Sex and Death 101 DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Romantic Comedy Starring Simon Baker as Reluctant Womanizer Arrives on DVD

Roderick Blank (Simon Baker) never expected to settle down. The confirmed bachelor had been content to parlay his good looks into a neverending string of sexual conquests. But that was before he fell in love with Fiona (Julie Bowen), a beauty for whom he’s willing to end his career as a player.
Then, just when they’re on the verge of marital bliss and set to tie the knot in a week, Rod receives a mysterious email containing a chronological list of the 101 names of every female he has ever or will sleep with.
Curious, he decides to postpone the wedding, sensing that otherwise he might be cheat on his bride with 72 different strangers. And sure enough, he suddenly finds himself embarking on a dizzying string of one-night stands.
Warning, this isn’t just one of those predictable romantic comedies where the guy ride off into the sunset with the girl who was meant for him all along. For writer/director Daniel Waters (Happy Campers) has a trick up his sleeve in the form of a fetching femme fatale who goes by the alias Death Nell (Winona Ryder).
The plot thickens when this self-appointed vigilante starts roaming around town seducing and slaying known womanizers. What Rod doesn’t know is that she is somewhere on his list of upcoming conquests, but not under her nickname. So the question becomes, will he cross paths with this sadistic serial killer while working his way towards number 101, or will he abandon his hedonistic indulgence and return to Fiona before disaster strikes?
That is the burning question threaded through Sex and Death 101, a kinky dramedy that is every bit as eerily chilling as it is irreverently funny. A female empowerment fantasy where a latter-day Casanova meets his match in the reincarnation of Lorena Bobbitt.

Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated R for profanity and graphic sexuality.
Running time: 117 minutes
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
DVD Extras: Audio commentary with writer/director Daniel Waters, “Behind-the scenes” featurette, and a theatrical trailer.