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Parodying educational films of the 1950s, this satiric comedy presents a warning about the dangers of self-abuse as we learn the sad story of Lou (Lou Romano), a quiet teenager who is addicted to masturbation. Lou has always been shy around girls, and even his father (also played by Romano) thinks something is wrong since his boy has never been on a date. Lou has a crush on Margaret (Katheryn Cain), and at the urging of his father Lou gathers his courage and asks her out on a date. Margaret agrees, and soon the two are seeing each other on a regular basis, but when she decides it's time for Lou to move to second base, he succumbs to the Sin of Onan and is caught in the act by police. Having brought shame to himself, his family, and his girl, Lou is sent to a medical facility, the Johnson Clinic, to be treated for his malady; there, Lou meets Rebecca (Michelle Maaske), a girl with a problem not unlike his own. The Trouble With Lou was shown at the 2001 Slamdance Film Festival, where it received the MovieMaker Breakthrough Award.