Good Luck To You, Leo Grande review: A sex comedy that is both liberating and hugely moving 0 205

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE

(15) 97mins

★★★★★

SEX with a stranger can be awkward. But what is it like when you’ve paid that stranger?

This is something comedian Katy Brand explores in the film she has written about the delicate transaction of buying sex.

AlamyEmma Thompson stars in Good Luck To You, Leo Grande as a widow who hires a male prostitute (Daryl McCormack) to help her finally explore her sexuality[/caption]

We are invited to peep behind the velvet curtains of a plush hotel room where nervous widow Nancy (Emma Thompson) has hired a male prostitute, Leo (Daryl McCormack) to help her finally explore her sexuality.

Nancy is a pragmatic RE teacher, wife, mother and daughter.

During all these years of duty, she has barely lived a sex life at all, despite being married to a man who “died prematurely more than 30 years ago.”

Tragically, she’s never had an orgasm — so this is her time to explore.

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But she is lacking confidence and feels very uncertain about her rash decision to pay Leo for sex.

And the dreamy-eyed, silky-voiced Irishman is the perfect antidote to her concerns.

Their pre-coital conversation is hilarious, with Nancy sharing her insecurities and self-doubt about feeling like a dirty old woman.

Looking at Leo, who is 30 years her junior she says: “I’m a pervert — I feel like Rolf Harris.”

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“Who’s Rolf Harris?” the young man replies.

This film is mostly a comedy, but littered throughout the many laugh-out-loud moments is something deeply tragic and heart-wrenchingly sad.

While laughing about how bad her husband was in bed — “he would put his pyjamas on afterwards and would go straight to sleep” — she then admits the only time she ever felt lust in her life was towards a waiter on a family holiday in Greece as a teenager.

The tears start to flow as she recounts the memory, and her pain and longing for more feel real.

It is almost entirely a two-character piece set in a hotel room over several weeks, but director Sophie Hyde never makes it feel claustrophobic or drab.

It’s a room full of excitement, expectation and experiments.

It’s difficult to believe that the sexy, impossibly confident Emma Thompson could be believable as a downtrodden RE teacher who has never come near the big O.

But she is. Totally and utterly convincing.

Her bold and beautiful nude scenes should be applauded extra hard.

As for McCormack as the self-assured but clearly damaged Leo, his fine performance stands up to the award-winning Thompson and will, I don’t doubt, have many middle-aged women googling “male escorts in my area”.

This sexy, clever and moving film is what Hollywood has been missing for so long.

And it feels hugely liberating to see it on the big screen.

LIGHTYEAR

(PG) 97mins

★★★☆☆

BUZZ is back in this new offering from Pixar, all about where the legendary character came from.

It focuses on the movie that Toy Story’s Andy – the beloved owner of Buzz, Woody and crew – fell in love with and the reason he was desperate to own a Lightyear.

AlamyLightyear focuses on the movie Toy Story’s Andy[/caption]

Buzz (Chris Evans) has spent years trying to return home – and encountered many problems along the way, mostly created by enemy Zurg (James Brolin) who wants to steal Buzz’s fuel source.

Something we’ll all understand with the current petrol prices.

This is a sci-fi adventure rather than a heart-warming Pixar film.

It even has a few nods to Star Wars for super fans.

Being well-trained in the world of Marvel, Evans puts in a solid shift as a superhero.

But it’s his sidekick and feline friend, Sox (Peter Sohn) who steals the show.

The script is patchy and not engaging in parts – and the chase sequences become relentlessly confusing.

Lightyear won’t go down in the Pixar hall of fame like Toy Story 2, Up and Inside Out – instead settling alongside Monsters University.

A big blast, but boy did I miss Woody.

CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH

(15) 109mins

★★☆☆☆

COOPER RAIFF writes, directs and takes the lead in this saccharine twenty-something tale, which tries really hard to make you feel good, but ends up being mostly mawkish.

Raiff is 22-year-old Andrew, who has just graduated from college and is struggling to get on the career ladder.

AlamyCha Cha Real Smooth tries really hard to make you feel good, but ends up being mostly mawkish[/caption]

Back where he grew up in New Jersey he’s eager but directionless, living with his mum (Leslie Mann) and her partner, working shifts at food outlet Meat World and saving up to visit Barcelona.

When a job opportunity falls into his lap he finds himself working as the local Bar Mitzvah party starter where he meets Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic teenage daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt).

Andrew forms a bond with Lola and senses a Mrs Robinson-style spark with the older Domino, but although he thinks she might be his soulmate, Domino is already engaged to another man.

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There are manufactured life-affirming moments aplenty, but everything feels too contrived and constantly teeters over into twee territory, ultimately leaving this Cha Cha out of step.

  • In cinemas and Apple TV

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Supporting Ukraine Through Purchasing Power: The Initiatives Keeping the Country’s Economy Afloat 0 173

Amidst the Russian invasion, Ukrainian creatives are launching initiatives to keep the country’s economy going by harnessing consumer power. Spend With Ukraine is one such online resource that connects consumers to Ukraine-based businesses across various industries, while the Ukrainian Emergency Art Fund allows for donations to support artists. Co-founder of Spend With Ukraine, Andrey Klen, emphasizes the importance of supporting the Ukrainian economy through purchasing decisions. He states, “Armies win battles, but economies win wars.”

Ukrainian brands are still operating and many are donating a portion of their sales to different needs to support the country. To sustain interest in supporting Ukraine through spending, increasing the visibility of these initiatives is key. As Klen says, “We want it to blow out.” These efforts not only help Ukrainian creatives but also support existing industries and provide a sense of normality in these difficult times.

Ensuring Safety and Consent in the Adult Film Industry: A Vital Discussion 0 258

One topic that may be of interest to readers in the adult film industry is the topic of workplace safety and consent.

The adult film industry, like any other industry, has a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of its workers. This includes providing a safe working environment, protecting workers from physical and emotional harm, and ensuring that all acts are consensual. However, the nature of the adult film industry can make it difficult to ensure that these standards are met. Actors and actresses may feel pressure to perform acts that they are not comfortable with, and there have been instances of abuse and exploitation in the industry.

To address these issues, it is essential for the industry to have clear guidelines and policies in place to protect the rights and safety of workers. This includes providing education and resources for performers, implementing strict consent protocols, and holding producers and directors accountable for ensuring a safe working environment.

Another important aspect of this topic is the importance of consent in adult film. Consent is a crucial aspect of any sexual encounter and must be obtained freely, enthusiastically, and without coercion. In the adult film industry, where performers are engaging in sexual acts on camera, it is especially important that consent is explicitly obtained and respected. This can be achieved through the use of consent forms and communication between performers before and during filming.

By discussing these topics, the industry can work towards creating a safer and more respectful environment for all performers and ensure that the rights and well-being of workers are protected.

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