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One subject in storytelling that I find to be the most fascinating is human sexuality. It is probably the most universal aspect of the human condition and has a lot to say about people, society, and individual outlooks on life. After all, sex is, among other things, the ultimate expression of acceptance. Our attitude towards sexuality speaks volumes about our politics, likes & dislikes, and even how we treat those we love—both platonically and intimately. Most of the time, movies that tackle sexual stories tend to go about it in one of two ways: it's played entirely straight with the grave tenacity of an Oscar drama, or it's played up for cheap laughs as a lude and juvenal comedy. Today's film, A Nice Girl Like You, is the first movie I've seen in a long time that successfully rides right down the middle. Playing its story just severe enough to feel earnest, while also being genuinely funny for engaging entertainment value. While it may not go into as much depth as I would have liked (I will elaborate on that in a moment), I found this film to be a charming and adorable love story that felt more genuine and human than I expected. In these troubled times, we all need a good reason to laugh.
The story follows a young Violin player named Lucy (Lucy Hall), who enjoys music almost as much as she enjoys makings lists for everything, and I mean everything! One day, she breaks up with her boyfriend because, apparently, she is "pornophobic." Throughout their relationship, while they have gotten along well, when it comes to the more intimate parts, Lucy is remarkably...absent. For as long as Lucy can remember, she has never been comfortable with sexuality. So, to rectify her strange situation, Lucy makes a list of ten incredibly sexual things to do so that she can become more comfortable with herself and her relationships. Including visiting a sex shop and a strip club. All the while being assisted by her close friends and falling for a rather cool dude named Grant (Leonidas Gulaptis).
The film succeeds in walking a pretty high tight rope, It plays just straight enough to be sincere, and just funny enough to be approachable. While the jokes are sexual by nature, they never fall into the trap of adolescent pandering. This is a film that wants you to relax and not think too hard while not treating you like an idiot. It's the kind of mature comedy rarely seen these days.
Lucy Hall is an absolute blast in this role. Having previously only seen her in terrible horror flicks such as Truth or Dare, I often suspected there was talent within her but was unable to see it before. Made more confusing by not knowing if it was the fault of the movies themselves or her lack of talent. I am glad to report that my suspicions of Lucy Hall having no real acting talent were wrong. She has the opportunity to showcase her whole range as a performer, and it is such a joy to watch. It is worth noting that I was unable to tell if Lucy Hall learned to play Violin for the role or if she was already a trained player. Regardless, she succeeds in convincing me that her character had been playing for her whole life. I suspect Meryl Streep would be proud.
My only issue with the story was that it never got to delve deeper into Lucy's character. We never learn why Lucy is the way she is in regards to sex, only that she has issues with approaching it. I felt the movie had earned enough goodwill to at least hint at a deeper problem that Lucy needed to address, but it never happens. The good news is that while I might have preferred a little bit more texture, it was not enough of an issue to compromise my overall enjoyment of the film.
2020 may be shaping up to be a mostly forgettable year, but this hilariously enjoyable film will undoubtedly become one of the few highlights. It's a genuinely human story with a great sense of humor and stellar performances all around. Absolutely check this one out.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.
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