Sex Tape Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French

Dubbed: French

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R

Studio: Sony

Release Date: October 21, 2014

Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2017

Run Time: 94 minutes

 

 

        The producers of Sex Tape must have been among the few in Hollywood to find good fortune in the controversial leaking of hacked celebrity photos and videos. Without this incident, commonly referred to as ‘The Fappening’ by online communities, the film Sex Tape would have had absolutely no relevance. Unfortunately, people will remember the celebrity scandal long after they have forgotten this ridiculously mediocre film ever existed. 

 

        The premise is clever enough and the cast naturally likeable, and somehow Sex Tape still manages to be blandly unimpressive. It is neither shocking in low-brow humor nor is it scribed with clever dialogue, leaving little other than some cheap slapstick humor to tide the audience over with until the credits begin to roll. This is most disappointing when considering Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller collaborated on the final draft of the screenplay, failing at creating convincing dynamics in a relationship the same way they previously did in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Even some of the puppets in The Muppets were more believable than the characters in Sex Tape.

 

        With a theme that has been extremely prevalent in comedies recently, from This is 40 to Date Night to Neighbors, Sex Tape is about a couple whose relationship has lost some of the spark. Jay (Segal) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) once had a fiery love life, but two kids and ten years of marriage have cooled it considerably. In order to revive their dry spell, they decide to make a sex tape filming all of the positions in the book “The Joy of Sex.” This works wonderfully for them until their video is accidentally synched up and sent to various friends and family members.

 

        The remainder of the film is a series of hijinks that feel like a sitcom episode that has been stretched far more than the content is capable of. Some of it is mildly amusing, while other moments are either derivative or just plain ridiculous. Contrived situations are forced into the narrative to try and convincingly put our characters in increasingly precarious situations, but Jay and Annie are too average to believably act wild enough to make this film stand out. It is a fight between realism and entertainment, and neither wins.  

 

        The Blu-ray release also includes a digital HD copy, along with some exclusive extras. There is plenty of additional footage, from deleted scenes to alternate improvised lines in the Line-O-Rama feature. There is also a blooper reel. Additional features also included in the DVD release include two additional featurettes with some interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

 

Entertainment Value: 6/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 5.5/10

Historical Significance:  3/10

Special Features: 7/10