SPOILERS Before "Sleeper", long before "Annie Hall" and prior to any of his other major films, comedy genius Woody Allen adapted, directed and starred in this series of sketches about sexual taboos. Consisting of seven varied stories, the film has sadly dated badly and is inconsistent in it's humour. Still, whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
Based on the chapter titles of the book by David Reuben, the seven different tales of this film all feature a wide selection of actors in unique surroundings. Whether it's Woody himself as a sperm or as a court jester, or Gene Wilder falling in love with a sheep, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex" takes it's characters on one long ride of jokes and humiliation. All whilst trying to explain all those questions we want answers to, but 'were afraid to ask'.
Unlike his later work, or even "Sleeper" from the following year, this early Woody is an unfortunate piece. Showing signs of talent, the truth about this film is that some pieces are hilarious, whilst others are flawed. Some find that the film suffers when Woody Allen isn't involved, some find the extreme perversion quiz show to be over the top. There are many different views about the film and it's hard to really know what someone new will think.
In fact, there is only one major truth about this film and that whilst some stories don't have the emphasis that others do, they do all possess signs of Allen genius. All contain brilliant one liners and all can provide a joke or two. It's just a shame that some are consistently funnier than others.
As an early work, there are definite signs in this film of Woody Allen's future potential. Sadly though, with a film which has not aged well and which is not regular enough in it's humour, this is not one of Allen's finest films. Watch the following year's "Sleeper" instead, it's much more entertaining.
Based on the chapter titles of the book by David Reuben, the seven different tales of this film all feature a wide selection of actors in unique surroundings. Whether it's Woody himself as a sperm or as a court jester, or Gene Wilder falling in love with a sheep, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex" takes it's characters on one long ride of jokes and humiliation. All whilst trying to explain all those questions we want answers to, but 'were afraid to ask'.
Unlike his later work, or even "Sleeper" from the following year, this early Woody is an unfortunate piece. Showing signs of talent, the truth about this film is that some pieces are hilarious, whilst others are flawed. Some find that the film suffers when Woody Allen isn't involved, some find the extreme perversion quiz show to be over the top. There are many different views about the film and it's hard to really know what someone new will think.
In fact, there is only one major truth about this film and that whilst some stories don't have the emphasis that others do, they do all possess signs of Allen genius. All contain brilliant one liners and all can provide a joke or two. It's just a shame that some are consistently funnier than others.
As an early work, there are definite signs in this film of Woody Allen's future potential. Sadly though, with a film which has not aged well and which is not regular enough in it's humour, this is not one of Allen's finest films. Watch the following year's "Sleeper" instead, it's much more entertaining.