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Sex and Death 101

EMAILPRINTAnchor Bay Entertainment

Sex and Death 101 reviews
24
6.0 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 12 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 6 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy  |  Drama

Written by: Daniel Waters

Directed by: Daniel Waters

Release Date:
Theatrical: April 4, 2008
DVD: July 1, 2008

Running Time: 100 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for strong sexual content and language

Starring Winona Ryder, Simon Baker, Leslie Bibb, Julie Bowen, Sophie Monk, Mindy Cohn, Dash Mihok, and Patton Oswalt

Roderick Blank is a successful executive and ladies' man whose life is turned around by an e-mail that includes the names of everyone he's had and ever will have sex with. (Anchor Bay Entertainment)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

50

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

As cinematic flops go, nothing falls quite as hard as a failed black comedy.

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40

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

Even if the actual movie is an awkward, uncinematic mishmash. Waters has at least tried to write a sex comedy that isn't aimed at titty-fixated 17-year-olds, and at its best Sex and Death 101 has a fast, clever rhythm that almost sings.

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38

TV Guide Ken Fox

It's all a pretentious bore that feels twice as long as it's two-hour running time.

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30

Variety Ken Eisner

A promising concept is gradually run into the ground in Sex and Death 101, a would-be black comedy that lacks both laughs and gravity.

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30

Village Voice Nick Pinkerton

Stupid monikers are just one symptom of a stultifying, overwritten cleverness that substitutes quirk for character.

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30

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

The appealing Mr. Baker never manages to find the right tone for the material, partly because he’s been seriously miscast (he radiates too much decency and intelligence for the role), though more because Mr. Waters never establishes a coherent tone for either the character or his situation.

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25

New York Daily News Joe Neumaier

In a fair universe, Sex and Death 101 would end its miserable life after one episode as a TV show. But this unfunny "dark comedy" goes on for two hours.

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25

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Paula Nechak

It has absolutely nothing to say -- no redeeming commentary about nihilistic, narcissistic society and its appetite for instant gratification -- which would have made it sociologically interesting, or at least sort of Faustian in theme. Instead Sex and Death 101 is as empty-headed as its protagonist.

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20

Austin Chronicle Josh Rosenblatt

A self-indulgent, snarky, scattershot mess through and through.

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20

Wall Street Journal Joanne Kaufman

The crude, sophomoric Sex and Death 101 is neither particularly dark nor even remotely funny.

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20

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

A lame comic idea poorly executed dooms Sex and Death 101 to failure.

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12

New York Post Kyle Smith

This film is headed quickly for DVD. In the video store, though, it isn't funny enough to be shelved in the comedy section nor dirty enough to be filed with the smut. It might be useful in propping up a wobbly chair, though.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 6.0 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jesse D gave it a10:
It really seems the critics are reviewing the movie only on whether it can be categorized into a specific genre and not at all on the actual film. I thought this was a very original, hilarious and unique film.

Valter L gave it a6:
It starts surprisingly funny and sexy, but as time goes by you just get the feeling it's way too long. And it indeed is. The best part is it's first hour, the second one it's quite dull, with Ryder's character being slightly disappointing. In the end it's all a bit over the top, but it's worth the laughs you get in the beginning.

R A gave it a7:
Entertaining, enjoyable,. Interesting ending, demented in away where both deplorable characters admit to each other their wrongs and are willing to accept justice, only to ironically get off scott-free and live to have a happy ending.

Jay H gave it a5:
Simon Baker gives an appealing performance, but this comedy is very uneven, in spite of a clever premise. It loses steam midway through and never recovers.

chris m gave it a7:
I saw this at the Fantastic Film Fest in Austin last year and thought it was hilarious. There are a ton of really funny, original moments, not unlike another of the writer's movies, Heathers. It's a bit conceptual on certain levels, but I really enjoyed it. It's certainly better than the reviews here would have you believe.

Miguel S. gave it a1:
The script was terrible, i suppose the film is terrible, which i guess it is. so how does terrible get made?

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