Condoms: A Responsible Option; How Birth Control Works

In the effort to promote awareness of the need for 'safe sex' in light of the AIDS crisis, a growing number of films are being released concerning the use of condoms and other forms of protection against STD's. Regardless of the information in the first title: Condoms: A Responsible Option, the cheese factor alone would guarantee chuckles from school audiences. A couple, who are thinking about having sex, are interrupted by the sudden appearance of all their former lovers. The group then engages in stilted dialogue concerning the dangers of STD's. The film concludes with a detailed description of how to use a condom. The intention here is good, but the image, sound, and script quality is, well, cheesy. It's not likely to be taken seriously by its intended audience. The second film: How Birth Control Works was actually made in 1982, and never released. It's not hard to see why. Cornball animation is used to discuss the rhythm method, birth control pills, I.U.D.'s, diaphragms, condoms, foam, and vasectomies. The tone and presentation feel dated (who's pushing I.U.D.'s today?), and like the first film, this one also suffers from an overall amateur quality which is more likely to provoke laughs than learning. There are much better, much less expensive programs on the market. Not recommended. (See COMPUTER GRAPHICS SPECIAL for availability.)