Movie Review: I Want Your Sex (2026)

Directed by Gregg Araki, starring Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, and Chase Sui Wonders

A body face-down in a pool is cinematic language for "I've seen old movies, too." To open your movie that way and have your Norma Desmond bare ass is a bold statement, especially when you have no intention of paying that shit off.

     Let me go back. Our manchild hero Elliot explains to the cops that he has been a sex pet for his artist boss, Erica, and that dingbat has had him so wrapped around her finger he might as well be a cock ring. Through the hour and a half runtime, we see a montage of her using him as paddle tester, dildo holder, and any number of barnyard positions but the kicker is that none of it is sexual. Much nudity, very little titillation. While at times funny, the sex in this sex comedy feels almost medicinal. There's a southern saying: "Naked means you have no clothes on. Nekkid means you have no clothes on and are up to something." All the nudity in this movie was naked and dull if it was supposed to be a point.

     The cast held the movie together. Erica's played by Olivia Wilde in a role she may as well have on her tombstone. Smart, in control, and easily the best bad boss character in cinema since that one with the fashion. There's a reason every other review is probably mentioning the devil going down to Prada. I loved Chase Sui Wonders as Elliot's best friend roommate with a heart of gold who gets demolished. Cooper Hoffman did well as Elliot, but he needs to learn to make more interesting choices or do some fun character roles before he leads his next film. It sucks, but I kept thinking about his dad while watching this and missed "the suck zone" level of character. Pun intended.

     What did not work was the post-ironic blase nature of the story. What is art? The movie asks that question, but has no real answer besides "whatever bullshit gets you paid." Saying everything is a commodity is less of a message and at best is a fuck you to a studio who paid to have this made and at worst is me having to watch someone monotonously masturbate for ninety minutes.

I really wanted to like this movie. A year or so ago I got to see Doom Generation in the theater and had a ball with it despite ranking it pretty low when I saw it on VHS. Maybe in thirty or so years I'll look back on this one and reappraise it the same way.

I didn't like it but some teenager will probably check it out and think it's fresh and original.

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