The genre of crude comedy is not inherently bad. Sometimes, this type of humor can be a powerful tool to address important and hard-to-digest topics through farce and exaggeration. However, “Many More Ants Between the Legs” fails to embrace this potential. The director, Granz Henman, forgets that the humor in such works does not stem from grotesqueness or shock value alone but from the creators’ ability to find honesty and connect with the audience amidst the absurd.
The Storyline
“Many More Ants Between the Legs” revolves around Charly (played by Tobias Schäfer) and Paula (played by Cosima Henman), who are best friends in their final year of high school and both happen to be virgins. One day, they are struck by lightning, leaving them apparently unscathed, except for one detail: the next morning, their genitals start talking, demanding that they have sex as soon as possible. This urgency, mixed with the embarrassment of adolescence, drives them further apart. Will their sexual awakening spell the end of their friendship?
Addressing Important Themes
The film touches on several interesting themes, particularly misogyny and double standards regarding sexuality. When Charly gets an erection in the middle of an auditorium, he becomes the most popular guy, praised by his peers for being brave. This is something all men experience but feel ashamed to admit. However, when Paula starts dressing more provocatively and going on dates, rumors quickly spread that she is a prostitute sleeping with everyone in school. The movie also conveys a message about breaking the taboo around sexuality and discouraging body shaming. The second half, in particular, flows smoothly and is quite enjoyable, thanks to the dynamic between the two main characters.
Chaotic Tone and Tasteless Jokes
Unfortunately, these positive aspects do not compensate for the chaotic tone and tasteless jokes in the first half of the unnecessarily long one hour and forty-minute film. The screenplay struggles to find a direction for its wild premise and focuses too much on Charly. This results in several uncomfortable interactions and sexist remarks from his penis. While the intention may be to contrast the character’s limited social skills with his unrestrained sexual desires, the execution becomes excessively awkward, especially since Paula’s vagina never makes half the degrading comments its male counterpart does.
Failed Attempts at Humor
Furthermore, the movie includes several jokes that do not evoke laughter but rather embarrassment and disgust. The pinnacle of this is a scene involving a dog consuming one of the character’s semen and then licking his mouth without him noticing. It is possible to successfully create grotesque yet intelligent teenage comedies, as demonstrated by films like “Easy A,” “Booksmart,” “Good Boys,” and even “Neighbors 2.” However, “Many More Ants Between the Legs” seems to draw more inspiration from “American Pie,” “The Hangover,” or “Eurotrip” – products that were popular in their time but whose humor has not aged well due to their sexism, speciesism, and outdated stereotypes.
Lack of Originality and Visual Appeal
Apart from its intriguing premise, the movie fails to distinguish itself from other teenage comedies on Netflix. The cinematography is flat, lacking any visually or sonically distinctive elements, and it includes several clichés, such as the typical prom scene with its corresponding inspirational speech.
Final Verdict
Although “Many More Ants Between the Legs” offers good intentions and valuable contributions, the convoluted journey to reach them is not worth the while. Netflix’s catalog provides much better options for those seeking stories about teenagers discovering themselves.
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