Sex Tape

An extremely mild improvement over Jake Kasdan’s previous effort, 2011’s dull Bad Teacher, Sex Tape follows Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) as they attempt to spice up their marriage by filming a sex tape – with problems ensuing as said video makes its way onto a wirelessly-connected network. There’s little doubt that Sex Tape opens with a tremendous amount of promise, as Kasdan, working from a script written by Segel, Nicholas Stoller, and Kate Angelo, kicks things off with a thoroughly engaging montage depicting the progression of Jay and Annie’s relationship – with the pair moving beyond their initial sex-heavy coupling to a suburban, child-centric existence. It’s only as it dives into the meat of its subject matter that Sex Tape begins to lose its hold on the viewer, with the premise’s decidedly thin nature paving the way for an episodic midsection that’s often as miss as it is hit. The film’s high point, then, is a lengthy sequence detailing Jay and Annie’s larger-than-life exploits at her boss’ (Rob Lowe’s Hank) palatial estate, as this stretch’s energetic and over-the-top feel stands in sharp contrast to the passable yet uninspired nature of most everything else within the proceedings (ie this is, without question, the centerpiece of the movie). The end result is an uneven yet watchable effort that benefits from the enthusiasm of its stars and a refreshingly brisk running time, with the movie nevertheless a far cry from Kasdan’s initial run of better-than-average comedies (Zero Effect, Orange County, and The TV Set).

**1/2 out of ****