Shubhabrata Dutta
If entertainment is the main purpose of cinema, then few genres do it better than sex comedies. Ideally, it should be a balance between romance, profanity, humor, and vulgarity. Even when these elements don’t particularly line up, the films can still be entertaining. Perhaps this is because they adhere to a fairly simplistic but effective filmmaking formula. The comedy is hardly ever subtle, and sex is ever-present in one form or another. A well-made sex comedy can be such a stress reliever. After a long work day, they can have almost the same effect as a night out with friends. The following movies on HBO Max are bound to do the trick for you.
7. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
Jake Szymanski’s whacky sex comedy ‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’ follows party-prone brothers Mike (Adam Devine) and Dave (Zac Efron), tasked with finding dates for their sister’s destination wedding in Hawaii. As excited as they are, they land themselves Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) and Alice (Anna Kendrick), who are equally, if not more, into having a gala time, considering they are thirsty for some much-needed no-holds-barred drunken vacationing. Can the brothers keep up with the uncontrollable female duo? A mindless sex comedy with compelling performances by a talented cast, ‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’ is outright hilarious. You can watch the movie here.
6. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Nicholas Stoller’s ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ shows how Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) tries to get over the woman he loves, Sarah (Kristen Bell), who has just broken up with him. To get rid of her memories sooner, Peter goes on a trip to Oahu, Hawaii, but finds out that Sarah is there, too, with his new boyfriend, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Thankfully, Peter gets a shoulder to cry on in the form of hotel concierge Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis). Things eventually take the shape of an R-rated I’m-better-off-than-you competition, which includes who, between Peter and Sarah, is having better sex. A cult-classic rom-com that counts as a legit sex comedy full of adult humor, ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ is a must-watch. It can be streamed here.
5. Good Luck Chuck (2007)
Starring Dane Cook and Jessica Alba, ‘Good Luck Chuck’ is directed by Mark Helfrich. It centers on Chuck (Cook), a successful dentist who starts taking seriously the curse that befell him as a kid. The curse allows women to find true love once they sleep with him. Naturally, his dispensary is filled with women he is more than happy to “treat.”
However, when he falls for Cam (Alba), a penguin scientist, he decides to break the curse because he cannot even think of sleeping with her as it would lead her to find someone else as her true love. Chuck’s subsequent exploits as he tries to break the curse are what make ‘Good Luck Chuck’ a true-to-form addition to this list. You can watch it here.
4. Looking: The Movie (2016)
‘Looking: The Movie’ is a comedy-drama film directed by Andrew Haigh and serves as a sequel to the TV series ‘Looking,’ which is based on Michael Lannan’s short film Lorimer. The plot is centered around Patrick, who returns to San Francisco after moving to Denver for Agustin and Eddie’s wedding. At the wedding, he catches up with the old gang, including Dom. The film features Jonathan Groff as Patrick, Frankie J. Alvarez as Agustin, Murray Bartlett as Dom, Raúl Castillo, Lauren Weedman, and Russell Tovey. This sequel offers a sense of closure to the TV series and is full of sexy all-male interludes. You can watch ‘Looking: The Movie’ here.
3. She’s Out of My League (2010)
Directed by Jim Field Smith, ‘She’s Out of My League’ shows a meek and clumsy Kirk Kettner (Jay Baruchel), who works at the airport, trying to accept the fact that Molly (Alice Eve), a beautiful and successful woman he met at the airport, has started to like him. His overwhelming insecurities about himself take a toll on his eventual relationship with Molly who too has her secrets that she hasn’t told Kirk about. Even Kirk’s friends do not think that his relationship will stick. Will they be proven wrong? Kirk will have to “come clean” for that to happen. To find out if he does, you can watch ‘She’s Out of My League’ here.
2. Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)
‘Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!’ is a delightfully dark sex comedy from Spain. It tells the story of Ricky (Antonio Banderas), a psychiatric patient in his early 20s. After his release from the mental institution, he begins looking for Marina Osorio, a former pornstar turned actress. Ricky is convinced that he is in love with her. They met and had sex during an escape attempt from the institution. After eventually locating Marina, Ricky turns her into his captive, professing his love for her. You may watch the film here.
1. Magic Mike’s Last Dance (2023)
‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance,’ the third and final installment in the ‘Magic Mike’ trilogy, is a comedy-drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh. Mike Lane is forced to take up bartender gigs as he is broke after his furniture business tanked due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A former male stripper turned bartender, Mike is approached by the wealthy socialite Maxandra Mendoza for a private dance. After a passionate night, Maxandra offers Mike $60,000 to choreograph a dance production in London. The ensemble cast includes Channing Tatum as Magic Mike, Salma Hayek Pinault as Maxandra Mendoza, Ayub Khan Din, Jemelia George, Juliette Motamed, Vicki Pepperdine, Gavin Spokes, and Alan Cox as Roger Rattigan, Maxandra Mendoza’s estranged husband. You can watch the movie here.
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