Review by Gorrman Lee

Martin Gero, director of Young People Fucking, says of himself and writer/actor Aaron Abrams, “We both like romantic comedies, but I feel like they’re neutered. To us, the interesting parts of a relationship happen while you’re having sex, or in the moments before of after.” And you know what? This shows.

Young People Fucking is a romantic comedy that feels very un-neutered. The very funny, sometimes romantic and definintely sexy film follows the basic structure of intercourse, with titles at the start of each chapter (Prelude, Foreplay, Sex, Interlude, Orgasm, Afterglow), and, for the most part, we are just watching five couples getting ready to have and then having sex. The characters are very well written - most viewers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters, if not one of the couples. The more we get to know them, the more their distinct personalities come out, and the more wonderfully they are performed. Overall it’s a very honest, clever script, right down to the juxtapositions of the titles.

My one criticism would be of the kinds of characters we see. Yes, they are funny, entertaining, well-written, etc., and perhaps it’s just my skewed perspective, but I felt cheated that all the characters seem hip, modern, and well-off. If we are seeing five different couples, why can’t we see more diversity? And where is the colour? There was only one character who was of “colour”, and he was portrayed as the idiot/goofball who is not sexualized at all. Given that the director and writer/actor are from Ottawa and Toronto, respectively, I find that unforgivable.

Nonetheless, this was a small qualm - one that hardly took away from the overall enjoyment of this very sexy romantic comedy.

Young People Fucking
Martin Gero | Canada | 2007 | 91 min

Fri. Oct. 5 | 9:30pm | Ridge
Tue. Oct. 9 | 4:00pm | Empire Granville Theatre