Women in Trouble Movie Review 2009
Cast and Crew
Director: Sebastian Gutierrez
Producer: Sebastian Gutierrez
Screenwriter: Sebastian Gutierrez
Stars: Carla Gugino, Connie Britton, Adrianna Palicki, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Simon Baker, Josh Brolin
Release: November 13, 2009
MPAA: Rated R for sexual content including strong dialogue, and for language
Runtime: 92 minutes
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color
Poor Carla Gugino. One of the hardest working actresses in Hollywood, she never fails to make an impression, but just can't seem to break through to that next level of stardom. Which is a shame, because she seems to be up for anything -- whether it involves getting covered in ridiculous make-up in a superhero failure like Watchmen, or getting eaten alive in Sin City. So, it's so great to see her take center stage in Sebastian Gutierrez's Women in Trouble. Too bad the movie isn't any good.
It does have a killer idea: Take all the women's exploitation scenarios you can think of, and throw a bunch of hot, sexy women in their underwear into those scenarios... and then just let them talk. Whether it's a porn star and an uptight career woman stuck in a hot elevator together, or two hookers who witness a possible murder, every time there's a chance to get into a sexy or trashy scenario, the situation is resolved quickly, and the women go back to talking.
Unfortunately, while it is a great idea for a sketch, or a web series (a la James Gunn's PG Porn), it's not a movie length idea. Nor does Gutierrez have the pacing and wit to make it work as effectively as it should. Adrianne Palicki's character, a dumb as rocks porn star/hooker named Holly Rocket, is treated as if every line she says is hilarious. It is not. A plotline involving Simon Baker cheating on his therapist's wife disappears in the middle of the movie, with barely any resolution. And a trite, climactic monologue by Carla Gugino's Jenna Jameson-esque Elektra Luxx elicits little more than eye-rolling.
Gutierrez has certainly done something honorable: Assembling a mostly female cast, giving them bulky monologues and scenes, and refusing to cast and write them as anything less than full people, when most have played nothing but "girlfriend" or "wife" roles. But one wishes that the idea had been given to, say, Pedro Almodovar, who would have brought a unique perspective, and some fascinating visual tricks to the tales, rather than letting it feel like someone's Senior thesis at film school.
If the film has one saving grace, it's what I'll guess is the world's longest post credits scene. Joseph Gordon-Levitt pops up as a hapless/sleazy Latin porn blogger, interviewing Carla Gugino and Adrianne Palicki in a hilarious sequence that becomes increasingly more awkward. It helps that Palicki is one hundred percent on board, and for the first time in the movie -- after the credits, no less! -- her character finally works the way Gutierrez wanted it to.
As for Gugino, she's giving Gutierrez another try, reportedly shooting a follow up to Women in Trouble called Elektra Luxx that's coming out next year. Hopefully, Gutierrez has ironed the kinks out of his system for this, and will give Gugino the showcase she deserves. A good sign? Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character returns in the sequel. Fingers crossed.
