Speaking of Sex (2001)

Good concept, poorly executed.

An action-packed slog

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

I love anything with Bill Murray, or James Spader or Catherine O'Hara, so this seemed like a good deal. It was.We have James Spader as a psychiatrist, who gets referred a patient played by Melora Walters, who is having marital troubles with her husband, played by Jay Mohr. Spader is turned on by Walters, however, and breaks any existing doctor-patient relationships when they have elevator sex. The ensuing events have Murray and O'Hara as two lawyers trying to level the damage done.As another reviewer said, this reminded me very much of a French farce. "Speaking of Sex" uses the same brand of humor used by say La Cage Aux Folles, a lot of dry, goofy laughs that may be hysterical to some and irritating to others.Bill Murray gets top billing, even though he's in probably half of the movie. Still, he's the best part of the movie and had me laughing the most. It's a Bill Murray performance with his type of lines. Spader was also funny, though, as our star, he was easily outweighed by Murray or O'Hara, who is equally good. Walters is the only part of this I found a bit irritating. Mohr is alright.If you're not expecting too much and are in for an ultimately mediocre hour and a half, you could do worse.

Because I thought this movie was barely better than an unfortunate train wreck. The plot was ridiculous, the characters were lame, and I couldn't believe that actors I admire so much were attached to such a piece of garbage. Bill Murray and Catherine O'Hara were basically the only two characters in the entire film I cared about, and even that is stretching it. I actually usually enjoy Jay Mohr's comedy, but I just wanted to punch him in this. I've never been one for "chick-flicks", but I don't even think this qualifies as one. In all honesty, I have trouble figuring out exactly what the target audience would be. If you happen to catch it on TV and there's absolutely NOTHING else on...read a book.

I don't know exactly what went wrong with this movie, Bill Murray can do comedy, Jay Mohr was funny in Mafia, but I think it was the script that has messed this movie up big time. I know it's hard to make up good jokes, and all the good stuff has already been used in other movies, but is that really a reason to resort to sh***y sexual jokes? I mean, you can make BIG sexual jokes, that are almost revolting (the sperm gel used by cameron diaz in there is something about mary) but will freak people out and make them laugh, or you can do the other jokes.. and sadly they have chosen for the save path. These jokes are weak, I have the idea that the writer is a bit afraid of sex himself, and tries to write the trauma away with this dreadful story.But enough about the story what about the cast? lot of semi-great names, but no real big names, that is not a shame, I think the actors did pretty good considering the script that was given them. None of them are truly great, Lara Boyle is candy for the eye as usual, but nothing more. The characters are just flat, no crazy persons (a good comedy must have a weird or crazy person in my opinion) they are all at the same level. Even a veteran like Bill Murray delivers a meagre performance. Almost like the director said "people! don't try to be too funny" they seem to be held back by something. And last, but not least, the directing. I think the director did a good job I like the short flashback thing were he let's the picture slide into the screen. Also the "private eye and victim woman" telephone conversation with 2 other people was brought very good. The director did his best and made a movie what was a 4 out of 10 into a 5 out of ten.. so 5/10, maybe nice for the die hard Murray fans. But not very funny.

This was the closing night of the 37th Chicago International Film Festival. The audience laughed all the way through. Get a van and bring everyone you know!I loved how this movie poked holes in our prudishness. Even after 6 years of Bill n' Monica many of us are still not able to do what the title suggests.It's funny funny funny. Not for kids, but funny.McNaughton should get a Oscar Nom for keeping this movie funny and moving all the time!