An eccentric and troubled young woman spends her days watching porn in the claustrophobic world of her apartment. An eccentric and troubled young man spends his days cataloguing films and serving her in a claustrophobic vi... more »deo store, before spending his nights sleeping in his car. The harder he tries to give himself to her the more she pushes him away. The farther away he goes, the closer she needs him to be. This impossible situation escalates and threatens to become combustible, just as it starts to become calm.« less
Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL Reviewed on 4/26/2023...
The synopsis of this movie is well-written. It's definitely a different kind of love story, but I found it boring and barely kept my attention. There were a couple of twists that come up toward the end but not enough to make it worthwhile. I didn't think the lead characters had good chemistry.
Michelle S. (Chelly10s) from W HOLLYWOOD, CA Reviewed on 5/17/2011...
This movie was very unique. Not at all your typical indie romance. It deals with a very disturbed character. A likeable, former drug addict fancies a girl with serious sexual issues after she comes in regularly to rent soft-core porn videos from the video store where he works. He is touchingly devoted to breaking down the walls she puts up due to her traumatic experience as a child. At times, she is so cold, you will even hate her, but he is patient, and caring, and it makes this a film with a lot of heart.
Jeanne S. (ijeanne) from FORT THOMAS, AZ Reviewed on 3/31/2010...
This movie, at least for me, was boring and awkward. I couldn't get interested in the plot or the characters. I wouldn't recommend it.
Movie Reviews
Obscure little indie, unique dysfunction mix
Steve Kuehl | Ben Lomond, CA | 08/29/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"As a movie store owner I had to give this one a shot. I suppose I was watching more of the background and props than I was the performances during the store scenes, but at least they got the customer nuances correct (the giggling-obsessed teen girls, the widowed old guy renting on his anniversary, the strange porn addicted gal, etc.).
I do not feel the description is written well (over usage of claustrophobic - neither place is that bad) and the cover art/pics never happen in the film, but I gave it a fair shot since it is being advertised as a 2008 Sundance hit. Our story follows a homeless video store clerk as he stalks a porn-addicted agoraphobic cuckoo girl customer. Tons of unbelievable events and un-described character issues fill the screen for 90 minutes, punctuated by two cameos (Tom Arnold as the offender dad [3rd perv role for him in as many films - scary]and Charles Durning as the old guy customer). His co-worker crew all have their little idiosyncratic nuances for the slight comic relief, with the story shifting between them and the love interest premise of a who-can-creep-out-the-potential-girlfriend/boyfriend-more-but-still-sleep-together motif.
The film quality is average as is the 5.1 (with a 2.0 option). The main supplement about being played at Sundance lasts over an hour, but since they went the un-narrated way/made at home feel I liked it. The gag reel option lasts 11 minutes and was actually funny only once or twice, should have been called a bad take reel.
A decent freshman attempt at making a totally obscure relationship film about creepy people, gave three for the film and one for the supplements. Just not sure if I can outright recommend this without adding some disclaimers; "innocent" on the cover art is furthest from the truth, "funny" is subjective on this, and the title is going for the shock value as it is never stated in the film. Enjoy."
Perfection
Pam S. | 01/06/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had seen the title of this movie on cable a couple of times but was put off by it-- figured it was some cheap comedy. Last night during a conversation, I was flipping through the channels and paused on this film quite randomly. I watched it out of the corner of my eye for a couple of minutes while talking, got interested, then after the conversation got completely engrossed. About the title-- on the one hand it is sad that it lends itself to misunderstanding. On the other, it is THE perfect title for this film. Others have summarized the plot so I won't, but I will give my reasons why this is the perfect film. 1. It is unconventional in plot yet touches on unversal themes as if it were a high concept film. 2. The male character is one of the strongest yet most decent characters in any story I have ever encountered-- at first we think he is masochistic or a stalker, but in the end, we learn he sees deeply. 3. It has twists and surprises. 4. It is intensely psychological, and it is accurate. One law of psychology is: What goes into a human psyche must come out. When the female lead acts-out in weird, aggresive, psycho-sexual ways, that's reality. We don't know why she acts out while it is happening. 5. Subtlety. 6. A quick ending that clarifies almost everything without spelling it out. I'm not the type who cries at movies, but this one really got next to me. I highly recommend Good Dick. If you liked it, you might like a book called The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told. Really reminds me of this story, but is a little more PG-13."
Love takes time to Blossom
Adelita | Covington, LA United States | 11/04/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Slow start, but worth the wait... Everyone has problems. It takes love to see the real inner beauty in someone."
Odd Little Gem
Eric Sanberg | Berwyn, IL United States | 10/20/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I like all sorts of films for all sorts of reasons. This is one that I liked because it was just so odd. The main characters are unique, and though the secondary characters aren't quite as well drawn they still provide a lot of good moments. "Man" is played by Jason Ritter. He works at a video store and sleeps in his car. It also appears he has had an addiction problem in his past. He somehow takes a liking to one of the store's female customers (played by the writer/director Marianna Palka) who only rents soft core porn for purposes of masturbation. He keeps coming on to her at her apartment and manages to make it to the point where he is staying there.
He seems to be a genuinely sweet soul who keeps trying to draw her out. He cleans up her place, cooks for her and tries to introduce her to new things. Somehow she seems to enjoy the fact that there is another human being near her, but that's as far as it goes. He cannot get closer to her than her letting him wash her hair. No kissy, no touchie. She constantly yells at him and insults him. He hangs in there though and we're not certain why. What does he see in her? Does he see himself as being able to save her? Can she be saved and is she even worth saving?
What makes this work are the two leads and the odd story and dialogue they get to chew on. I kept wondering what happened to this girl in her past that she ended up like this. How is it she lives in this nice and nicely appointed apartment without having a job? It kept me going to the end which I found quite satisfying. There are some scenes that are very funny. Others are touching, while one scene with Tom Arnold is more than a bit scary.
If you like the odd indie films this is one for the books."