Road trip to brothel is hilarious
YOU’RE going to have to overcome your prejudices for Come As You Are.
It doesn’t sound that promising – three disabled blokes go on a road trip to a brothel to lose their virginity.
Is it going to be one of those films? Get over yourself – this is very, very funny.
OK, there may be a hint of a profound message peeking out here and there. And you will probably shed a tear or two before the end.
But Come As You Are is not here to preach. Hallelujah for that! It is, first and foremost, a comedy that makes you laugh out loud, long and often.
The credit for this goes to the brilliant ensemble cast.
Grant Rosenmeyer (The
Royal Tenenbaums) is
Scotty, whose genetic illness has left him paralysed from the neck down. Just about the only parts that work for him now are his mouth and his genitalia.
Hayden Szeto is moody Matt, the newcomer to the therapy centre. A former athlete, now also in a wheelchair, he hides a tragic secret.
Completing the team is Ravi Patel as the near-blind Mo. On the bus he compliments a passenger for her hair. “Thanks, man,” says the burly biker type. You get the idea.
They have one other thing in common, apart from their disabilities. They are all virgins.
The road trip comes about when they hear of a brothel which specialises in helping men with predicaments like theirs. It’s also a break for freedom from their overbearing parents. Their driver is Sam (Gabourey Sidibe, best known for Precious), who takes no prisoners. She is happy to help after hearing of their quest and leads the way across America, with the lads’ mums and dads always a step behind. Amazingly, this is based on a true story, from the experiences of Leeds-based lad Asta Philpot and his struggles to find a sex life. The film is also a remake of Belgian flick Hasta La Vista. Just as surprisingly, none of the lead actors is actually disabled. The acting is impeccable and superbly corralled by director Richard Wong. It’s the sort of movie where everyone talks over each other, yet the zingers hit home every time.
I’m looking forward to watching it a second time to catch the lines I missed and to revel in the comic timing. And don’t worry – the humour may be broad at times, but it’s never mucky. It’s not American Pie.
In the end, we see through the physical problems of the trio. They’re normal, just differently abled. I heartily recommend this one. You’ll be glad you didn’t pass by these guys because they are people with disabilities. Now, how do I get a certain Nirvana song out of my head? DENIS MANN