20
The crude, sophomoric Sex and Death 101 is neither particularly dark nor even remotely funny.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
40
Even if the actual movie is an awkward, uncinematic mishmash. Waters has at least tried to write a sex comedy that isn't aimed at titty-fixated 17-year-olds, and at its best Sex and Death 101 has a fast, clever rhythm that almost sings.
30
A promising concept is gradually run into the ground in Sex and Death 101, a would-be black comedy that lacks both laughs and gravity.
38
It's all a pretentious bore that feels twice as long as it's two-hour running time.
20
The Hollywood Reporter by Kirk Honeycutt
A lame comic idea poorly executed dooms Sex and Death 101 to failure.
12
This film is headed quickly for DVD. In the video store, though, it isn't funny enough to be shelved in the comedy section nor dirty enough to be filed with the smut. It might be useful in propping up a wobbly chair, though.
30
The New York Times by Manohla Dargis
The appealing Mr. Baker never manages to find the right tone for the material, partly because he’s been seriously miscast (he radiates too much decency and intelligence for the role), though more because Mr. Waters never establishes a coherent tone for either the character or his situation.
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Rick Groen
As cinematic flops go, nothing falls quite as hard as a failed black comedy.