Teeth
1.5/4
Starring: Jess Weixler, John Hensley, Lenny von Dohlen, Hale Appleman, Josh Pais
Rated R for Disturbing Sequences involving Sexuality and Violence, Language and Some Drug Use
If there's one thing I hate more than a movie that doesn't even try to explore its premise, it's a movie that doesn't do anything period. Mitchell Lichtenstein's "Teeth" is guilty of both crimes. The premise, a young woman who has the notorious "vagina dentata" and uses it against slimy men who try to take advantage of her, is intriguing. But not only does the film waste this unique idea, it doesn't do anything of any kind.
Dawn (Weixler) is a virginal booster of the promise ring. Her ability to encourage young people to take a vow of chastity has put her in high demand in her small town, although there are those who think she's old-fashioned and backward (it's here that I should mention that Weixler is so good that she got my sympathy when she was made fun of, and this is coming from a guy who thinks that abstinence-only sex education is both futile and dangerous). She's attracted to Toby (Appleman) and vice versa, but because they are both abstinent, they try to avoid each other. But in a moment of temptation, she invites Toby to go swimming with her (not skinny dipping though), and that's when he gives into real temptation...and loses most of his penis (and his life from blood loss) in the process. Soon after she realizes that she can use her "vagina dentata" to her advantage.
I haven't seen Jess Weixler in any other movies, but this was enough to make me feel sorry for her. For the majority of the film, she gives a wonderful performance. However, when the film stops making sense she's forced to undergo a series of bizarre and poorly motivated character changes (she also has a problem crying on screen, but a lot of actors and actresses do). No one else has a lot of screen time, but John Hensley is good as her creepy step-brother. Sadly his character isn't given enough screen time for the conclusion of his character to have much meaning.
This is really an exercise of self-indulgence for Mitchell Lichtenstein. For one thing, the movie is half over by the time the plot (what there is of one) kicks in. Second, the movie drags on forever, and during most of it, not much happens. Third, the final act is so poorly written when it finally does get into interesting territory it becomes a boring mess.
There are so many interesting things that could be done with the idea of the vagina dentata, but Lichtenstein treats it as a gimmick. He does nothing with it, and doesn't say anything about female sexuality (or male sexuality for that matter). It's also kind of reprehensible because except for her father and boring friend, every male in this film is a perverted rapist. This could have been an interesting movie had Lichtenstein bothered to do anything with this idea.
Starring: Jess Weixler, John Hensley, Lenny von Dohlen, Hale Appleman, Josh Pais
Rated R for Disturbing Sequences involving Sexuality and Violence, Language and Some Drug Use
If there's one thing I hate more than a movie that doesn't even try to explore its premise, it's a movie that doesn't do anything period. Mitchell Lichtenstein's "Teeth" is guilty of both crimes. The premise, a young woman who has the notorious "vagina dentata" and uses it against slimy men who try to take advantage of her, is intriguing. But not only does the film waste this unique idea, it doesn't do anything of any kind.
Dawn (Weixler) is a virginal booster of the promise ring. Her ability to encourage young people to take a vow of chastity has put her in high demand in her small town, although there are those who think she's old-fashioned and backward (it's here that I should mention that Weixler is so good that she got my sympathy when she was made fun of, and this is coming from a guy who thinks that abstinence-only sex education is both futile and dangerous). She's attracted to Toby (Appleman) and vice versa, but because they are both abstinent, they try to avoid each other. But in a moment of temptation, she invites Toby to go swimming with her (not skinny dipping though), and that's when he gives into real temptation...and loses most of his penis (and his life from blood loss) in the process. Soon after she realizes that she can use her "vagina dentata" to her advantage.
I haven't seen Jess Weixler in any other movies, but this was enough to make me feel sorry for her. For the majority of the film, she gives a wonderful performance. However, when the film stops making sense she's forced to undergo a series of bizarre and poorly motivated character changes (she also has a problem crying on screen, but a lot of actors and actresses do). No one else has a lot of screen time, but John Hensley is good as her creepy step-brother. Sadly his character isn't given enough screen time for the conclusion of his character to have much meaning.
This is really an exercise of self-indulgence for Mitchell Lichtenstein. For one thing, the movie is half over by the time the plot (what there is of one) kicks in. Second, the movie drags on forever, and during most of it, not much happens. Third, the final act is so poorly written when it finally does get into interesting territory it becomes a boring mess.
There are so many interesting things that could be done with the idea of the vagina dentata, but Lichtenstein treats it as a gimmick. He does nothing with it, and doesn't say anything about female sexuality (or male sexuality for that matter). It's also kind of reprehensible because except for her father and boring friend, every male in this film is a perverted rapist. This could have been an interesting movie had Lichtenstein bothered to do anything with this idea.
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