For all the endless non-stop drivel about this film and its content....its really nothing

Rating: 7/10 (4 March 2015)

I had really no desire to see this. I'm a mid-30's married male and my wife hated 50 Shades (didn't even finish the first book) and she has no desire to see the movie either. I am a huge movie buff and I write reviews so for some unknown reason I felt compelled to watch this. So I did. First of all...its not that bad. It is mostly entertaining in some sort of bizarre romance sort of way. Parts of the film are so campy that its laughable but could it be any other way? The film is anything but offensive. Does it have nudity? Yes. Does it have sex scene? Yes. Is it absurdly X-Rated and shocking? No, not even close. Its completely an adult movie don't get me wrong but there were far more shocking films in the 80's and 90's with the "baby blue" films as they were once known. The bondage is fairly tame when you think about what they could have done and what it sounds like the book is like. The film is mindless drivel but its not horrible mindless drivel, its entertaining enough and I could see some people getting a kick out of it. Its being taken far too seriously and the protesters should be mindful that the more they fight back, the more people are going to be intrigued by it.
The casting is hard to explain. The constant barrage of negative comments against the two leads is not undeserved. They aren't good. In fact in the first half hour or so of the film they are no better than a B-Movie disaster flick. They are horrendous. Then they sort of grow on you in some sort of bizarre silly laughable way. I do have to disagree with many, many critics that they have no chemistry though. I think they do have some chemistry. It isn't amazing but it isn't bad either. In fact the film is made just a little better because they do sort of seem bizarrely connected. Dakota Johnson is insatiably adorable but she is also not a great strong female lead. The character of Anastasia probably sets back women's liberation by fifty years but that's not for me to debate. Johnson grows on you because she is so cute and spunky and a fish out of water so I think she fulfilled the part well enough. Jamie Dornan might be exactly what this character calls for. He seems almost monotone and stoic and bland at times, almost robotic, but is that the point? There is a whole controversy about him being emotionally messed up as to why he loves BDSM and if you want to discuss that...go for it but let's be honest, this is soft core porn not brilliant film making or literary genius. At least they try to make him a complex character. The supporting cast are all decent with no real stand out performers but they do okay. Anastasia's mother, Jennifer Ehle does a solid job as does Christian's mother played by Marcia Gay Harden.
I'm more than a little surprised that they gave the reigns of this film to a film maker with very little experience. I think it was wise of them to choose a woman as a director but I also have to give Sam Taylor-Johnson some credit because honestly the best part of this film is the directing. The script and cast and content might be more than a little campy and silly but the cinematography of the film, the bleak and grey city-scapes, flying over the countryside, the lavish offices....all are done with a great amount of artistic style. I also really actually enjoyed the soundtrack with various covers of classic songs both modern and older with some instrumental music that suited the tone of the film. The fact is that the film is not a disaster. It is absolutely NOT for everyone and if you're looking for a safe and simple romance, this isn't it but the romance isn't bad and the bondage takes a back seat to the character relationship. I would almost say (as ridiculous as it sounds) that the sex scenes just get in the way of what could have been otherwise a simple and campy little romance story. If you're against this movie, take my advice...IGNORE IT! The more people talk about it, the more it'll make. Otherwise just take it for what it is. Its hardly the worst thing I've ever seen. 7/10