Tangled

This is the latest in the Passionflix original movies based on popular romance novels, Tangled by author Emma Chase.

The overall story is about Drew Evan's a successful New York investment banker. He is handsome, arrogant and a total playboy. This is an interesting perspective as it is told from his perspective and in retrospect. He has currently spent the last seven days holed up in his high rise apartment telling everyone he has the flu...then he tells us what happened which starts when he randomly meets Kate Brooks at a bar after receiving a blow job from another girl in the bathroom (yeah, he's that kind of guy). Kate basically shoots him down which has never happened before...but he immediately takes home a twosome for sex. The next morning he meets the new hot shot up-coming at work...Katherine Brooks! Kate has a fiancé and continues to shoot Drew down and they become rivals at work. After a pretty bumpy start...they eventually start to work together becoming friends until one night...

I love most of the passionflix offerings and I love the premise or what they are attempting to do at passionflix. You could say I am a big fan. I feel like this film is kind of in the middle of the pack of their offerings however, with the top tier including such films as the Gabriel's Inferno films, The Driven series, The Will, Dirty Sexy Saint and the next tier down to include The trouble with Mistletoe, Afterburn Aftershock, The Matchmaker's playbook, and maybe Wicked...with Seduction and Snacks maybe being in the next tier down. In fact the only Passionflix offerings that I didn't care for were The Protector and Hollywood Dirt.

So having said that...yes, I recommend the film to anyone who likes sexy romances. But did I think this was the best that Passionflix has come out with? No. It wasn't nearly as seductive as some of the other offerings (what some call panty wetting). Also, I am not sure I am a big fan of the raw material and it's premise...arrogant playboy's perspective on loving and leaving girls. It also seemed very discordant that Drew thinks his niece needs a better role model (than his sister who is a stay at home mom) when she says she wants to grow up to be a princess and wait for her prince to come. Other Passionflix offerings have had me rushing out to buy the book...I don't think I'll be reading this Emma Chase any time soon.

Subsequent viewings... In watching this film again, I did increase my rating from a 6 to a 7. While it's still not breaking into my Passionflix favorites list, I was struck by a few things that I really did enjoy about the film. I genuinely like the main character Kate, played by Katherine Hughes. I love Dee-Dee who is Kate's best friend, especially as a fellow lab worker...and while my first job out of college was for a chemistry lab where we had just about every chemical under the sun...I sure don't remember one that "shrinks balls", now eat the flesh off them-yeah, we had that. ;-) The niece Mackenzie was pretty sweet as was the swear jar and her relationship with her Uncle Drew. And then there is Alexandra (Katherine Barber) aka Drew's sister, who may have been a stay at home mom...but could definitely break men at a power lunch...she had that kind of energy. So while Drew still comes across as a little schmuck-y...there are some great female characters and I might consider picking up the book.

10 for the copious, very appealing shots of Josh Plasse in boxers. 1 for the relative charm of the leads. So why is my rating 5? Deduct 6 points for a crass leering screenplay that mistakes sex jokes and 4-letter bombs for wit and thinks itself clever by presenting romance from the (reformed) rake's point of view. For years women have justifiably complained about men writing female roles poorly. Well, the shoe - make that stiletto - is on the other foot. Otherwise nothing new here. Less than stellar supporting roles and bland production values complete the indifferent picture.

But oh, the sight of Josh Plasse in boxers - and his full Monty (from the rear)...priceless.

...and this is absolutely not at all meant as an insult, but merely as an observation: Could it be, that the male lead is gay? This would explain a lot! I must say, the expected sizzling feeling didn't radiate in my direction. Pity!

For once... 2 actors in a passionflix movie that HAVE CHEMISTRY. That is a plus. Also, plot was good. I know this is based on a book (that I did not read), but the plot was good. The acting was good. The set design was funny to me, because I know Passionflix in not big on their budget, but the fake subway station on LA streets did not fool anyone. I'm sorry. That was the cherry on top for me. Funny... but all in all the movie is ok. The acting is ok. I found it funny. Dialogue was good. Best part.... I have to reiterate, is that the ACTORS HAD CHEMISTRY!! 5/10.

I can appreciate a strong female lead with an honest, well written performance. It's nice to see the rake grovel, and at times he did it like a boss! The passionate scenes were tasteful and not raunchy. I think this cast was well chosen. Many of the passionflix films are not cast as well and performances are surface level at best. Those films are more akin to a B-rated x-rated film.

These actors could do well in other genres. I would only have wanted a little more depth from Drew. While he was creative in his pursuits, and I appreciate that the writers didn't immediately flip Kate's opinion of him, I don't think he ever presented his most broken self to Kate.

His antics only took redemption so far. Digging a little deeper and aiming for a more raw groveling-would have improved the film. The writers should have presented only some of the idiocy, it should have shifted to him realizing obnoxious declarations would not draw this strong female back in. There is nothing like a trio 80's performance group in a work place to make a gal go running faster. That particular tactic was annoying to all.

Bonus points: I do love how producers always manage to sneak in another Passionflix. I've seen this done in other movies and it's charming to see them watching one of their own productions!