this is an unique movie, a great viewing experience for me. initially, from the beginning, i thought it would be more about profanity and prepared to cut after the first fifteen minutes, but then a couple of sharp lines kept my attention and it was well worth it. just by looking at the actors, the camera work and directing you can appreciate the love this movie was made with. the music also helped a lot, by providing a great atmosphere. you cant really define this as a comedy and put it in comparison with 'comedies' like "american pie" and such - "Strictly Sexual" is a story about love, the effect it has and people; how it can make you happy or make you cry...actually i feel the nonsense i started writing, while all i wanted to say is - this is a beautiful movie, i feel like i'd want to watch it again, and again, just like how you want to love and be loved, always

After an intense week with Dario Argento and Japanese horror movies "Strictly Sexual" was chosen as a random romantic comedy. Expecting something in the mold of pubic "American Pie" fun I was unaware of the the strong indie credentials of this unknown pearl of a movie.

Two physical workers, Joe (Johann Urb) and Stanny (Stevie Long, who interestingly enough is also the scriptwriter) venture into California in search of a new beginning, but unable to find construction work they quickly find themselves running on financial fumes. At the same time two house-mates - the sexually fervent Donna (Amber Benson) and the rigid Christi Ann (Kristen Kerr) - decide for a night out at a hotel, where word has it male escorts are available at the bar. With a comical twist that initiates the story Donna and Christi Ann invite Joe and Stanny mistaking them for prostitutes. After a brilliant spent night together Donna and Christi Ann decide to offer the boys a deal - be our sex slaves for money. Joe and Stanny reluctantly agree, but their acceptance causes unforeseeable events...

The initial quarter of an hour had me sincerely doubting the quality of the movie with a very poorly done opening scene together with a corny rewind. Accepting that the comedy was going to be poorly acted with a vague and simple story I was exponentially unprepared for what this movie turned out to be. And that is an affectionate and passionate dissection of relationships. The dialogue is so intense and full of heart, that I would not be surprised if significant parts of the script were real-life situations written down in a dramatic context. Albeit the emotional wallop that the movie delivers seems mainly focused on the relationship between Donna and Stanny. The scriptwriter/actor Stevie Long seems almost as if he is reliving painful past memory, almost as if the most intense scenes were his form of achieving catharsis.

The absolutely brilliant final fight was so real and I felt so much connection with the whole quarrel with my personal experiences. There is however a stark difference between the extremely intimate portrait of Donna's and Stanny's relationship and that of Christi Ann and Joe, which reeks a bit of fairy-tale romance, especially when contrasted to the brutal love-hate crash-course offered by their opposite pair.

Nonetheless even those fairytailish segments are enjoyable and even though they don't convey similar realism it still has enough heart to keep you involved. The acting is sufficient, if awkward at times, with a couple of breakthrough scenes, which are so emotionally packed, that the previous flaws are easy to forget. All in all a very good indie romantic comedy, which deserves to be much higher on the radar and invokes to mind very positive comparisons of "Swingers" or "Chasing Amy".

I watched this movie in 2020 and i believe it's completely something underrated. If this film could re-release then it might be a blockbuster. But i find it boring at some parts, that's what happens when you add emotions to the rom-com movies. Otherwise everything was great. Thank you.