Sex Drive (R, 2008)

common sense media says

Vulgar teen sex comedy lacks verve and vision.

parents & educators say

33% say sexual content is an issue
33% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this hard-R high school sex comedy -- which is squarely aimed at teens -- is "Judd Apatow lite," meaning that it has all the crassness of Apatow's comedies but not nearly as much heart or brilliance. It centers around a high school senior who's fixed on losing his virginity with the help of a girl he met on the Internet. The road trip to see her is pockmarked with one over-the-top sequence after the next, many of which feature nudity, graphic discussions of sex acts, sex toys, and more. There's also plenty of underage drinking and lots of swearing (including "f--k").

Positive messages: Teens have sex with complete strangers, though it's worth noting that they're also shown shopping for condoms. Friends are loyal to one another, even when their bonds are tested. Parents seem downright invisible. Some sexist and homophobic jokes.

Violence: A man in a truck tries to mow down a naked teenager he catches having sex with his wife. Lots of yelling. Two brothers can't seem to stop fighting; the older one likes to beat up on the younger. Gunshots are fired, and a gun is brandished.

Sex: Characters listen in on others having sex; bare breasts are exposed, as well as a man's testes. Lots of talk about sex: how to have it, what makes it fun. The film opens with a teenager having a dream about someone performing a sex act on him (oral sex is implied). A sex toy features prominently in one scene. Online sex chats are shown onscreen. Characters hook up with strangers, some of whom are married.

Language: Frequent and crude; includes everything from "bitch" and "goddamn" to "c--ksucker" and "f--k."

Consumerism: Mentions of Trapper Keeper notebooks and other products, plus logos for Lifestyles condoms, Pontiac GTO, Vans shoes, and Senor Donut.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Loads of teenage drinking, often to excess. Little discussion of the consequences, including drinking and driving. Some allusions to drug use.

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What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the consequences of underage drinking. How realistic is what happens to the teen characters in this movie? What do you think would happen to them in real life if they got drunk? Families can also discuss whether the film portrays teens -- and, by extension, teen life -- accurately? If so, how? What issues does the film address? Was Ian's decision to drive so far to tryst with a stranger adventurous or foolhardy? What about his intent pursuit of losing his virginity? Why is it so important to him? Is that realistic?

What's the story?

Ian (Josh Zuckerman) is a high school virgin in love with his best friend, Felicia (Amanda Crew). But she might have the hots for someone else. Besides, Ian's been keeping Internet company with a "sure thing." (No coincidence there; SEX DRIVE's basic plot has an awful lot in common with the John Cusack classic of the same name.) A girl he only knows by her Web name, Ms. Tasty, promises to have sex with him if he drives down from Chicago to Knoxville to meet her in his stylin' 1969 Pontiac GTO. Ian's womanizing friend, Lance (Clark Duke), thinks it's an offer he can't refuse. But here's the catch: It's not really Ian's car -- it belongs to his older brother, Rex (James Marsden), who's ferocious, fearsome, macho, and loves his car more than his family.

Is it any good?

This sometimes-hilarious but more often woefully unwitty comedy does have some appeal. Marsden, for starters. Who knew he had it in him to play comically deranged? His bearing, his cackle, his utter commitment to being totally, horrendously foul -- it's perfection. And then there's Zuckerman, who plays the awkward, self-conscious, sensitive teen to a T. In the end, viewers do actually care a little bit whether he ends up with the right girl. And, as a snarky Amish mechanic, Seth Green hits a home run every time he has a line (sadly, his appearance is much too brief).

But honestly, that's pretty much it. Because though director Sean Anders aspires to Judd Apatow-ian (is that a word?) greatness, he doesn't display Apatow's keen ability to separate the offensive from the outrageous. Instead, what we get is crass, gratuitous, gross-out humor flecked with too few moments of pure comedy.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Studio: Summit Entertainment
Director: Sean Anders
Cast: Amanda Crew, James Marsden, Josh Zuckerman
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 108 minutes
Theatrical release: October 15, 2008
DVD release: February 24, 2009
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong crude and sexual content, nudity, language, some drug and alcohol use - all involving teens.

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This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo

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What parents & educators say

Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:

33% say sexual content is an issue
33% say language is an issue

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Most useful reviews by all members

snowflakehead
parent of 15 and 20 year old

Let your teens watch sex-related movies

I'm 35 this year and I have two kids, both 14 and 21. Nowadays, we want our kids to stay away from raunchy sex-related movies and so on. But come to think of it, when you were their age, you'd be waiting for your parents to be out of the house just so you could watch porn. So today, when you have kids, you would do whatever you can to stop them. I let my kids watch sex-related movies. But of course, not the over-raunchy ones. Just a couple of passionate and hungry make-outs and nudity wouldn't hurt, though. Also, I let them hang out with guys in their room coz once I caught them half-naked with my 14 year old daughter's boyfriend on top of her. Instead of scolding them, I told them nicely not to go over-the-top and they listened. Half-an-hour later, I took a peek and they were just making out without having sex. So, about this movie, I think you can cut your teens some slack and let them enjoy the movie. Besides, pretty soon it's going to be their turn.

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Sex Drive (R, 2008)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Sex Drive

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Watch our review

Review It

Review Sex Drive

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Let your teens watch sex-related movies

Sex Drive

superbad wuz funnier

Good but inapropriate!

Cut us some slack :)

this is inapropriate for all ages!

A Bit Rough Around The Edges, But A Clean Finish

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