Who knew phone sex could be THIS boring? For A Good Time Call... feels like a Judd Apatow film except not funny and not over two hours. There are a couple of funny moments in this but they are FAR too few and in between. Most of the time-the film is for horny teenagers and people who do not understand how female relationships work. While Bachelorette nailed the feel of female friendships...this one goes into borderline lesbian territory. The problem with it doing so is that both of the women are straight so it just feels weird throughout the film.
The film follows college enemies Katie and Lauren (Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller). Their gay mutual friend Jesse (Justin Long-by far the best and funniest thing in the film) suggest they live together much to their chagrin. It is then that Lauren discovers Katie has a phone sex line and decides to run it with her after unexpectedly not getting a job she wanted. Miller and Graynor admittedly work well together but the script does not help back up their chemistry. Miller wrote the film herself with co-writer Katie Anne Naylon and it feels as if Miller was trying to have too much fun in her lead role. Graynor is a true talent but she does not get much chance to show it off here because her character is poorly written. Long's character could have easily been cliche but ends up being the best thing in the film if not for the fact that he brings it to life.
The film tries to get a bit too raunchy when it adds in sex toys, recording machines used for a specific purpose, ETC. This is the biggest problem of the film. First it gets too raunchy but then it tries to be sweet for the last half an hour. By doing so-it winds up too nicely rather than going against the grain and making an original movie. Let me just say that if you have seen any romantic comedy ending...you have seen the ending to this film. They try to do it in a dirty way but it's too little too late because they have already made a point that the film is now sweet.
Yet-I still have not brought up another major issue. The subplot involving Sean (Mark Webber) and Katie is all over the place. Sean is one of Katie's regular callers. There is something that happens between them that can not decide whether it wants to be funny or dramatic. That is actually the most obvious problem with the film-it switches from funny and dirty to sweet and odd too many times. The audience starts to get the feel that the filmmakers didn't even know what they wanted to do.
In the end-For A Good Time Call... has a couple of laughs but not enough. It is a bland and misguided effort that tries to be both hilarious and endearing and really does not work on either end. For a good time see something else at the theater.
(2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for strong sexual content throughout, language and some drug use)
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