Amy's O (Amy's Orgasm) (Why Love Doesn't Work) (2001)

27% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(1,643 ratings)

A woman who gives advice on relationships for a living is trying to make sense of her own problems with the opposite sex in this independent romantic comedy. Amy (Julie Davis) is a single woman in her mid-twenties who has recently published a self-help book called Why Love Doesn't Work, in which she… More A woman who gives advice on relationships for a living is trying to make sense of her own problems with the opposite sex in this independent romantic comedy. Amy (Julie Davis) is a single woman in her mid-twenties who has recently published a self-help book called Why Love Doesn't Work, in which she discusses why a woman doesn't need a husband or a boyfriend to feel fulfilled. But Amy isn't so sure she believes her own advice, and after four years without a steady relationship, she wants a man in her life. Feeling conflicted, Amy isn't sure where to turn or with whom she can discuss her relationship issues; she ends up sharing her problems with a priest (Jeff Cesario) who mans the confessional at a nearby Catholic church, even though Amy is Jewish. As Amy's book hits the stores, Janet (Caroline Aaron), a friend who works as a publicist for her publisher, snags Amy an appearance on a radio show hosted by Matthew Starr (Nick Chinlund), a popular but foul-mouthed "shock jock." Matthew is exactly the sort of man Amy warns her readers to stay away from, so she isn't sure why she finds herself attracted to him -- or why he seems to be interested in her. Amy's Orgasm was written and directed by Julie Davis, who also stars as Amy; the film was enthusiastically received in its screening at the 2001 Santa Barbara Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Julie Davis
Written By: Julie Davis
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 23, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Dec 10, 2002
Studio: Catchlight Films

Critic Reviews

Lael Loewenstein, Variety
Davis' candid, archly funny and deeply authentic take on intimate relationships comes to fruition in her sophomore effort.
Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
When compared to the usual, more somber festival entries, Davis' highly personal brand of romantic comedy is a tart, smart breath of fresh air that stands out from the pack even if the picture itself is somewhat problematic.
Erin Meister, Boston Globe
The whole mess boils down to a transparently hypocritical work that feels as though it's trying to set the women's liberation movement back 20 years.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
About Amy's cuteness, Amy's career success (she's a best-selling writer of self-help books who can't help herself), and Amy's neuroses when it comes to men.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Like Kissing Jessica Stein, Amy's Orgasm has a key strength in its willingness to explore its principal characters with honesty, insight and humor.
Jonathan Foreman, New York Post
Davis ... gets vivid performances from her cast and pulls off some deft Ally McBeal-style fantasy sequences.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
a nightmare date with a half-formed wit done a great disservice by a lack of critical distance and a sad trust in liberal arts college bumper sticker platitudes.
Marta Barber, Miami Herald
Despite its many infuriating flaws -- not the least of which is Amy's self-absorbed personality -- Amy's O's honesty will win you over.
Eric Campos, Film Threat
One of the most plain, unimaginative romantic comedies I've ever seen.
Brandon Judell, Bay Area Reporter
Julie Davis is the Kathie Lee Gifford of film directors, sadly proving once again ego doesn't always go hand in hand with talent.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
Davis is funny, charming and quirky in her feature film acting debut as Amy.
Tim Cogshell, Boxoffice Magazine
Frankly, it's kind of insulting, both to men and women. And it's not that funny -- which is just generally insulting.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Obvious
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
A movie that harps on media-constructed 'issues' like whether compromise is the death of self... this Orgasm [won't be an] exceedingly memorable one for most people.
Evan Henerson, Los Angeles Daily News
Davis the performer is plenty fetching enough, but she needs to shake up the mix, and work in something that doesn't feel like a half-baked stand-up routine.

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Daniel P

Amy's O is an American indie comedy starring Julie Davis as Amy, author of a self-help novel titled "Why Love Doesn't Work", which has made her very successful and very rich. Surprise, surprise, she meets a man and starts falling in love,… More
Amy's O is an American indie comedy starring Julie Davis as Amy, author of a self-help novel titled "Why Love Doesn't Work", which has made her very successful and very rich. Surprise, surprise, she meets a man and starts falling in love, thereby making her re-think her negative outlook on love. Along the way, Amy looks at her own sex and love life, often in obsessive detail, examining her own neurosis and other peoples hang-ups. It's a very mediocre film - Julie Davis is fine enough, though a little grating after a while, but the supporting cast, including the love interest, are all pretty blah. The story is also completely unoriginal and the conclusion is horribly yucky and Hollywood-ish. To be honest, you'll get (a lot) more laughs, drama and insight out of any Sex & The City episode. I was pretty disappointed.

Cast

Julie Davis
as Amy
Nick Chinlund
as Matthew Starr
Jeff Cesario
as Priest

Mitchell Whitfield
as Don
Caroline Aaron
as Janet
Mark Brown
as Mike

See full cast

Amy's O (Amy's Orgasm) (Why Love Doesn't Work) (2001)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Daniel P

Cast

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