A raunchy, contemporary female relationship comedy, For a Good Time, Call… is aimed squarely at the libidinous Sex and the City and Bridesmaids crowd. Uptight Lauren Powell (Lauren Anne Miller) needs a new place to live (no mean feat in New York City) after she loses her publishing job and is dumped by her boyfriend. Her buddy Jesse (Justin Long) fixes Lauren up with his friend Katie Steele (Ari Graynor), not realizing that—years earlier—Lauren experienced a disastrous encounter with Katie. Nevertheless, Lauren moves into the spacious Gramercy Park apartment that Katie inherited from her grandmother, only to learn that bawdy, uninhibited, foul-mouthed Katie earns her living as a phone-sex operator. Although initially horrified, Lauren soon realizes that fielding calls from horny men—talking dirty, and vicariously fulfilling their pornographic fantasies—is more lucrative than any job she can currently land. So Lauren convinces Katie to set up her own phone-sex business which she will manage, kicking off a formulaic yet amusing story of frenemies in the Big Apple. Director Jamie Travis has assembled a talented cast, headed by Miller and Graynor, who make the concept rise above its low-budget, sitcom roots. Also featuring Mark Webber, Ken Marino, Kevin Smith, and Seth Rogen (Miller's real-life husband), this smutty, salacious, and entertaining romp is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Jamie Travis, costar/co-writer Lauren Anne Miller, costar Ari Graynor, and co-writer Katie Anne Naylon, deleted scenes (5 min.), a “making-of” featurette (4 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function, as well as bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a racy, fun comedy.] (S. Granger)
For a Good Time, Call…
Focus, 85 min., R, DVD: $29.98, Blu-ray: $34.98, Jan. 22 Volume 28, Issue 1
For a Good Time, Call…
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