Sex comedies are often smutty, juvenile affairs but Crazy Sex manages to sidestep such traps with surprising skill. Both stories in this two-part anthology are elaborate affairs, with clever scripts that layer their lusty storylines with interesting details (the crime-world milieu of the first, the brothel training and exploration of old-world 'marital aids' in the second) and a theme of duplicity that is mirrored in each tale. Li Han-hsiang helms the stories in an elegant manner, using a prowling camera to explore lavish sets and setting the mood with costumes and sets that accentuate the erotic tone of each story. Best of all, the cast includes some of the sexiest Shaw Brothers starlets: Shirley Yu is alluring as an apparent victim who is revealed to have an agenda and Chen Ping shines in dual roles as a frumpy mobster's wife (in the first tale) and a seasoned brothel girl (in the second). In short, Crazy Sex is the rare sex comedy that manages to deliver on both fronts and its artful approach makes it worth a look for the adventurous foreign film fan.
by Donald Guarisco
review
