How to Please a Woman
By Danny Brogan,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Australian comedy has nudity, frank conversations about sex.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
How to Please a Woman
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN, Gina Henderson (Sally Phillips) is in a loveless marriage and a job where she is taken for granted. When she loses her job, she decides to turn a struggling removal company into a cleaning business. But when Gina realizes that it's something else that her female clients desire, Sally is only too happy to provide what they want … sex, and good sex at that.
Is It Any Good?
There's no doubt that this Australian comedy shines some positivity on a subject that is often overlooked or made the butt of lazy cliched jokes. How to Please a Woman celebrates women and more specifically, women's sexuality. The fact the women in question are all in their 40s and 50s makes it all the more refreshing. Despite being an Australian production, central character Gina is played by the British actor, Phillips, and it's through her that the film is at its most charming. Her comic timing is what one would expect from a seasoned comedy actor. But she's also allowed to show her dramatic side too. The scene in which Gina goes for an ocean swim after being rejected by her husband, Adrian (Cameron Daddo), is genuinely moving.
Unfortunately, while Gina feels like a fully fleshed out character, the rest of the cast feel underdeveloped. As a result, some of their decision-making feels unrealistic and rushed. This might be fine if the film was just about Gina's journey, but it's not. There's a whole list of characters whose lives are changed during the movie. Perhaps the story would have been a better fit for a TV series, allowing the characters beyond Gina to be more fully explored. The fact that How to Please a Woman is ultimately a movie about sex workers -- who also happen to clean -- may also prove problematic to some. While other films such as Good Luck to You, Leo Grande discuss the pros and cons of the sex work industry, here we are simply given a very sunny take where everyone is happy and no one feels exploited or used.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how How to Please a Woman portrayed sex. Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Discuss some of the positive character strengths in the movie. What examples of courage, perseverance, communication, curiosity, and teamwork can you give from the film?
Talk about the strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How were women represented in the movie? Did it feel unusual to see such characters portrayed this way? If so, why do you think that is? Why representation matters in kids' media.
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 22, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: July 29, 2022
- Cast: Sally Phillips , Caroline Brazier , Erik Thomson
- Director: Renée Webster
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Brainstorm Media
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 107 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 17, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate