If you had to think about the most embarrassing things that could happen to you what would they be? Things like maybe wearing different shoes, or failing down in front of a large group of people, but where does everyone you know seeing you on a sex tape rank? It would be difficult, unless you are someone who likes to be watched. For everyone else the sex tape thing could be pretty bad, but it sounded like a good idea for a movie to someone. Hence, “Sex Tape”.
Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) have quite the physical chemistry together. When they are not having sex, they are having sex, if you get my point. All that changes that come with getting married having a few children, take its toll as with most marriages which leads to not very much physical time. Annie writes a blog and a large company wants to buy it because of the wholesome image it portrays. To celebrate, Annie sends the kids to her mom’s house so she and Jay can spend some quality time together. When the flame doesn’t ignite like it used to, Annie suggest they make a sex tape, to pour a little gasoline on the fire. After a magical night, Jay forgets to erase the sex tape and it is sent to a bunch of I Pads that he has given as gifts. When Annie finds out, she comes up with the idea that they must hunt all of them down and erase the video from existence, and being a comedy you know hijinks ensue.
This film, although made in 2014, often felt like it was intended to be set in 2009 with its simple technology knowledge jokes. With a screenplay written by Segel and Nicholas Stoller, as well as Kate Angelo, the story just feels behind the times, I am thinking I might hear a V.H.S joke or two. Not even a supporting cast of Rob Corddry, Ellie Kemper, Jack Black, and Rob Lowe could save this movie. Director Jake Kasdan, who also directed Diaz in one of her better roles in “Bad Teacher” can’t help Diaz reach that level again and we are left with “The Other Woman” Cameron Diaz. There are a few laughs in this movie, but too often the jokes don’t hit their targets. This movie would have played better five years ago, but with most people having a better grip on how the Internet works, it just doesn’t feel relevant anymore. With all that said, I am just trying to save you from wasting your time on a movie that would have been better going direct to video. Watching this film was like watching a sex tape staring my grandparents, and we all know how much we would enjoy that.
Brian Taylor