Reviewer's Rating 3 out of 5 Ìý User Rating 4 out of 5
The Sex Monster (1999)

Mike Binder is Marty, a man who has a good job, a nice house, and an even nicer wife (Mariel Hemingway). But he's looking for new thrills and his quest to get them and what it turns his wife into is the subject for this slight but often amusing film.

He suffers from a fantasy, rampantly encouraged by men's magazines, of having a threesome involving his wife. If he's not gently harassing her about it, he's bandying the idea about with his chums, who include Stephen Baldwin in a decidedly 'Alec Baldwin' mode for this film. At first she dismisses it but in an audience-pleasing move she starts to toy with the idea. Marty is naturally delighted and soon has the pouting Dede over for a meal that after a few false starts ends in his cherished dream coming very true.

Such a situation naturally provides many opportunities for uncomfortable embarrassment and director and star Mike Binder doesn't waste them. Added to that he keeps the pace zipping along and it isn't soon before Marty is facing the fallout over this explosive encounter. If you're a regular reader of the problem pages you'll be nodding your head and thinking maybe 'feelings of betrayal' or 'a breakdown in trust'. Nonsense! Naturally she now sees the advantage in sleeping with women and is soon at it hammer and tongs with any appealing females in sight.

There's not much that will reduce you to tears of laughter in this film but it keeps a smile on your face throughout. And one suspects that it improves wildly with a few tasty drinks.

End Credits

Director: Mike Binder

Writer: Mike Binder

Stars: Mariel Hemingway, Mike Binder, Renée Humphrey, Taylor Nichols, Missy Crider, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollack

Genre: Comedy

Country: USA