I went to see Fifty Shades of Gray this weekend having smartly avoided going to it over Valentine’s Day weekend and then this weekend in between bouts of snowfall.
So is Fifty Shades the movie any good? Well, from a technical side, it eats the poorly written book alive. It’s a well produced, handsome-looking movie. Automatically better than the book. Except, really, it’s not as good as the book where it counts. The movie makes the guy – Christian Gray – to be far less of a giant domineering asshat than the book. Maybe that’s just me as a heterosexual dude talking, but there was nothing attractive about the relationship or character in the book and I saw the story as a woman trying to retain her ego in a messed up relationship. The movie tones down how domineering he was and how disgusted and freaked out about his weird BDSM proclivities she was.
It’s also not as dirty as the book… though it does get away with as much nudity and sex as it can and still land an R rating (a lot more than your average R rated American movie). I didn’t find it all that erotic… though your results may vary. They certainly toned down both the amount of “traditional” sex and the BDSM… including the final straw moment which was super tame in comparison and kind of bombed the ending.
I’m not sure what else there is to say? It’s a romantic drama between an “average” girl and a super rich dude who wants to do things with her she’s not comfortable with. Can she change him or will she succumb to his manipulations and sign his weirdo BDSM contract? Will she be a “submissive” to his “dominant”? Etc. It’s nothing but a romantic drama for two hours without external threats. I grew bored… perhaps I’m not the target audience.
Dakota Johnson (daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson) is quite good in her part but Jamie Dornan (some random dude) seems miscast and isn’t very good.
You know if you’re gonna see it now or later in the safety of your own home or not at all. It’s not a train-wreck of a movie – it’s decently acted and well produced and attractive looking flick. Not much story… but that’s not even the point.
Score: 72