Confessions of a Porn Addict (a movie review)

Stuck home with a cold and at the encouragement of my ex-boyfriend (who has the same sense of humor as I do), I decided to watch Confessions of a Porn Addict.

As a self-proclaimed, "porn addict" myself, I thought I might be able to relate on countless levels with the film's protagonist, Marc Tobias, played by Spencer Rice---a man whose proclivity for XXX entertainment has basically cut him off from the rest of the world.
His addiction has been a downward spiral into social reclusiveness that has cost him his relationship with Felice, played by Lindsey Connell, a grounded woman who later ends up starring in an anal flick called, "Down the Rabbit Hole."The movie centers around his attempt to win back the woman he loves and also prove to the court that has charged him with lewd and lascivious acts (for masturbating in public) that he is trying to turn his life around in an effort to avoid a prison sentence.

I will start by saying, Confessions of a Porn Addict was a great attempt at a potentially fantastic movie, but it sadly fell terribly short. And short is one word that's not synonymous with porn...nor should it ever be.

Sadly, the believable actors, the porn-veteran cameos (Rob Black being the most disturbing), the overall concept, and the excellent cinematography could not mask the poorly executed storyline. The main fault here happens with a lack of focus from the keen eye of a talented and experienced director. The superfluous garbage that was left in for slapstick effect did not work with the documentary-style realism that is prevalent through the majority of the piece. There was a moment where a transvestite dressed as Marilyn Monroe enters the scene, a scene that serves absolutely no-purpose other than for laugh effect and the viewer is left thinking...am I missing something or did the guys producing this just jump the shark in the middle of their own project?

One might think that a storyline as compelling as PORN ADDICTION, could hold a viewer's attention for the short 85 minute running time, but alas, I was rather bored midway through. Confessions could have been a home-run had they shaved off 20 minutes and kept true to the overall through-line of the story (one man's attempt to get back the life he lost because of porn).

What started off as an engaging, comical approach to a very serious issue (sex addiction), became like lockjaw...and I was almost in pain waiting for the climax (which, sadly...never came).

It comes as no surprise that the weak link (the editor and the director) is actually the same person, Duncan Christie. Christie has a solid history working as an editor and from an aesthetic perspective, he succeeds in Confessions, but without a specific focus, the execution of the film fails.

Regardless, the film is worth a watch. You'll certainly be entertained by some parts...but keep in mind that this movie was a shower, not a grower--it had heaps of potential, but that potential is never fully realized..

Tis a shame...there is nothing worse than expecting mindblowing and getting mediocre.