Virtual Sexuality is a 1999 film directed by Nick Hurran and starring Laura Fraser, Rupert Penry-Jones, Luke de Lacey, and Kieran O'Brien. The screenplay concerns a young woman who designs the perfect man at a virtual reality convention, but then an accident occurs causing the man to be brought to life.
17-year-old Justine (Laura Fraser) bemoans being a virgin so, after being stood-up on a date, goes to a virtual reality exhibition with her geeky friend Chas (Luke DeLacey). There she encounters a virtual makeover machine which she uses to create a 3-D image of her perfect man. After a freak power-cut Justine finds herself inside that male body, becoming her own ideal mate (Rupert Penry-Jones).[2] Naming this alternate self "Jake", he moves in with Chas to try and come to terms with being a teenage boy.
Jake then realises that an unaltered version of Justine is still around unaware of his existence. This unaltered Justine, on meeting Jake, falls for him unaware of the complications this poses. Jake fends her off by feigning interest in the infamous local man-eater known as "the Hoover".
A frustrated Justine then decides she must lose her virginity at any cost, and dates the arrogant Alex to achieve this. As the big date looms, Chas and Jake attempt to thwart Justine's plans, and she eventually realises she prefers the unthreatening Chas.[3]
The film appears to draw some of its inspiration from 1985's Weird Science,[4] but was based on the novel Virtual Sexual Reality (1994), which was part of Chloë Rayban's four-part "Justine" series of novels. The film was produced by The Noel Gay Motion Picture Company, who were also responsible for Trainspotting.
Filming took place in various locations around London. The internal Virtual Reality Exhibition scenes were filmed at Elstree Studios, using a purpose-built set. The tunnel was extended before filming of the explosion was done.
Release
The film opened in the UK on 2 July 1999 in 199 cinemas and grossed £244,084 in its opening weekend, placing sixth at the UK box office.[5] After two weeks it had grossed £545,000.[6] It was released in the US on 3 December 1999 and grossed $74,007.[7]
"Virtual Sexuality: Music from the Motion Picture" was released in 1999 and features an array of tracks from various artists which were included in the film. The soundtrack includes songs from Imogen Heap, All Saints, Touch and Go and Basement Jaxx, as well as music scored for the film by composer Rupert Gregson-Williams. Several lines of dialogue from the film, spoken by Laura Fraser's character, were spliced between the tracks.
↑ Allon, Yoram (2001). Contemporary British and Irish film directors: a wallflower critical guide. London New York: Wallflower. p.154. ISBN9781903364215.
↑ "Virtual Sexuality". The New York Times Film Reviews (1999–2000). Routledge: 196. 2001.
↑ Hargreaves, Jennifer (2007). Physical culture, power, and the body. London New York: Routledge. p.235. ISBN9781134227051.
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