thus rapidly transforming into a quest for self-discovery. Ian is challenged to confront questions surrounding his identity, friendship, and romantic feelings. In the end, the story’s apex is not the encounter with ms. Tasty, but the realization Ian has that his genuine feelings are with Felicia. Ian has changed from a shy teenage boy into a self-assured man by the film’s end, knowing not just what he desires, but who he desires to be with.
Cast & Crew
Sex Drive showcases the talents of both established and novice actors with its unique storyline, for instance, Josh Zuckerman and Amanda Crew.
Josh Zuckerman as Ian Lafferty: Zuckerman’s the awkward protagonist with the best of intentions. He balances the film’s more absurd comedic elements with earnest moments.
Clark Duke as Lance Nesbitt: Duke adds color to the film with his scenes. While his character is comic relief, he develops in a more nuanced way as the film goes on.
Amanda Crew as Felicia Alpine: Felicia is Ian Lafferty’s best friend and Amanda’s character is attentive and cares for well, the more zealous and forgiving friend.
James Marsden as Rex Lafferty: Rex is Ian’s older brother and Marsden goes over the top on the portrayal of the character. His portrayal Rex is a comically exaggerated toxic masculine archetype, but surprisingly, the character grows and the film develops in unexpected ways.
Katrina Bowden as Ms. Tasty: Ms. Tasty is a flirt who pulls Ian into “growing up” by means of seductive manipulation.
Sex Drive humor is captured in the essence of the road trip as a journey into the unknown. The spontaneity of the story is enhanced by supporting characters, for example, the goth hitchhiker played by Alice Greczyn and Seth Green’s sarcastic Amish mechanic Ezekiel.
Sean Anders was the film’s director and, together with John Morris, the two wrote the film’s script. The two casual friends were later united in talent on various comedic films, including Horrible Bosses 2, Daddy’s Home, and We’re the Millers. They have mark for cloistering a blend of emotional uplifting and crude humor in Sex Drive, which became their hallmark for future works.
With regard to the film, the soundtrack has a blend of pop, punk and indie rock which has the ability to capture the emotion and energy of their age. So, in essence, their age.
IMDb Ratings and Reception
With the information at hand, Sex Drive for the moment stands at 6.5/10 on IMDb, with tens of thousands of users contributing reviews. At a glance, the score shows that people were somewhat satisfied with the film. Sex Drive didn’t bring anything new to the teenage comedy film genre, it was appreciated as a blend of heart and x-rated content.
The critics seemed to be a little scattered. The film was blasted for being another teenage sex comedy, with some earning praise for the telling of the story and the character development. The film’s praise seemed to center on the acting and really with Clark Duke’s James Marsden form of comedy
The movie developed some level of a cult following as time passed. Despite not being a box office success early on, home video and cable television broadcasts expanded its audience. Now, it resonates with the same generation of young adults navigating through the awkward and aspirational phases of late adolescence.
Unlike its contemporaries, ‘Sex Drive’ has a relatively sweet glimpse at its characters, setting it apart from ‘Road Trip’ and ‘American Pie’ or ‘Superbad’. Although indulging in the crude humor and borderline sexual content, it’s not cynical. It’s a film where characters undergo a form of personal growth. Ian, for example, doesn’t embark on a “lose it or lose it” journey, but instead, he seeks to understand what and who he wants to be and who he actually wants to connect with.
Conclusion
Sex Drive, while undeniably filthy, is a strangely charming teenage road trip film that has an impressive grasp on the balancing act between crude humor and genuine emotion. It is not as simple deserves as simple a summary as that, considering the talented youthful cast, which includes not only Zuckerman, Duke, and Crew, but also James Marsden, who steals every scene he’s in.
Although it did not innovate, it still is fun to watch for fans of coming-of-age comedies. Its examination of friendship, self-concept, and romantive weakness infuses some of its emotional depth, setting it above some of its counterparts. For those who are feeling nostalgic for the late-2000s boom of teenage comedies or for those in the mood for a slightly ridiculous fun road trip, Sex Drive is the perfect fit.
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