How to Have Sex: A Sobering Plunge into Youth's Turbulent Waters
Molly Manning Walker’s ‘How to Have Sex’ isn’t a raucous spring break romp, but it is — and this is what matters — an exuberant, unfiltered examination of youth, desire and consent that feels as if it has put you through the wringer. Twice.
The story unfolds during Tara’s (Mia McKenna-Bruce) last summer with her friends Skye (Lara Peake) and Em (Enva Lewis) before college in Crete. As a virgin, she is determined to change that during their sun-soaked getaway. But as neon lights blur and drinks flow, so do her expectations – violently – clash with reality.
Walker takes a naturalistic approach, forgoing the glossy shine of many teen comedies in favor of something more authentic and gritty. The camera shakes quite frequently like Tara herself becomes increasingly disoriented amidst poolside flirtations charged by hormones or throbbing nightclubs on hormones.
This film belongs to McKenna-Bruce who gives such an incredible performance as Tara that it could be seen as the anchor of this entire movie. Even without speaking words; just by being present silently; whenever she looks up at someone else from beneath those heavy lashes which say so much about societal pressures and personal desires within young women's minds struggling to find some kind of peace or understanding between them all-- I mean dang! That girl acts her heart out here. Supporting actors also come strong like Badger played by Shaun Thomas who will surprise viewers with how sweet he can get once given chance but no role was more complex than Skye taken on by Lara Peake whose character sometimes proved frustrating due mainly towards neediness around others while still having many layers themselves hidden underneath surface-level interactions shared among friends living together at same time somewhere far away where nobody knows anybody except themselves even better than anyone else ever could hope know too much about one another let alone anyone outside ever even having chance meet let alone see or hear anything related to such things like this you know so yeah it was complicated but not as frustrating least some other parts that were shown during entire storyline whatever because what matters most here are those subtle jabs dropped between Tara and Skye throughout their relationship -- wow!
Well, “How to Have Sex” does them all justice when we talk about teenage friendships being portrayed realistically enough considering everything else happening around them which has been said over again before by people who knew less than nothing except maybe didn't care much either way until now besides themselves when they finally realized exactly what had happened in retrospect itself. It's just too bad nobody else caught onto Walker’s genius early enough.
Consent is also explored with great sensitivity throughout this film where instead of having to spell everything out for viewers; Molly lets situations play themselves out organically so audience members can come up with own conclusions about how each scenario should have been handled if anything at all since these moments usually lead towards more powerfully unsettling sensations within person watching movie like myself right now even though sometimes still left wanting somewhere down line somewhere near middle part especially where pacing could become uneven like my emotions while sitting through some scenes only served adding fuel emotional fire storm brewing deep inside already burnt umber so rest assured there will be no easy answers provided nor neatly wrapped packages containing storylines that make sense on surface level alone given complexities involved here but rather an opportunity presented before us ask questions ourselves regarding such matters concerning human beings ability understand one another fully within context surrounding coming age affairs involving sexuality consent education among other things being dealt currently around world today whenever possible although certain movies might not always offer comfortable truths either reality-checks into our lives despite painful necessary realizations which must take place sooner or later oh well guess life isn’t fair is it? What can be done then? How should anyone react faced something like this then huh? The answer may surprise you!