Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
When Jay and Annie first got together, their romantic connection was intense – but ten years and two kids later, the flame of their love needs a spark. To kick things up a notch, they decide – why not? – to make a video of themselves trying out every position in The Joy of Sex in one marathon three-hour session. It seems like a great idea – until they discover that their most private video is no longer private. With their reputations on the line, they know they’re just one click away from being laid bare to the world... but as their race to reclaim their video leads to a night they'll never forget, they'll find that their video will expose even more than they bargained for.
Sex Tape (2014) is a largely forgettable comedy that squanders a decent premise. The plot is thin and repetitive — the couple racing around to recover the tape offers little beyond a string of increasingly contrived set pieces. Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel have some natural chemistry but neither is given material worthy of their comedic abilities, resulting in performances that feel uninspired. Cinematography is standard studio comedy fare with nothing visually distinctive. The concept of a sex tape going viral had some novelty potential but the film executes it in the most formulaic way possible, missing opportunities for sharper comedy or social commentary. The ending is predictable and saccharine, wrapping up with a reaffirmation of the couple's bond that feels unearned given the thin character work throughout. Across the board, it sits comfortably in below-average territory.