Barely Legal (Video 2011) Poster

(2011 Video)

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3/10
A long way from good, but still the best of the Asylum teen sex comedies
TheLittleSongbird10 September 2013
None of the Asylum teen sex comedies are particularly good, so saying that Barely Legal is the best of them is probably not saying very much. It never does reach the atrociousness of Sex Pot and Celebrity Sex Tape and Milf and 18 Year Old Virgin weren't much better either. Barely Legal does at least have Myko Olivier, who does bring likability to the only really relateable character in the movie. It does have a decent soundtrack and is thankfully not as vulgar or intelligence-insulting as the other Asylum teen sex comedies. Nothing stands out visually though, the movie can have an over-saturated look to it and the camera work was flat-looking. I was not expecting the dialogue to be any good, it was one of the worst things about all of Asylum's teen sex comedies and has never been a strong point with The Asylum either. That doesn't excuse it being so banal, unpleasantly smutty and embarrassingly cheesy all the time, the way it's delivered too it sounds improvised and any lines so any lines meant to be funny or memorable just didn't have the impact. The comedy literally doesn't exist, and some of the attempted sexiness is enough to make anybody cringe. The story was a disaster to the extent that there was hardly any at all. What there is of it is incredibly predictable, but even worse is it feels too much of an excuse to string along lots of sights of tits, nudity and such. Everything just felt shallow and half-hearted. The characters are also swamped, with the sole exception of Eric Barely Legal is the kind of movie that doesn't let you root for them, and nothing whatsoever is done to develop it. They're just there as stereotypical ciphers. And the acting is atrocious really, the girls are hot but their acting talents certainly are not and there didn't seem to be a lot of real chemistry between them. In conclusion, not a good movie at all but compared to all the other Asylum teen sex comedies seen it definitely could have been worse. 3/10 Bethany Cox
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4/10
Ah,... what can be said
shalimar-427 July 2012
Ah,... what can be said?? 1st off.. do NOT try to take this seriously.

Bad acting.. check Shitty plot? check Predicable BS? Mode definitely CHECK! However thinking of this as a moronic parody of a moronic film.. well u can't help but laugh it's soooooooooooooooooooo bad.

Nice cute girls.. nice tits and a few other bits.. nothing porn like.

However ultimately it's a bad parody... and you are better off watching Piranha 3DD since it's infinitely better and just as funny if not funnier.

btw fyi.. if you have under 2 hrs to totally waste and like cute semi naked girls.. well...........
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4/10
low grade sex romp comedy
SnoopyStyle1 July 2016
Cheryl, Lexi, and Sue are best friends since birth when their mothers met at the hospital. It's their 18th birthday coming up. Cheryl plans to lose her virginity to boyfriend Jake. Sue is religious and shocked at Cheryl's plan. Lexi is sexually promiscuous and does everything except losing her virginity. After a misunderstanding in confession at church, Sue agrees to join the other two in the virginity plan.

This is pretty low quality in almost every aspect. The acting is weak although the girls are willing to show some skin. The writing tries to be funny. It has some outrageous moments that are almost funny. The production is really low budget. They seem to have rented a house and made the movie all in that place. This is a low-budget indie version of a sex romp. It's on par with one of those other alternate American Pie movies with less money.
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4/10
If you can get through the first 15mins, you'll be OK
egghead2819 June 2017
A film about 3 girls trying to lose their virginity at a birthday party. What could go wrong!?

The first 15 minutes are pretty awful, in almost every way. The acting is pretty poor, probably due to a bad script and some things just don't make sense, e.g. All the morning drama and sex, then suddenly its only 6:30am! And the fact that 3 18yo girls can own that house with a pool?!

Once the party kicks off, the movie kinda does too. It does actually have some funny moments that aren't so cringe-worthy that it just falls flat. The acting remains hit and miss throughout for pretty much every character, bar maybe the character of Eric who was probably the best of the lot. It's most likely the tamest pool party you'll ever see in these kinds of movies.

If you want to see a lot of boobs and a bit more at times, then this movie will be enjoyable to you. The 3 leads are very attractive and you get to see quite a bit of them. Given who made the movie (The Asylum), it's not actually that bad, and decent by their standards.

If you have 90mins to waste on a forgettable yet OK movie, that does provide some laughs, and tonnes of boobs, then this might whet your appetite but it's not one you'll ever watch again after.
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3/10
A surrealist nightmare?
Groverdox21 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Barely Legal" is an Asylum "comedy" which recycles the plot of the studio's "18 Year old Virgin" with three virgins instead of one. It's also not as good as that movie; for one, there's no Olivia Alaina May. This one has more actresses getting naked, but none are as attractive as her.

The plot is something to do with three girls who were born on the same day deciding to lose their virginity on their 18th birthday. They are apparently not related, and yet all live under the same roof, in a house which is not unlike a mansion. They seem to have no parents. Anyway, one is a Christian, the other is a slut (except she's supposed to be a virgin...) and the other is... blonde. There's not much to say about her, or any of the three leads, aside from that.

This movie is also set at a party which seems to provide endless opportunity for the three leads to have bizarre, and even traumatic, sexual experiences. There's a video game control pad used as a sex toy and a scene in which a blind man (with guide dog) apparently tries to apply peanut butter to the vagina of one of our heroines before being called away... you can guess what happens next.

Speaking of vaginas, funnily enough, the only one of the three leads who shows hers is the buttoned down, Christian type. She's also the least attractive of all of them.

Much of what happens in this movie could actually make some kind of an impression if it were in a better movie. The handling is just so weirdly distancing it's like the movie is a prolonged dream sequence. Or is it a nightmare? You be the judge.

It is, however, better than some of the later Asylum "comedies". At least you won't need therapy to get over its 'gross-out' moments.
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4/10
Turn on (18)
kosmasp1 February 2021
Another reviewer clearly must be kidding with the cinematic masterpiece review he (or she?) has written. That is my take on his Shakespeare comparisons and more. On the other hand, there are certain things that really work for the movie. One of them is that this is not baiting or teasing you without delivering. So while other movies may promise skin and deliver nothing, this does give you that ... satisfaction.

And there is also the fact that you have three female protagonists. Now you may feel that this is not representing women or womanhood correctly. But is that what the movie is here? An educational how to do it? No sir (and miss/missus etc)! This is supposed to be a comedy about girls coming (stop snickering) into adulthood. Maybe it is worth snickering. Again, this is not meant to be seen as anything serious and while it is far from "a cinematic masterpiece", it also isn't a disaster at all.
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4/10
Better than average teenage sex comedy
name99-92-54538918 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
OK, let's be real here. It's a teenage sex comedy. We all know what to expect. So the criteria are not how it provides insight into the human condition, they are whether it is funny. The sad truth is that most teenage sex comedies suck as far as laughs go. The exceptional ones --- your American Pie or Superbad --- keep you laughing pretty much nonstop, but 90% of the movies in this category consist of not just a formulaic plot but also not a single laugh.

So how does this compare? Well in the hope that the screenwriter one day reads these reviews, let me give my analysis. Naomi Selfman has written a few movies in this vein, but the two best (IMHO) are this and the 18 Year Old Virgin. The good thing about both of these movies is that they are strongly written from the female point of view, which is not just empowering, blah blah, it also provides for a whole new line of jokes. ON THE OTHER HAND both these movies suffer in the script, primarily I suspect from lack of time. Once the script seemed finished, it should have been put aside for three months or so, then revised. And perhaps had a collaborator brought on board.

In both cases the overall premise for the movie is good. It is presented, and grabs our attention right away, the pacing throughout the movie is good, and little time is wasted on nonsense. The problem is with the jokes themselves. These come in a few different forms

  • sometimes a good joke lives off tension. The audience can see what is going to happen, but it doesn't quite happen, then it doesn't quite happen, then it almost but doesn't quite happen, and then, just when you've given up, it happens. - other times a good joke happens out of left field, totally not what and when you expected


Both of these are missing in the scripts. The jokes, while funny, are formulaic --- we see the setup, and there's no variation or surprise in the pacing.

  • a third problem (and this really seems a problem with rushed scripts) is the setup that goes nowhere. For example the on-going water balloons in this movie. They seemed like there was supposed to be a setup there --- but there was never a payoff. If a payoff couldn't be figured out, the setup should have been stripped out the movie.


  • the final problem is that the absolute best moments in comedy come from the serial gag that builds up in ever more ludicrous ways. We see the first joke and laugh, then somewhat later we see an extension to it and laugh, then even later we see a truly over the top version of it and laugh till our guts ache. There was none of that sort of ongoing serial gag in this. For example the setup of Sue with the washing machine was a good start. But that should have continued to the vacuum cleaner not being the mild gag that it was but more something like she starts to clean (in front of everyone else) realizes what's happening, and even so loses control in front of them while they all stare. Then even later we see something unexpected like she's walking along the street with her grandmother, a pneumatic drill starts pounding up the street, and they both go flush and start twitching and trying to control themselves, while the grandmother says "I guess you really are one of us" or something.


I do hope Naomi Selfman gets a chance to write more of these comedies from the female point of view, but I ALSO hope that she has a chance to spend more time on the future scripts so that they move from around "better than average" to "OMG I could not stop laughing". We'll see.
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10/10
A Cinematic Masterpiece
bsbooga16 March 2014
I would like to begin by apologizing about using word to describe such a well-crafted cinematic masterpiece. I have nothing else at my disposal and words will not do it justice. This is the brilliant coming of age story of three young women who happen to all share the same birthday. The actresses playing these women should receive not only Oscar nods, but also the hardware. Hell, they should give them Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress just so Jeneta St. Clair, Lisa Younger, and the refreshingly brilliant Melissa Johnston do not have to share a statue. There is no way a trifecta so perfect in acting should not be recognized as a whole. The Director, Jose Montesinos, utilizes his cast and film crew so effectively, the viewer does not feel as if they are watching a film, but actually participating in the entire experience. The connectivity he is able to bring out of all of the actors and actresses is unparalleled. There is a young genius at work behind the camera in this film. You will feel the emotion, pain, hunger, and desperation of every character. I mean every character. Tanya Yiang, who plays the role of Girl, will leave you riveted to the screen. You will despise Morgan Benoit's Jake with vitriol normally only reserved for the most heinous of villains, such as Game of Thrones' King Joffrey. You will feel the religious fortitude of Kevin Yarbaugh's Priest. There is no other way around it. The director got everything possible out of every actor who graced the screen.

Although that is impressive on its own there is little actors can do without dialogue, and the screen writer, Naomi L. Selfman, nailed this one on every facet of good storytelling. If you are someone who loves dialogue, Ms. Selfman's word craft is a treat to behold. Forget the wittiness many critics claimed of such wordsmiths as Kevin Williamson or Diablo Cody, they are not even in a league with Naomi Selfman. She is more deserving to be whispered in the same breaths as Poe, Keats, Whitman, Dante, or even Shakespeare himself. To say that the script of the film Barely Legal was Shakespearean in quality would be an insult to the film for it has set a new standard to which I am certain books, TV shows, and movies will be referred to as Barely Legalian. It was with some distrust that I took the Netflix recommendation from the PS3 Netflix Max option, but I could not be happier that I had done so. This film was a transcendental and life-changing experience for me and I am sure many others. I am seriously considering getting the three main characters tattooed across my torso, but alas even that tribute would not be worthy of such astute filmmaking genius. If you want to have your life changed and be awakened to what truly standard filmmaking is, then check out The Asylum's Barely Legal, but be prepared for the decrepit, weak, worn-out, schlock that Hollywood normally produces to not even touch your movie viewing palate any longer. It will be like having the most astounding meal prepared for you and then trying to tell yourself McDonald's will be good the next time you go there. There is only pre-Barely Legal movie viewers and post-Barely Legal movie viewers. I am glad to call myself one of the latter and if you take the leap you will be too.
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6/10
18 Year Old Virgin X 3.
BlackJack_B16 April 2012
This is the first film I have knowingly ever seen from everybody's favourite exploitation/mockbuster studio out of Los Angeles, The Asylum. These people can do more with $200,000 than others who get $50,000,000 can do.

This is another homage to the 1980's teen sex comedy craze that was ushered in by Bob Clark's Porky's back in 1981. Three teenage girls who just happened to be born on the same day and seemingly were all from families of privilege since they live in a huge mansion with no other people like a butler or maid, decide that they will all lose their virginity on their 18th birthday.

Lexi (Lisa Younger) is a slutty girl who certainly doesn't act chaste for a virgin. She is looking for somebody named J.J. who "felt her up" several days earlier. Cheryl (Jeneta St. Clair), the most level-headed of the three, already plans to "do it" with her greasy boyfriend Jake (Morgan Benoit). Sue (Melissa Johnston), a very devout Roman Catholic, doesn't want to go through with this and has apparently never "pleasured herself".

So while these three attempt to follow through, the people they invited to their party are certainly not shy when it comes to underage drinking, public sex, pot smoking and rabble rousing. It's droll to see Lexi, Sue and Cheryl oblivious to the 100 other people they invited having a good time.

As expected, the acting is atrociously bad, save for Myko Olivier's Eric, who plays the reserved, shy and uncomfortable Eric that is a major part of Cheryl's story arc. However, there's something to be said about seeing a movie in 2011 filled with college kids who aren't worrying about a bad economy making it tough to find work after graduation. You're just seeing a good representation of what goes on at a college keg party.

If there'e ever a snowstorm or a slow night ahead, this actually wouldn't be too bad to screen. It's just as good as any overblown Hollywood production.
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9/10
For me it's nice
Kanzaki_ken11 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Among those other bikini movies with same on this category . This one is my favorite . They portrayed well their characters . The three main stars.
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6/10
another sex comedy from the asylum
snoone-281-7092291 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Although this film isn't very funny it is sexy. The characters are half decently developed and there somewhat likable. Barely legal isn't as vulgar or gratuitous as other The asylum releases like Milf. It isn't really a spoiler to tell you that all the lead actresses get naked. The highlight of the movie for me is seeing the religious chick (melissa johnston completely naked, she has an amazing body. The movie tells the story of three 17 year old virgins who are about to turn 18 and want to lose their virginity on their birthday. Somehow where supposed believe that all three girls have the same birthday. All the stereotypes are present, the the straight laced girl the innocent girl and the promiscuous. one. The girls throw a party and try to get laid but somehow can't. The innocent girl doesn't even try to have sex, she finds endless way to masturbate. In the end they decide their not ready for sex and decide to take things slow. One can't notice the films plot to another the asylum release The 18 year old virgin, which was written by the same woman. Barely legal is not a great movie, but its better than other asylum releases like the god awful Sex pot.
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10/10
Cinematic perfection
zachary-r-tucker15 January 2014
This movie should be shown in all film classes. Director Jose Montesinos does a phenomenal job bringing the best out of the actors. Jeneta St. Clair puts in an Oscar worthy performance by portraying the troubles that the average American teenage woman has to deal with. Naomi L. Selfman wrote a script that is unrivaled. The basic story lines used in everyday stories are completely thrown away to create something new, and something better. Ignoring the conventional way telling a story, Naomi tells writes the screenplay in a much more accurate way, and therefore it is easier for the audience to relate to the characters. The post-production of the film is possibly the best I've ever scene. It has a soundtrack that rivals the Breakfast Club, and flawless editing. The flow of the movie keeps constantly entertained. This is the best movie I have seen in years, and plan on watching it many more times in the following weeks.
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10/10
Quite probably the best Teen Sex Comedy not made by a major studio
mickdansforth14 April 2020
Watched this on the Tubi streaming service. Free w/ ads. There was one ad, for a toothbrush, and it preceded a scene involving an electric toothbrush. Also Tubi didn't seem to edit this for content or anything.

I recently watched parts of Bikini Valley Car Wash on Prime Video and so went looking for a batter example of the genre. BVCW is about 25% bikini girls storyline and 75% creepy dudes doing bad observational humor to stretch the run time to make it a feature film.

The thing about Barely Legal is that it is a full fledged movie. A script, production values, sets, props, color correction and everything you expect from a theatrically released film.

If you are of the "Plot Holes = Bad Movie" set, then you could obviously make a whole "Honest Trailer" or Cinema Sin" video on the movie.

3 best friends live in a huge McMansion alone together, w/ no obvious source of income. And they all three turn 18 on the same day. And while two of them are sexually active, all three of them consider themselves virgins because none of them have had penis in vagina sex. And they all eventually decide to lose their virginity at their birthday party.

So the story is ridiculous and contrived, but absolutely works for the point of making the movie. And the dialog works in universe. The question is never, "why would anyone say that?", and more the choices characters make in the way they choose their lives.

Some of the jokes land and are actually funny.

Andre Meadows, of the Black Nerd Comedy Youtube channel is in this. He and Lee Doud are obnoxious party goers. Apparently the people at Asylum liked him enough to bring him back for their next sex comedy, Celebrity Sex Tape (2012).

It really feels like everyone involved with the production was just really happy to be working on the project.

If you are looking to watch this type of movies, you could do far far worse than these series of sex comedies from The Asylum 2009-2014.

The Asylum Sex Comedies: 18-Year-Old Virgin (2009) Sex Pot (2009) #1 Cheerleader Camp (2010) Milf (2010) Barely Legal (2011) Celebrity Sex Tape (2012) Bikini Spring Break (2012) Alpha House (2014) Asian School Girls (2014) Bachelor Night (2014)
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