This was an unexpected pleasurable DVD find, made possible by the usually-reliable "two thumbs up" notice on the front cover. I don't think this movie got much notice when it was first released, which figures: it is quirky and full of great dialogue, but not much sex or violence (lots of talk about sex--little explicit action). Roger is an advertising executive who, not surprisingly, has a way with words, and a way of using words to seduce women. The only problem is that he falls prey to his own bullshit and can't separate his malarkey from his real self--assuming he could ever distinguish the two. Hence, the "dodger" side to Roger, for he is dodging life while seeming to embrace it.
We all know people like Roger, and at times we all are like Roger: too clever for words, with precious little substance supporting the seeming. Nevertheless, Roger's seeming can be highly entertaining. The very first scene is worth the DVD rental price, where Roger holds forth, cigarette and drink in hand, with his work buddies (and boss/lover) at a restaurant, or bar. His riff on why men are headed for the evolutionary trash heap, driven there by the availability of artificial insemination, is a wonder to behold, and quite persuasive, actually. Roger theorizes that women really only need men to do the heavy lifting, and opening of stuck bottle caps. Once robots are able to fill the strong man role, and artificial insemination fills the procreative role, what is there left for men to do? Start wars? Rape the environment? Women can do without that, easily.
Most of the movie is light and funny, especially after Roger starts giving his nephew "women lessons"--both conceptual and hands-on, literally. But it enters the dark side near the end, only to rebound, thankfully, before the closing credits. So don't give up on it when you get to the two guys rolling around on trash bags in a dirty dark alley part. That is a jarring serious interlude, but it passes fairly quickly.
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