This movie was a close shot to a relatable romcom for and about teenagers. I assume that it was supposed to be awkward and silly, but a lot of the scenes were just unnecessary and made me ask why they were even included. In many scenes, there's unnecessary dialogue, like Avery telling her whole class that she "popped her cherry," and there was no humor or any reaction from anybody else but her. She's an unrealistic girl who acts just about the same as a robot would, and is incredibly oblivious to the world around her and has the biggest superiority complex I've ever seen. What happened to her long distance boyfriend? Why does Avery interrupt as many classes that Larson is in to either spill out her feeling or just make things awkward? And there's a whole scene where a girl has an orgasm by humping her damn chair. Were they running out of ideas and just needed some filler scenes to elongate the movie? Also, just to put it out there, the synchronized swimming sex scenes? Yikes. This felt like I was watching a sad episode of Family Guy rather than a teen romcom that came out this year.
31 Reviews
Cringeworthy with some wonderful performances
Jblum515 January 2022
Sex appeal is the story of an high IQ girl who wants to develop an app that calculates how to have sex to win a contest. The typical "gender roles" are switched here- with the female being cold , calculating toward sex and the man being emotional and attached.
The problem with this movie is it really isn't funny and very cringeworthy. So many scenes feature just awful dialogue and writing. The biggest issue here is that the characters don't feel like real people. It makes it more difficult to get invested in the story and makes the 'drama' feel less impactful when it ultimately happens.
That being said the acting is actually quite good. Mika Abdalla absolutely shines as Avery , our main character and gives it her all for what she has to work with. She definitely saves this movie from being a mess along with a pace that keeps things moving along. I wasn't bored with it I just ultimately felt like it needed to be something else.
The problem with this movie is it really isn't funny and very cringeworthy. So many scenes feature just awful dialogue and writing. The biggest issue here is that the characters don't feel like real people. It makes it more difficult to get invested in the story and makes the 'drama' feel less impactful when it ultimately happens.
That being said the acting is actually quite good. Mika Abdalla absolutely shines as Avery , our main character and gives it her all for what she has to work with. She definitely saves this movie from being a mess along with a pace that keeps things moving along. I wasn't bored with it I just ultimately felt like it needed to be something else.
Nothing new here...
PennyIsMine14 January 2022
...and sometimes, the things that were, they were cringeworthy, like holding an iPhone like a boom box, ala John Cusack. There were good performances, in particular from the lead actress, but they weren't enough to distinguish this from any other high school love movie.
Perhaps this will be more intriguing to the movie's core audience, who probably haven't seen Say Anything... or the dozens of movies cut from the same cloth.
Perhaps this will be more intriguing to the movie's core audience, who probably haven't seen Say Anything... or the dozens of movies cut from the same cloth.
A teen sex-comedy with something to say
blah52520 January 2022
"Sometimes you have to learn to fail to grow."
"Well, you didn't fail. I mean, that's a B. And your grade won't be compromised with a 105 average."
Surprisingly charming and a film I wish was around when I was a teenager. Yeah, it's a little preachy but the fact that no other teen comedies focused on sex take the time to fully analyze themes like this has convinced me to overlook that.
I forgot Jake Short existed until I saw his face and it was like every single episode of ANT Farm flashed before my eyes. He's witty and engaging and probably gives one of the better performances in the film, besides the trio of Moms- including Fortune Feimster and Margaret Cho as divorced co-parents. Lead Mika Abdalla was good as well, but some of the more subtle traits of her character got lost along the way.
By far the biggest surprise is the direction. Talia Osteen really did a good job in making this C-level teen comedy- VERY reminiscent of the early 2000s- stand out in style and heart. The writing could have used some editing, but overall this could have been a roaring dumpster fire and I actually didn't mind it!
Surprisingly charming and a film I wish was around when I was a teenager. Yeah, it's a little preachy but the fact that no other teen comedies focused on sex take the time to fully analyze themes like this has convinced me to overlook that.
I forgot Jake Short existed until I saw his face and it was like every single episode of ANT Farm flashed before my eyes. He's witty and engaging and probably gives one of the better performances in the film, besides the trio of Moms- including Fortune Feimster and Margaret Cho as divorced co-parents. Lead Mika Abdalla was good as well, but some of the more subtle traits of her character got lost along the way.
By far the biggest surprise is the direction. Talia Osteen really did a good job in making this C-level teen comedy- VERY reminiscent of the early 2000s- stand out in style and heart. The writing could have used some editing, but overall this could have been a roaring dumpster fire and I actually didn't mind it!
It gave a horrible message to teens
bottjena222 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
One issue I had with the movie, was the message it was giving to teens. She is a nerd who is in a long distant relationship. Her BF told her over a video call that during this "Nerd Prom" coming up that he wants to take the relationship to the next level and F**ck. She's never done anything sextual in her life, so he gets her best "male" friend to help her practice. She sucks his dick, makes him c##, he eats her out, makes her c##, and they had the discussion beforehand that because they aren't actually going to have sex that she isn't cheating on her boyfriend. That was the only message they conveyed.
Sex Appeal
JoBloTheMovieCritic18 January 2022
6/10 - the cringe is real (some really bad dialogue and like 3 extended weird sexual "metaphor" screens) in this Hulu original film, but between that hilarious classroom scene (quadratic formula and all) and a surprisingly nuanced conclusion, this one managed to win me over.
An example of a movie that shouldn't have been made.
Avidviewer-0284716 January 2022
This isn't a memorable rom-com, its just a stupid and forgettable one. First sex as a teenager has been dramatized in far better movies, it's not even funny, it's just dumb. Viewers have to like characters to even care what happens to them. And the obsession with apps, STEM projects I've seen are far more challenging.
Poor writing, poor direction and poor casting, Hulu must have been desperate when they greenlit this one.
Poor writing, poor direction and poor casting, Hulu must have been desperate when they greenlit this one.
I like it until the end!
MARBLELEMON14 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A teen romance comedy that kind of reminded me of the 'to do list' (which was alot more crude). This film was humorous and fun. I really like when any pleasure sort of scene turned into an adaptation so we can imagine what is happening.
The ending really annoyed me though. Larson admitted he was in love with Avery all these years, soon after she realised she was also in love with him but when she declared her love for him, he rejected her and they didn't even get together and he went with someone else? Really surprised and did not see that coming. Other than that, I enjoyed it.
The ending really annoyed me though. Larson admitted he was in love with Avery all these years, soon after she realised she was also in love with him but when she declared her love for him, he rejected her and they didn't even get together and he went with someone else? Really surprised and did not see that coming. Other than that, I enjoyed it.
Unrealistic and cringeworthy
kimera-9811213 June 2022
Maybe I had my expectation too much something like Sex Education by Netflix but then the story telling was not compelling enough and the characters seem unrealistic and rushed. I don't feel in any of a way "connected" to the movie thus I don't enjoy much. It feels like a parody.
Surprising
kskmah16 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It was an ok movie with good acting, but the ending was surprising. Usually the boy and girl gets together in the end and that was what i waiting for. This is not the case with this movie. That was really surprising. I liked how he rejected her even after she said she loved him. Too little too late. Some unrealistic things though. Why would you ask your friend to do sex things especially knowing that he liked you more than a friend before. You know it's not going end well. She is so smart, but doesn't know love has a lot to do with sex? You shouldn't have sex just to have sex. And I don't know why some review said same old movie? It's not.
Short intriguing with a very poor ending
ebhotawisdom-5662016 January 2022
Surprisingly Realistic
xytrgw15 January 2022
As someone who just recently exited high school this movie was very surprising relatable to the point I felt attacked.
Now that doesn't mean all of those who have recently graduated will also relate to this movie, this is just my experience.
Liked the movie way more then I thought I would.
Now that doesn't mean all of those who have recently graduated will also relate to this movie, this is just my experience.
Liked the movie way more then I thought I would.
Worth a watch
ape-0813617 January 2022
who wrote off on this
jbunnn19 February 2022
Bad ripoff of Polish series "Sexify"
foothill_warrior25 January 2022
Here is a plot summary for Sexify "To build an innovative sex app and win a tech competition, a sexually inexperienced student and her friends must explore the daunting world of intimacy" - and even with the dubbed English version it beats this ripoff to pieces. And BTW it has plenty of good - some fairly explicit. Many very funny - sex experiences.
Entertaining and inappropriate
sweber3303-590-81586615 January 2022
Another teen rom/com. It has its funny parts, and makes you feel.
But, it also does what so many Hollywood movies/shows are making a habit of.
Using young 21+ adults to play HS kids with sex/love stories. Trying to normalize HS teens having sex, without using teens.
But, it also does what so many Hollywood movies/shows are making a habit of.
Using young 21+ adults to play HS kids with sex/love stories. Trying to normalize HS teens having sex, without using teens.
Solve for "G"
nogodnomasters9 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Avery Hansen-White (Mika Abdalla) is super intelligent but has never had sex. She creates an app for a contest for sex appeal or something like that. She gets input from everyone, but needs some experience and plans to lose her virginity at the Stemcom convention.
This is another teen sex comedy, one made for women. It was smart and witty without being overly entertaining. At least for a guy.
Guide:F-word. Sex. No nudity.
This is another teen sex comedy, one made for women. It was smart and witty without being overly entertaining. At least for a guy.
Guide:F-word. Sex. No nudity.
Entertaining & Lots of laughs
kelley123116 January 2022
It's one of those adolescent pop culture films with terrific references to prior films with certain plots that they are discussing at that moment. We laughed a lot & had to rewind to rehear the punchline bc we all laughed too hard. It's cheesy with many predictable moments but worth the watch if you are fans of similar themed films.
very superficial
slees-9471118 January 2022
This movie felt really meaningless. I saw the vision but after recently watching and enjoying Sex Education I feel like the vision was very similar but the execution was poor. I see how a 1.5 hr movie might not be able to make their characters as compelling as a three season show but the characters and most of the scenes felt disingenuous. I actually enjoyed the ending though. By this I mean I'm happy the show didn't follow the predictable plot that so many shows do and that is what made me like it. It did seem unsatisfying but I appreciated the change from the status quo.
Great for teens
carlamifegogose9 April 2022
Funny and Powerful
mikeferris-1114415 January 2022
Sex Appeal is a funny movie with a powerful life lesson and some great acting performances. It is both a comedy and a romantic drama. Avery is a lot like her idol Mr. Spock. She even knows how to speak Vulcan. She loves science and the normal high school things that involve emotions are no more fun to her than they would be to Mr. Spock. Avery's Spock-like demeanor creates the conflict and drives the storyline along. Will Avery change? What will happen at the STEM-CON? Which guy will she end up with? Will her app really work? What life lesson does she need to learn and will she learn it or remain clueless? This is a powerful movie.
Another teenage romcom
mcalleros-915009 April 2024
It was really just another romcom. There are the basic tropes but used but with a gender bending twist. As well as there being a need to tell a message behind the main plot. There is a lot to like with the it is doing a good job at making you laugh but also a good job at making you cringe. When watching the movie, it is hard to get through the first couple minutes. The dialogue movie slow but then gets a little faster and smother more into the movie.
There is also a thing where there a lot of characters with not much to them but yet they seem to have been meant to play a much bigger role then they did. But I really did enjoy watching this movie.
There is also a thing where there a lot of characters with not much to them but yet they seem to have been meant to play a much bigger role then they did. But I really did enjoy watching this movie.
You can tell DISNEY is ashamed but not that much
ballouvince2 March 2022
They have different labels for one reason. They want to step over the line and believe you are dumb enough to not know they are DISNEY. Not Hulu. The language is adult. As other reviews said, the big Hollywood trend is to find adults that look like teenagers, so Hollywood directors can be Roman Polanski without being Roman Polanski. Very progressive and trying to say sex isn't about being scientific.
Better version of telling the story but pity it is too classic still
momomojojo20 February 2022
Special effects is alright
The camera work is really Hollywood
Clearly the movie is for 14 years olds, even nowadays it seems a bit too old for it.
They make a good scenes but pity it got water down by the many bad ones Movie had been thought out but not good enough Acting is not high, some actors are done much better but main actors are not that high.
They make a good scenes but pity it got water down by the many bad ones Movie had been thought out but not good enough Acting is not high, some actors are done much better but main actors are not that high.
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