As soon as I heard that George Baker, an actor not known for comedy, embarrassed himself by starring in a low-budget sex comedy, I had to see the film for myself. It didn't disappoint.
This is one of those sex comedies that doesn't fit into the usual "jack-the-lad has sex with lots of girls" routine found in the CONFESSIONS films and the ADVENTURES OF films, along with films such as CAN YOU KEEP IT UP FOR A WEEK? or THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A HANDYMAN. Like COME PLAY WITH ME, it has a structure and a charm all of its own.
These 1970s sex comedies have a very British charm to them that makes people feel nostalgic due to the depiction of the 1970s as it never really was, but how people who lived in that period love to remember it. INTIMATE GAMES is definitely a film that will make many feel nostalgic about the "good old days".
The plot is as follows - a college professor divides his students into pairs so that each person in the pair can learn about the sexual fantasies of the other and write a thesis on the subject. The film starts off by playing out much like a series of vignettes featuring each of the many couples. It changes course about half-way through, as other characters enter the fray and we see their sexual fantasies. Many familiar faces such as IAN HENDRY, HUGH LLOYD, CLAIRE DAVENPORT and JOHNNY VYVIAN show up in the latter half of the film and their scenes are among the funniest.
George Baker seems to have a good time with the role, despite some sources suggesting he hated starring in the film. His college professor character is clearly a closet lecherous bloke and this stereotypical Benny Hill-type character is always funny to watch.
For those wanting to see plenty of nudity, you'll find quite a bit of it in INTIMATE GAMES, plus sex scenes. The sex scenes aren't particularly erotic, as is always the case with this type of film.
The ending to the film, and particularly what George Baker's character does, along with the results, has to be seen to be believed!
The film is very cheaply put together and makes ESKIMO NELL, perhaps the most competently produced British sex comedy of the 1970s, seem like a work of great art in comparison. But it is well-paced, unpretentious and funny.
Overall, this film would never win an award in a million years but for fans of 1970s British sex comedies, this is an absolute must-see.
