Amy's Orgasm (2001)

Touches You

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Amy Mandell (Julie Davis, who also wrote, directed and produced this fine film) is suddenly a successful author at age 28. Her book, a self-help guide for women on why they DON'T need a man for a fulfilling life, has sold truckloads. Jilted once at love, Amy wants to wait herself for a man who loves and desires her at the same time. So, she created her "pep talk" tome on resisting men who will only dump their ladies as soon as they sleep with them. But, Amy herself is struggling with her own philosophy. In place of a shrink, she goes pour out her Jewish heart to an understanding Catholic priest each week, in confession. This keeps her on her path, for this man, who she has never seen, understands her amid the laughter. What a great guy! While working on a second book, Amy is constantly on the talk circuit in the greater Los Angeles area. One day, she is booked for a shock jock, Matthew Starr (Nick Chinlund), despite some misgivings. Lo and behold, Amy returns his quips well and, beyond that, likes his looks and smile. The feeling is mutual. Therefore, against her better judgment, Amy accepts a date with Matt, even as she tells him the ground rules. No kissing, she decrees, or anything further until she truly gets to know him and feels that there is romance in the air. Its soon complicated, as Amy and Matt are each visualizing a night together. But, if Amy falls for this man, will she be betraying her own lessons for the women of the world? This is quite a fine film, despite the provocative title and a few racy scenes. In fact, I believe the movie may have done better if it had a different title, for it is truly a romantic comedy that will please most fans. Let's all bow to Davis, who stars, wrote, directed and produced this nice offering. This is a tour de force in the Orson Welles and Jennifer Westfeldt vein. Chinlund, also, gives a nice turn while the rest of the supporting cast is more than adequate. The sunny Los Angeles setting is fabulous, too, as are the costumes and photography. Even if you have to ask for the title in writing, as its suggestive moniker tongue ties you, do find it, gentle romcom viewer. Oh, yes, you will like this "O".

I have no clue what happened with the career of Julie Davis after this film. It looks like after having written, directed and acted the principal role in 'Amy's Orgasm' she completely disappeared. This movie cannot be the reason, it's not a masterpiece despite it's great ambitions, but is's not that bad either.Ambitious it is, with the main character seeming to reflect to a large extent the director's and writer's real life person. Comparison with Woody Allen as some critics made seems however an exaggeration, Davis does not get even close to the self-deprecating humor or deepness of Allen, and her Jewishness is just a pretext without any real holding in the action.What we are left with is a rather well told romantic comedy about a neurotic but famous writer failing to stand by her women_do_not_need_man_for_happiness standards and falling in for an older radio talk show skirts chaser. There comic quality lies mainly with the situations and especially the secondary characters like the catholic priest confessor and lesbian editor friend. The film advances quite well for about three quarters of its screening time, despite the cheap anti-moralistic tones and the 2 cents relationship touches seemingly borrowed directly from the 'Sex in the City'.Unfortunately the end spoils much of what is gathered until then. Trying probably to avoid another melodramatic ending with the characters falling in each other arms after a dramatic break-out, the writer Julie Davis pushes the resolution ten plus years later. She achieves nothing and misses the climax.At least with this ambitious project Julie Davis had to blame but herself for not succeeding to launch a fantastic career which could have happened if the film succeeded. Yet, there are enough good things in the work of writer Julie Davis, actor Julie Davis, and director Julie Davis to wish that any of them or all be back to screens sometimes.

Julie Davis directs, writes and stars in this more often than not frustrating comedy. A self-help author(Davis) goes against the grain of a book that skyrocketed her to fame. She convincingly writes about why love does not work; because love is just dressed up sex. Hasn't sex always been about command and power? Probably too educated for her own good...the young writer finds herself falling for a radio shock-jock(Nick Chinlund)with a well known reputation for his four month romances with cover girls and air heads he interviews on his show. The dream/fantasy scenes if not titillating can easily become frustrating. The young woman fends off her publicist's(Caroline Aaron) lesbian advances. And confessions to her foul-mouthed priest(Jeff Cesario)are actually entertaining. This movie is like waiting for that kiss at the end of a date...and it doesn't come.

Spoilers herein.How difficult it must be for a young writer/director/actor with energy, some skill and no ideas. So just write about one's self and use the current `intelligent' template of self-reference.That template has our writer playing a writer. The writer on screen is struggling with the same issues that vex the writer behind the screen: how to reconcile things that are `real' life with things that sell. A serviceable enough template, which in some cases has the hero in broadcasting or film of some sort. Here we have both writing and radio in a clash, each with their own take on how to distort reality for the market. They battle it out and transcend the marketplace (which in Amy's situation includes all of femdon).Could have been good, had edge, been worth watching. But the problem with the film is the same as what the film is about: the conflict between real meat and what sells. Davis decides to stick with what sells, which is the typical date material: boy and girl meet, have spats, find true love together and along the way have endearing, slightly comic complications edging toward titillation. Davis IS as likeable as say Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, and Sandra Bullock, indeed more so because she really does seem intelligent under the fluffy grin.But here, she picks the wrong side of the equation to emphasize, a decision that I suspect is directly related to funders. Wish she would have done in real life what she did in the film. Instead what we have is a paean to the complexities of reality that sticks to the simplicities of fictionTed's Evaluation -- 1 of 4: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.