Gregg Araki is back with I Want Your Sex, a film that seems to have everything needed to cause some controversy. Sex, power, dominance, generational differences, consent, gender roles, and the question of how sexually liberated we really are today: Araki throws it all into the mix. With Olivia Wilde as dominant artist Erika Tracy and Cooper Hoffman as her young assistant Elliot, the film also opts for an interesting reversal of traditional gender roles.
That results in some genuinely interesting and surprising moments. At the same time, I Want Your Sex ultimately turns out to be much less daring than the film seems to think it is. Beneath all the sex, provocation, and humor is a story that simply doesn't have all that much to say.
Rating: 5/10
I Want Your Sex Reverses Traditional Gender Roles
One of the most interesting aspects of I Want Your Sex is undoubtedly its decision to reverse the roles between the man and the woman. Erika is the older, confident, and sexually dominant party, while Elliot is the inexperienced young man who gradually gets pulled deeper into her world.
This significantly changes the dynamic. Stories like this are often told from the perspective of a male protagonist, whereas here the woman is the one holding most of the power. Erika largely determines the rules of the game, while Elliot is the one forced to discover where his boundaries lie.
This makes the film surprisingly original at times. It also allows it to look at familiar ideas about sexuality and power dynamics from a different perspective. The film deliberately plays with the idea of who is expected to be sexually dominant and who is supposed to take the submissive role.
Unfortunately, Araki doesn't ultimately do as much with this interesting premise as he could have.
Sex, Power, and Generational Differences
I Want Your Sex appears to want to ask interesting questions about sexuality, consent, power dynamics, generational differences, sexual freedom, shame, social expectations, and the way different generations view sex. Erika is also portrayed as someone who has little patience for the more cautious attitude toward sex she encounters among the younger generation.
On paper, these are themes that could lead to some genuinely interesting discussions.
But does I Want Your Sex actually explore these themes in a way that is likely to spark meaningful discussion?
Unfortunately, that is where the film falls somewhat short.
The biggest problem is that the film constantly seems to explain its own themes. Characters talk about sexuality, power, and boundaries, then we get a scene showing the same idea from another angle, followed by another joke about it. As a result, there is ultimately very little development or depth.
The film's strong sense of humor doesn't help in this regard. That's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the humor is regularly one of the film's strongest elements. But because I Want Your Sex doesn't seem particularly interested in taking itself seriously, it also becomes difficult for some of its more serious themes to really resonate.
I Want Your Sex Looks Daring, but Rarely Pushes Any Real Boundaries
The irony is that I Want Your Sex initially looks like a film that is constantly trying to push boundaries. There is plenty of nudity, sex, and kinky material to make the film seem genuinely provocative. Yet, surprisingly, it all feels rather safe.
The film seems primarily interested in creating the impression that it is doing something dangerous and controversial. In reality, it often remains firmly on the surface.
Essentially, I Want Your Sex keeps repeating its themes without ever really pushing them to their limits. The film looks daring, but at the same time lacks the genuine depth needed to make a lasting impression.
That makes the film somewhat frustrating. You can constantly see glimpses of the film I Want Your Sex could have been, but that version never quite comes to life.
Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman Are Strong, but the Chemistry Doesn't Fully Convince
The actors certainly aren't the problem.
Olivia Wilde clearly has a lot of fun playing Erika. She gets to portray a character who is flamboyant, dominant, larger-than-life, and occasionally downright absurd, and she brings exactly the right energy to the role. Erika is almost a caricature at times, but Wilde prevents her from becoming completely one-dimensional.
Cooper Hoffman also does a good job as Elliot. He convincingly portrays a young man who is still figuring himself out and suddenly finds himself in a world he has very little control over.
Individually, both actors give strong performances.
Together, however, things work slightly less well.
Wilde and Hoffman certainly have chemistry when it comes to their interactions and the power dynamic between Erika and Elliot. When it comes to sexual attraction, however, the chemistry feels less convincing. It is difficult to fully believe that these are two people who are genuinely attracted to each other on a sexual level, even if you view them as complete opposites.
That is a problem for a film in which sexual attraction plays such an important role.
The Story of I Want Your Sex Ultimately Doesn't Offer Much
Separate from its themes, I Want Your Sex doesn't actually have all that much of a story to tell.
The film begins with a somewhat unusual noir-like setup and then uses a time jump to show how Elliot ended up in this situation. Initially, this gives the movie an intriguing sense of mystery.
But as the film progresses, it becomes clear that this is mostly a way of keeping the audience interested.
The actual story revolves primarily around Elliot becoming increasingly entangled in Erika's world. Naturally, complications arise along the way, but the film rarely becomes genuinely surprising. The thriller elements in particular ultimately feel more like decoration than an essential part of the story.
As a result, the film has plenty to say about sex, but very little to say about its characters.
The Characters Don't Get Enough Development
And perhaps this is the film's biggest problem.
You never really get to know the characters well enough. Not in the sense that you understand what motivates them to do the things they do, both individually and together.
Why exactly has Erika become the person she is? Why does she keep seeking out these particular power dynamics? What is Elliot actually looking for in Erika, and why does he allow himself to become so deeply involved?
The film does provide answers, but rarely answers with enough depth.
As a result, many of the events ultimately feel like things that happen because the screenplay needs them to happen, rather than as natural consequences of well-developed characters.
That is a shame, because the gender reversal offered the film so many possibilities. Better character development could have turned I Want Your Sex into a much more interesting exploration of attraction, power, and the way people discover their own boundaries.
I Want Your Sex Is More Fun Than It Is Interesting
And perhaps that is ultimately the best way to describe I Want Your Sex.
The film is often funny. Olivia Wilde is excellent. Cooper Hoffman gives a strong performance. The visual style is striking, and Gregg Araki clearly still has a fondness for provocation and over-the-top sexuality. The gender reversal is also an interesting choice that gives the film a distinct identity.
But underneath all that style and provocation, there simply isn't enough substance.
I Want Your Sex wants to talk about sexuality, power, consent, generational differences, and sexual freedom, but too often it gets stuck repeating the same ideas. It is a film that seems eager to create the impression that it is doing something daring, while in reality it rarely takes any genuine risks.
That doesn't make I Want Your Sex a failure. It is simply too entertaining at times, and the individual performances are too strong for that. But as a provocative film about sex and power, there was clearly much more potential here.
Conclusion:
I Want Your Sex has an interesting premise and manages to create something distinctive through its reversed gender dynamic. Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman deliver solid performances, while the humor makes the film an easy and entertaining watch. Still, by the end, you are left with the feeling that much more could have been done with the material.
The film constantly seems to be looking for boundaries, but ultimately rarely dares to cross them. What remains is an entertaining, occasionally funny, and at times original sex comedy that never quite manages to explore its more interesting themes in enough depth.
Rating: 5/10
