Sex Appeal

My review was written in July 1986 after watching the movie at a Times Square screening room.

"Sex Appeal" is a farcical comedy let down by its script. Yet another opus about a young man trying anything to get laid, picture went into regional release in May but is best suited to the less demanding ancillary markets.

Filmmaker Chuck Vincent has remade his 1980 hardcore porn production "Fascination" (which was directed by Larry Revene, who returns as cinematographer this time) that starred Ron Jeremy as a Jewish kid consulting a how-to book on getting dates. This time around Louie Bonanno toplines as Tony Cannelloni, an Italian kid from New Jersey who buys the book "Sex Appeal" as a guide to sexual conquests. Key element of the strategy is to move out of his parents' home to a bachelor pad in Manhattan, where his landlord/neighbor Donald (Jeff Eagle a/k/a Jeffrey Hurst) eavesdrops and uses Tony's misadventures as the basis for writing a lucrative series of articles for Playhouse magazine about the New Jersey Casanova.

Film briefly moves into the territory of Billy Wilder's "The Apartment" as Tony's father and sister separately try to use his pad for their own secret trysts, but essentially it's a bedroom farce without enough laughs. Early scenes at home around the dinner table are particularly flat, in the vein of "Saturday Night Fever" ethnicity.

A supporting cast loaded with talent familiar from Adult films turns in good performances, particularly two actresses who also appeared in "Fascination": Merle Michaels, cute as a nonstop talker with a Judy Holliday accent, and Veronica Hart ("Fascination" was her screen debut), hilariously spoofing the false passion of erotic scenes as she squeals loudly and endlessly at the slightest touch. Lead actor Bonanno is not very interesting and his terrifically-built leading lady Tally Brittany (a/k/a Tally Chanel) is unfortunately consigned to a small role that is more tease than necessary.

Cast employs a variety of pseudonyms, real names and alternate stage names arising from each thesp's attitude to the demarcation between Adult and mainstream filmmaking. Fans will easily sort it all out by recognizing familiar faces.

Imagine if someone tried to film a sex comedy version of The Apartment but forgot to include: plot, laughs, likeable characters, ANYTHING resembling a joke. BUT they did manage to include heavy New YAWK accents, boobs of all shapes and sizes, and a short run time. Normally, boobs would be worth at least two stars, but this was so unfunny that it was nearly unwatchable.

I recently watched Sex Appeal (1986) on Tubi. The storyline follows a young man who decides it's time to take charge of his sex life. His first step is buying a book to become a 'sex expert,' and the second is getting an apartment to escape his parents. However, as he moves into his new place, he finds it difficult to stop his mother from ruining his romantic pursuits. Of course, he also does a good job of sabotaging himself.

Directed by Chuck Vincent (Bad Blood), the film stars Louie Bonanno (Cool as Ice), Veronica Hart (Boogie Nights), Candida Royalle (Urban Heat), Tally Chanel (Alien Warriors), and Samantha Fox (Jack + Jill).

This is one of those corny, over-the-top sex comedies that tries too hard but is still fun to watch. As expected, the acting isn't remarkable, and the plot is flimsy, but there's some fun narration, attractive cast members, and plenty of topless scenes. The 'New Jersey Casanova' concept was hilarious, making for a crazy title. Despite its cheesiness, it's entertaining enough.

In conclusion, Sex Appeal offers little plot, a few laughs, and enough risqué moments to be mildly enjoyable. I'd give it a 4/10 and only recommend it with the right expectations.

It's one thing to start watching a movie and think "hey, I've seen this before...this is so familiar" and then to look up the people behind the film and look at their body of work and realize it's not just a remake, it's a remake by the same people. Chuck Vincent rehashes a film from the hard side of the industry that he made back in 1980 and simply takes the hard core aspects out with newer and even less capable actors in the main roles. Ron Jeremy played the main character in FASCINATION from 1980 and the overbearing mom was there, the philandering father, the obnoxious sis, all of it. The same supporting characters are there too...some of them reprising their roles from the FIRST!

This is not worth the views people. The acting is totally uninspired, the film making skills are totally void and the fact that CV remade it and did it WORSE is rather criminal. AVOID. I would demand my money back if there were money involved.

I couldn't stop laughing throughout this whole movie.