Amazon.com: Writer-director-actress Julie Davis is a mix of Bonnie Hunt and Jennifer Aniston. In her 2002 comedy Amy's O (also called Amy's Orgasm), Davis plays Amy Mandell, the bestselling self-help author of Why Love Doesn't Work, which is full of her theories on the fundamentally unstable nature of relationships--only she herself hasn't been in one in years. But when she's interviewed by an arrogant radio shock jock named Matthew Starr (Nick Chinlund), sparks fly, and Amy suddenly has to examine her theories in the real world. The title of Amy's O suggests a sex-centered story; in fact, what separates this movie from most romantic comedies is that it explores not only falling in love, but the hurdles of sustaining a relationship after the romance has peaked. The movie skirts sitcom territory, but has enough heart to give it merit. --Bret Fetzer
Cute Written & directed by Julie Davis, who stars as the title character- 29 year old best-selling Los Angeleno self-help author & celibate Amy Mandell who advises woman do not need men to be successful. There is also lesbianism at play, in the form of Amy's lecherous publicist Janet (Caroline Aaron- a Woody Allen veteran) who seeks to control & prey upon Amy's emotional anomy with thinly-veiled barbs about her looks. Amy is a typical Ivy League yenta who does not follow her own advice. Inside, she desperately wants love, but falls for jerks. The latest is a Howard Stern wannabe named Matthew Starr (Nick Chinlund). Amy does his radio show & falls for him, despite their banal pattering battle of the sexes. Yet, 1 can tell that they hit it off right away. He seems to be not as bad as he seems, but the set up veers away from triteness because we soon find out that while he's not the pig he plays he has deeper issues that will kibosh any relationship. & Amy is not the basket case we think, & have seen a 100 times before. Her problem is more profound: she actually is a well-adjusted person. This is shown in some funny scenes where the Jewish Amy seeks free counseling by going to confession with a priest (Jeff Cesario) who slowly falls in love with her despite his exasperation.... Here is the film's only real failing- that it copped out with what seems like an appeal for commercial over artistic success. Matthew & Amy's relationship will never last.
Conflicted O Very, Very ,Very Funny look at the conflicts so many so called liberated women face. Well worth buying and watching several times.
Fun Movie This movie is just great fun. Not for children, a bit risque, but truly fun to watch. I love the lead character - the things she goes through and especially the irony of the counseling she seeks.
Viva La Differance! This was not the type of movie that I thought I would enjoy. In the beginning scene, when I saw women in line celebrating the main character's work with "Dump Him Now" t-shirts, I was tempted to hit "stop." Yet, there is a wonderful humaneness about this film that makes me warmly recommend it. Specifically, the main character, Amy, has written one of those "oh-so-trendy" books for women suggesting that "you-don't-need-him/you're-good-as-you-are-girl." In the midst of her independence tour, she finds out that much of what she thought about sexual relations is totally incorrect.
For those who feel uneasy about the DVD cover and its description, let me clearly state that it is a fair movie and definitely not a feminist one. Even the title of her book is tongue in cheek, "Why Love Doesn't Work" is as about as much a caricature as it gets. There are numerous politically incorrect elements in the film such as her fantasizing about getting raped, and when her publicist says that her book will reach all the women in need of self-help in America, "which is basically every woman in America." The publicist also calls the organizers of a million mom march, "a bunch of bleeding heart c--t feminists." Amy also informs us "the truth is, women hate each other."
There's nothing self-righteous about this movie. Every individual has flaws regardless of their genitalia, and nowadays, in the face of such widespread misandry in the entertainment industry, men must take notice and be relieved by what we have here. As a character, Amy is vulnerable, likable, and legitimate. She is also smart and able to question the dogma she was raised with, while possessing the skills necessary to discover what life's really about. She's someone that everybody can relate to at some level. The main male character, Matthew Star, has some unbelievable lines, and he's isn't inferior in any way. There's something about him that makes you giggle and relate whenever he's onscreen. Star's just a good guy and there's nothing metrosexual about him.
There is a great deal of believability in the film such as when Amy trots out the tired and often heard argument that "women who achieve have more to bring into a relationship," but achievement has absolutely nothing to do with a man's attraction to a woman. It's silly and based on fantasy instead of reality. I have to say that this movie stands athwart the social construction of gender and validates the view of innate biological differences between the sexes. Even if it were not so fun, humorous, and entertaining, that would be reason enough to recommend it without reservation.
GOOD MOVIE This little film kicks the [...] of the over budgeted Hollywood stuff. (I hope to do the same with my comedies, if I can get some money.) It's no way as good as the classic Woody Allen. The word to describe this movie is INTERESTING, and the price is right. Very nice commentary track. Get it!
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