Premature is a predictably typical sex
comedy in nearly every way, with the exception of the time loop narrative that
makes it resemble Groundhog’s Day or The Edge of Tomorrow for a high school
virgin. And even the use of a time loop somehow does little to motivate
originality in the screenplay, which is content to re-use the same vulgar gag
repeatedly as the only source of entertainment within the film. Characters are
little more than props for the repeat sex jokes and predictable outcomes, with
female characters sketched out in a two-dimensional manner to fit into the male
fantasy.
High school
senior Rob (John Karna) has an important day at school, which has nothing to do
with the reasons that he inexplicably keeps repeating the same day. Rob has an
important college interview that he is randomly doing in the office of his high
school, and it never seems to go well regardless of how many opportunities he
has. Although the college interview is what makes this day important, it is Rob’s
inability to control his premature ejaculation that seems to control the time
loop. Every time he ejaculates prematurely, the day starts over with a wet
dream and the opportunity to successfully have sex. What does this have to do
with the college interview? Absolutely nothing. And this is why the film feels
contrived and disjointed between each gag, which are primarily focused on Rob’s
various orgasms.
This may have
been a solid premise had the film worked a bit harder to avoid the predictable
narrative traps of a typical sex comedy, but it includes all of the cliché
elements. There is a sex symbol high school girl that looks like she walked
right out of a Girls Gone Wild video (played by Carlson Young), whose interest
in Rob is questionable at best, and on the opposite end of the spectrum is
Rob’s longtime best friend, Gabrielle (Katie Findlay). Even though Gabrielle
and Rob have always been plutonic, it is evident from the first five minutes of
the film that he will inevitably choose her over his own lust.
Sex comedies
don’t need to be unpredictable, but they should have something to make the
viewing experience more enjoyable. With two derivative narratives crammed
together into one predictable mess, the story offers little to get excited
about. The dialogue is mildly amusing, but even the one-liners are sadly
lacking in creativity. And those who anticipate a vast amount of bare flesh to
help the plot along will also find themselves flaccid with disappointment.
Somehow Premature manages to be
completely misogynistic in the representation of most (if not all) female
characters, while simultaneously being prudish in the presentation of their
positions as sex symbols.
The DVD special
features include a commentary track with co-writer/director Dan Beers, along
with cast/crew interviews, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and an alternate
ending. There is also a trailer.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 5/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 6.5/10
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