Penile Captivus is condition where the muscles of the vagina clamp down on the penis during the act of sex, making it difficult or impossible for the couple to separate. This situation occurs at the worst time for Kurt and Kate; he is her ex, having been dumped as she decided to move in with her girlfriend Hannah and pursue a different path in life. Some emotional challenges sees her having an one-off with Kurt, only for captivus to occur and for them to get caught. While looking for a way to break free, the trio are forced to confront some home truths about their relationships.
The idea behind this short film is a nice one because it offers the absurd for which the film to then deliver the ordinary but in a way that feels different and new. The ordinary in this case is a couple working out their issues and coming together to move on with their relationship, but the complication is that one of the couple happens to have her ex in the picture – very much in the picture. It never really does what one hopes though and although it works pretty well, it somehow lacks a spark or that bit of magic to make it really work. The situation arises too quickly and without basis that we are allowed to see, while the emotional side is a bit too corny and obvious. The performances are solid enough but yet never feel natural – Kate has two relationships in the room during this film, I have to be honest and say I didn't buy either of them.
Nice idea and solid delivery then, but it falls short of where it could have been, the performances are performances (not people) and generally it is OK but no more.
