A Silly, Raunchy, Smutty, Amoral Comedy -- but There's Some Truth in it Somewhere!

It probably should not be a surprise, but The Sweetest Thing is proof that even a women-oriented comedy can also be vulgar and “gross-out” much as films such as There’s
Something About Mary have been. Of course, people of all shapes, stripes and genders have the capacity to be gross and disgusting and vulgar, or to at least appreciate such art forms. I say this because I’ve read a few bad reviews of this film, and while certainly this isn’t a classic, somehow I have the feeling that some of the criticisms toward this film are as much because of the fact this movie is from the woman’s point of view rather than due to any artistic defects.

Consider these facts: Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate play women who pride themselves on being players -- the sorts of people who, as Diaz says when she tries to comfort their heartbroken friend played by Selma Blair, are more concerned with Mr. Right Now than Mr. Right, who just want to have fun. There’s nothing sugarcoated about this -- this includes partying, but surely includes the getting lucky sort of fun as well. All three women get in some interesting predicaments, either by accident or by their own design, which are certainly not G-rated, and they all talk bluntly about sexuality, even to the point where they sing a musical number, called “The Penis Song”, (sung to the tune of “I’m Too Sexy”) which includes lyrics like “You’re too big to fit in here/Too big to fit in there!”, and “My body is a movie/Your penis is the star.” (Note: I could be wrong, but I think this number is only available in the “Unrated” DVD)

By this point, you’ll realize that these women aren’t meek and mild. But that’s okay. I enjoyed them, for a number of reasons, mostly because, hey, these are three sexy chicks, but they’re also not afraid to just be raunchy and blunt, which is a plus in my book.

The story begin when Diaz and Applegate try to comfort Blair, who just got dumped. They tell her to just go out and have fun. Diaz tries to find a guy for Blair -- by pinching some guy in the butt and then telling him to go and dance with her. What ends up happening is that Diaz and the guy, Peter, end up arguing, while Blair ends up finding a guy all on her own.

Diaz and the guy soon hit it off, however, and Peter actually attempts to invite her to a party. She doesn’t go, but she regrets it -- which is the first sign that she has slipped. She’s actually having emotions for a man; she is letting herself be vulnerable. She tries to brush it off, but she can’t. She obviously is smitten. She is so smitten that she and Applegate go off to a small town upstate, so they can go to Peter’s brother’s wedding. What happens only brings Diaz to despair, however -- as she ends up experiencing the one thing that her philosophy demands must never occur.

Blair’s character definitely gets into the rebound experience -- maybe she’s a little too into it. There’s a scene where she has to take a dress into the cleaners to remove a particular stain (and yes, it’s exactly what you think!); this scene becomes a real example of social embarrassment. And this is the least wacky thing that happens to her .... watch out for the climax to her storyline!

Applegate’s character doesn’t seem to be in a relationship -- her purpose is more of a second fiddle to Diaz, but she does manage some strange sequences of her own. In the women’s bathroom, she offers an envious woman a feel of her enhanced breasts. And, during the car ride, she taunts a dirty-minded biker who reads hot lesbian sex into an innocent event, eventually giving him what he deserves.

I guess I enjoyed the movie because there really is a power to the main storyline. Sure, you may be distressed at the idea of women playing games with men, but when you hear the reasoning behind it, somehow it all makes sense, since you’re seeing it from the woman’s point of view. Diaz isn’t doing this because she hates men -- she’s doing this because she doesn’t want to get hurt, she doesn’t want to remain vulnerable. She needs the detachment so she can get on with her life -- but that pesky human nature comes into play when she starts obsessing about Peter. Everybody, even those who try to be the player, want, deep down, to be with somebody, to be loved; it’s just human nature. Even someone who tries to be strong; who tries to fight it, will succumb to those primal urges sooner or later. Despite what some may think, the subject matter, even the vulgar bits, is not problematic. A more skilled and perceptive writer could surely use this material in more enlightening ways, but we can take the lowbrow comedy for now.

The Sweetest Thing isn’t perfect. There are many scenes that are either pointless or go far too long, and the plot twist involving Peter is way too contrived. For me, none of the vulgar bits gave me any cause for concern. This is meant to be a raunchy comedy, after all, so I wasn’t bothered by the blunt bits. In fact, for me, the rawness factor gave the film a little more honesty -- it shows us how some women and men interpret the other’s behavior, and what they expect of the other. Sure, it may not be pleasant, but if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll realize that there probably is some truth to much of the content. And I was also amused by the ending -- for a brief moment, it actually dares to subvert the typical sappy romantic final shot. And, of course, the three women, most especially Diaz, are great to watch. So while this isn’t a perfect movie, or even a perfect comedy, I found enough things in The Sweetest Thing to keep me interested.