Cougars, Inc. (2011)
18 year old Sam (Kyle Gallner) is seemingly at last chance saloon when he ends up at at a Californian school where the principal (James Belushi) gives him a break. Hearing soon after that his mother can no longer afford to pay his school fees, Sam goes into a decline until he meets an equally down and rather wealthy Alison (Kathryn Morris) in a bar and the two have an affair. Out of sympathy for his plight she leaves him a cheque for $500 which gives Sam an idea of how to make enough to pay for his tuition - his own escort service - Cougars, Inc.
I'd forgotten this completely from my first viewing. Seemingly marketed as a high school sex comedy this has a lot more going for it than merely idiotic hijinks of which there are none. It might sound like a school boy's fantasy but it also delves into issues of infidelity and the way escorting impacts on actual relationships. Rather than out and out crudeness this is a charming and at times melancholy movie that when you get to know the characters ends up feeling bitter sweet. If you're expecting a Stifler's Mom type film then this isn't the movie for you i'm pleased to say.
Gallner is decent in the lead and his relationship with fellow student Courtney (Sarah Hyland) is nicely written but it was the older actors that really made the movie for me. Kathryn Morris was simply lovely and had beautiful chemistry with Gallner whilst fellow 'Cougar' Denise Richards had me laughing several times with her, let's say, industrial language. Meanwhile Jim Belushi is simply awesome as the school principal and... (No spoilers) coming across more like the fourth member of ZZ Top (name checked) minus beard than any stuck up headmaster.
I must also mention the soundtrack from Grammy nominated Cisco Adler. It was rather cool in a grungy Guns N' Roses type way subtle and never over stated yet still loud enough to hear.
It's only real flaw for me was the fantasy that gorgeous forty somethings like Morris, Richards and Rebecca Mader despite their failing marriages had to resort to high school guys to get laid.
When i began typing i was only going to say a couple of lines but there you go.
|