Coming Soon (1999 film)

Last updated

Coming Soon
Coming Soon (1999 film).jpg
DVD cover
Directed by Colette Burson
Written byColette Burson
Kate Robin
Produced byKeven Duffy
Beau Flynn
Stefan Simchowitz
Starring
CinematographyJoaquín Baca-Asay
Edited by Norman Buckley
Music by Christophe Beck
Production
companies
Bandeira Entertainment
Key Productions
Distributed byUnapix Entertainment Productions
Release dates
  • April 17, 1999 (1999-04-17)(LA Film Fest)
  • May 12, 2000 (2000-05-12)(United States)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$5,453 [1]

Coming Soon is a 1999 American sex comedy film directed by Colette Burson and written by Burson and Kate Robin. It stars Bonnie Root, Gaby Hoffmann, Tricia Vessey and Ryan Reynolds. The plot centers on three seniors at a Manhattan prep school and their search for sexual satisfaction. It has been described as a female-centric American Pie . It marked Ashton Kutcher's film debut.

Contents

The film premiered at the LA Film Festival on April 17, 1999. On the festival circuit, the film was received with enthusiasm by female audiences. Though it contained no nudity or violence, the film was given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA. To achieve an R rating needed for commercial release, Burson made cuts and edits. Though multiple Hollywood studios expressed interest in releasing the recut film, they ultimately passed. The film found distribution with Unapix Entertainment Productions, who gave it a limited theatrical release beginning on May 12, 2000. It thereafter received a direct-to-video release on September 12, 2000.

Plot

Three wealthy, savvy high school seniors have everything: brains, beauty, money, popularity, powerful parents, and boyfriends. Stream Hodsell is a smart, down-to-earth strawberry blonde. Sassy Jenny Simon masks her intelligence behind a guise of fishnet stockings. Nell Kellner is soulful. The girls attend the prestigious and expensive Halton School in Manhattan.

After losing her virginity to Chad without obtaining sexual satisfaction, Stream is confused, as is it was not as amazing as she expected it to be. Jenny and Nell assure her it will improve over time, so she keeps trying. Jennifer's mom tells them that many women suffer from rarely climaxing. So, determined to feel fulfilled, Stream literally studies the problem with self-help books, women's magazines and the comically misinformed advice of her peers.

One evening, alone with Chad, Stream tries to bring up her lack of fulfillment with the sex. However, he says he loves her, then pushes her head down so she'll perform fellatio on him. Meanwhile, her girlfriends Jenny is having kinky sex with Louie and Nell coolly dissuades her friend Petrus when he brings sex up.

Judy Hodsell is Stream's distracted ex-hippie mom, who's dating a white South African artist. She complains about the difficulties she has with Stream's father Dick Hodsell, a yuppie she divorced two years ago, who has a new young girlfriend, Mimi.

At her second sitting of the SAT, Stream chats with garage band musician Henry Lipschitz Rockefeller before Chad pulls her away. After they dine out, Chad gives her ecstasy, which stimulates her more. Believing she finally has had an orgasm, Stream tells Jenny her news, but moments later she has her first from one of the Jacuzzi jets.

Shortly after, all three girls end up breaking up. Stream tells Chad he has never given her an orgasm, Louie tells Jenny they lack a deeper connection, and Nell has difficulty even just kissing Petrus. The trio goes out to an expensive bar in hopes of meeting more worldly guys, and Nell gets recruited by a modeling agency.

When the trio hear back from their early admission applications, only Nell gets accepted, to Yale. Stream is disappointed, so Judy calls Mr. Jennings, her feel-good career counselor. Encouraging her to support Stream, she goes into her room and is upset to find a strip of condoms, finally signing her up to see a psychiatrist.

Both Stream and Jenny place personal ads in the paper. Stream's contact is unsuccessful at getting her to climax and Jenny's doesn't even show. At Nell's second photo shoot, the male photographer hits on her and she leaves, disgusted. Shortly thereafter, Nell calls the others as she's swallowed the rest of her Prozac prescription, but there were only three. After seeing an ad for Henry's band on TV, Stream convinces the trio to go to the gig. The song he has written is obviously about her. Nell stays behind to meet the female drummer, and confides to the others the next day she finally had an orgasm thanks to her.

Both Stream and Jenny get into Harvard and Brown, respectively. Nell, however, decides to not go to Yale after all. Stream approaches Henry, who has been accepted into both Yale and Harvard. Asking him out, he accepts with a kiss. When she later asks why he hadn't kissed her when asked at New Year's, it's because they didn't know each other. Finally both climax together, as they share feelings for each other.

Cast

Release and rating

The film had its premiere at the LA Film Festival on April 17, 1999. [2] It also screened at the Seattle International Film Festival and was shown as the closing night film at the Nantucket Film Festival. [3]

The film received an NC-17 rating from the Motion Picture Association of America. [4] Said Burson, "The woman at the MPAA Board explained the 17 cuts and the initial rating as based on American parents' standards. She said that they judge girls' sexuality differently from boys' and as they have this double standard, they would have found Coming Soon unacceptable as it was. I was made to understand that they didn't like a girl having an orgasm on screen", referring to one of the film's set pieces where Stream has an orgasm in a Jacuzzi. [5] Though the scene features no nudity, Burson "was told [the scene] was too lurid." [5]

To secure an R rating, Burson made cuts to the film, particularly to the raunchy dialogue. [2] Multiple film studios, including Fox 2000 Pictures, [6] still declined to release the recut film. [5] [2] The film's distribution struggles sparked an outcry from journalists and critics, who criticized the MPAA's double standards as films such as American Pie and 8mm were able to secure R ratings with more ease. [5] [7] [8] [2] Coming Soon ultimately found distribution with smaller company Unapix Entertainment Productions. [7] Burson said the film's official website contributed to the eventual sale, recalling, "These young girls took me out to lunch and said, 'we love your movie and we're gonna help you get distribution.'" [7] The film opened in a single New York City theater on May 12, 2000 for a one-week run. [9] It was also shown at Laemmle's Sunset 5 theater in LA that June 16. [10] It was released to DVD on September 12, 2000. On April 10, 2007, Burson's original cut of the film was released on DVD by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. [11]

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 38% score based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. [12] Metacritic reports a 44 out of 100 rating based on 7 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [13]

The New York Times ' A.O. Scott gave a positive review in which he said the film "explores two phenomena that have inspired countless magazine articles and how-to guides, as well as widespread anxiety and fascination: the female orgasm and the Ivy League admissions process". [9] He likened the film to "a collaboration between John Hughes and Whit Stillman in close consultation with the editors of Our Bodies, Our Selves ", and praised Gaby Hoffmann as the Madeline Kahn of her generation. [9] He added: "While Coming Soon takes up the cause of a later generation, it recalls the salutary candor of the 70's about sexuality, especially female sexuality. Its frank good humor stands in sharp contrast with the strange combination of timidity and exploitiveness of more widely distributed recent teenage comedies like Down to You , Whatever It Takes and Committed , which can't decide whether young women's sexual desires should be punished or ridiculed -- if they are even allowed to exist." [9]

In the Observer, Andrew Sarris wrote, "In fact, Coming Soon, with its orgasmic double-entendre locked into the title, is closer to being a French film than a cautionary and sanitized Hollywood approach to the subject. Ms. Burson's view of sex is cheeky, but never gross, and kids may have trouble appreciating the epiphany of Stream’s final close-up during her climactic sexual fulfillment." [14]

Variety called it "a moderately entertaining coming-of-age trifle" and said Vessey "brings intelligence and warmth to her part". [15] TV Guide was less positive and criticized the film's pacing, though it said "the film's full of ugly truths that are never too early for teen girls to learn about the male of the species." [16]

Related Research Articles

The Motion Picture Associationfilm rating system is used in the United States and its territories to rate a motion picture's suitability for certain audiences based on its content. The system and the ratings applied to individual motion pictures are the responsibility of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), previously known as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) from 1945 to 2019. The MPA rating system is a voluntary scheme that is not enforced by law; films can be exhibited without a rating, although most theaters refuse to exhibit non-rated or NC-17 rated films. Non-members of the MPA may also submit films for rating. Other media, such as television programs, music and video games, are rated by other entities such as the TV Parental Guidelines, the RIAA and the ESRB, respectively.

<i>Kids</i> (film) 1995 film by Larry Clark

Kids is a 1995 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Larry Clark in his directorial debut and written by Harmony Korine in his screenwriting debut. It stars Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Chloë Sevigny, and Rosario Dawson, all in their film debuts. Fitzpatrick, Pierce, Sevigny, Dawson, and other newcomers portray a group of teenagers in New York City. They are characterized as hedonists, who engage in sexual acts and substance abuse, over the course of a single day.

<i>But Im a Cheerleader</i> 1999 film by Jamie Babbit

But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 American satirical teen romantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit in her feature directorial debut and written by Brian Wayne Peterson. Natasha Lyonne stars as Megan Bloomfield, a high school cheerleader whose parents send her to a residential in-patient conversion therapy camp to "cure" her lesbianism. At camp, Megan realizes that she is indeed a lesbian and, despite the "therapy", comes to embrace her sexuality. The supporting cast includes Clea DuVall, RuPaul, and Cathy Moriarty.

<i>Happiness</i> (1998 film) 1998 American black comedy film by Todd Solondz

Happiness is a 1998 American black comedy film written and directed by Todd Solondz, that portrays the lives of three sisters, their families, and those around them. The film was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for "its bold tracking of controversial contemporary themes, richly-layered subtext, and remarkable fluidity of visual style," and the cast received the National Board of Review award for best ensemble performance.

<i>The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love</i> 1995 American film

The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love is a 1995 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Maria Maggenti and starring Laurel Holloman, Nicole Ari Parker, and Maggie Moore. It tells the story of two very different high school girls who fall in love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaby Hoffmann</span> American actress (born 1982)

Gabrielle Mary Antonia Hoffmann is an American actress. She made her film debut in Field of Dreams (1989) and found success as a child actress acting in Uncle Buck (1989), This Is My Life (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and then later as a teenager with Now and Then (1995), Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Volcano (1997), All I Wanna Do (1998), and 200 Cigarettes (1999).

<i>American Pie</i> (film) 1999 American film

American Pie is a 1999 American coming-of-age teen sex comedy film directed and co-produced by Paul Weitz and written by Adam Herz. The film's main ensemble cast includes Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Alyson Hannigan, Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas, and Seann William Scott, with Eugene Levy, Shannon Elizabeth, Chris Owen, and Jennifer Coolidge in notable supporting roles. The story follows a group of high school classmates who make a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate.

<i>This Film Is Not Yet Rated</i> 2006 documentary film by Kirby Dick

This Film Is Not Yet Rated is a 2006 American documentary film about the Motion Picture Association of America's rating system and its effect on American culture, directed by Kirby Dick and produced by Eddie Schmidt. It premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and received a limited theatrical release on September 1, 2006. IFC, the film's distributor, aired the film later that year.

<i>Whore</i> (1991 film) 1991 film by Ken Russell

Whore is a 1991 American satirical drama film directed by Ken Russell and starring Theresa Russell. It follows the life of a jaded street prostitute in Los Angeles. Benjamin Mouton, Antonio Fargas, Jack Nance, Danny Trejo, and Ginger Lynn Allen appear in supporting roles. The screenplay by Russell and Deborah Dalton is based on David Hines' monologue play, Bondage. The film is partly presented in a pseudo-documentary format, with the lead character often breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience with monologues consisting of her observations and reflections on her career as a prostitute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tricia Vessey</span> American actress

Tricia Vessey is an American actress, producer and writer.

<i>Lets Talk About Sex</i> (film) 1998 American film

Let's Talk About Sex is a 1998 American dramatic film written, directed by, and starring Troy Beyer. The film received generally negative reviews from critics.

The Deviants is a comedy film about a matchmaker for people with unusual sexual deviations. The Deviants was written by Doug Dezzani and Reid Waterer and directed by Reid Waterer. It was Waterer's first feature.

<i>An Education</i> 2009 film directed by Lone Scherfig

An Education is a 2009 coming-of-age drama film based on a memoir of the same name by British journalist Lynn Barber. The film was directed by Lone Scherfig from a screenplay by Nick Hornby. It stars Carey Mulligan as Jenny, a bright schoolgirl, and Peter Sarsgaard as David, the charming conman who seduces her. The film was nominated for 3 Academy Awards in 2010: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay for Nick Hornby, and Best Actress for Carey Mulligan.

<i>The Last Exorcism</i> 2010 American film

The Last Exorcism is a 2010 American found footage supernatural horror film directed by Daniel Stamm. It stars Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, Caleb Landry Jones, and Louis Herthum.

<i>The Last Exorcism Part II</i> 2013 American film

The Last Exorcism Part II is a 2013 American supernatural horror film co-written and directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly. It stars Ashley Bell, Julia Garner, Spencer Treat Clark, and Louis Herthum. It is a sequel to The Last Exorcism, and was released on March 1, 2013. The film follows Nell Sweetzer as she attempts to recover from her past experiences and start her life anew. Nell then starts to realize that the demon that previously possessed her has come back for her. Unlike its predecessor, it is not presented in a found footage format.

<i>Afternoon Delight</i> (film) 2013 film by Joey Soloway

Afternoon Delight is a 2013 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Joey Soloway. It stars Kathryn Hahn, Juno Temple, Josh Radnor, and Jane Lynch. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where it was awarded the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award. It was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 30, 2013.

<i>The Convent</i> (2000 film) 2000 American film

The Convent is a 2000 horror film directed by Mike Mendez, starring horror veteran Adrienne Barbeau. It is about a group of college students who go into an abandoned convent, only to discover that it is inhabited by demons intent on possessing them. It premiered in January 2000 at the Sundance Film Festival. Due to the original distributor closing, the film was not released on home video until December 2002.

Nell Tiger Free is an English actress and singer. She began her career as a child actress in the films Mr Stink and Broken. She also played Myrcella Baratheon in seasons 5 and 6 of the HBO series Game of Thrones (2015–2016). She has since starred in the Apple TV+ series Servant (2019–2023), the Amazon Prime series Too Old to Die Young (2019) and the movies Settlers (2021) and The First Omen (2024).

<i>Good Luck to You, Leo Grande</i> 2022 film by Sophie Hyde

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is a 2022 sex comedy drama film directed by Sophie Hyde and written by Katy Brand. The film stars Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack. The story revolves around a woman who seeks a young sex worker to help her experience pleasurable sex.

<i>Quiz Lady</i> 2023 film by Jessica Yu

Quiz Lady is a 2023 American comedy film directed by Jessica Yu and written by Jen D'Angelo. The film stars Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, Jon "Dumbfoundead" Park, and Will Ferrell. Ferrell, Awkwafina, and Oh also served as the film's producers, along with Jessica Elbaum, Maggie Haskins, Itay Reiss, and D'Angelo.

References

  1. ↑ "Coming Soon (2000)". Box Office Mojo . Amazon.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Schillinger, Liesl (June 21, 1999). "Exile in Guyville". New York Magazine . Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  3. ↑ "FESTIVALS: In Nantucket, Skinny Dipping, Screenwriting, and "Coming Soon"". IndieWire . July 13, 1999. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  4. ↑ Lehmann-Haupt, Rachel (July 9, 1999). "Don't you know that it's different for girls?". Salon.com . Archived from the original on August 31, 2000. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Quartz, Alissa (September 24, 1999). "Film: Girls just want to have fun". The Independent . Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  6. ↑ Ojumu, Akin (July 25, 1999). "Dead cert: the NC-17 rating". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "BIZ: Mamma Said Knock You Out! – Two Hard-hitting Films By Women Open in NYC". IndieWire. May 12, 2000. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  8. ↑ Haskell, Molly (June 4, 2000). "FILM; Glimpses Inside a World Barely Imagined by Men". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Scott, A. O. (August 8, 2000). "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: Behind the Gross-Out Humor, The Teenage Movie in Hiding; Adolescents Are Being Shortchanged on Candor". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Coming Soon - Notes". Turner Classic Movie Database . Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Coming Soon (Unrated Widescreen)". Amazon. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Coming Soon (1999)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Coming Soon". Metacritic . Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  14. ↑ Sarris, Andrew (May 29, 2000). "With Woody's Cookie Caper, Some Careers Could Cool Off". Observer . Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  15. ↑ Loewenstein, Lael (July 19, 1999). "Coming Soon". Variety. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Coming Soon". TVGuide.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.