A Guide to Second Date Sex

Fresh off its sold out success at The London Soho Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it was only a matter of time before A Guide to Second Date Sex was brought to the big screen. And who better to pull it off than the original writer and director herself, Rachel Hirons. 

The setup is simple. Ryan (George McKay) and Laura (Alexandra Roach) spontaneously meet in a nightclub and hit it off. Fast forward to date number two and suddenly their expectations and nerves are on a whole other level. The film follows their evening as it travels from one cringe-worthy moment to the next.

We’ve all been there. Juggling the nerves of how to act, how to dress, what and what not to say, to shave or not to shave? And on top of all this, navigating the dating world while dealing with recent heartbreak and taking advice from some not so credible friends. It’s a fresh idea that has the potential to be relatable comedy gold, but sadly Hirons’ feature debut doesn’t quite deliver the goods.

It’s evident that Hirons is attempting to capture the reality and awkwardness of early dating, and that sex is nothing like what we see in the movies. But unfortunately the comedy rarely hits the mark, and our quirky pair are just left in awkward silences rather than delivering some form of a punchline. If this were real life, there were a million and one opportunities to get away, but instead our protagonists soldier on despite the pain they’re in. 

It’s unclear what message is trying to be conveyed here. There is a twist that comes in the film’s final act that did come as a surprise – and it begged the question if the film was trying to explore themes of overcoming the past through self-forgiveness – however the twist in question acted in complete contradiction to the obvious attempts at trying to go against the cliché rom-com tropes. There is also very little development of the supporting characters, who provide nothing more than some crude one-liners.

The film is not a complete disaster, there are some chuckle-worthy moments. And there are some sweet exchanges between the pair further into the story. McKay and Roach are both loveable and have chemistry that could have worked wonders if only the script was polished just a little further. The cringe richter scale is through the roof throughout the entire runtime, and it goes without saying both actors have little boundaries – which speaks volumes of their dedication to their craft. They already have impressive back catalogues of acting work and have exciting careers ahead of them – McKay especially – who is still riding the wave of the success of 1917. However, this may be one of those notches that will slip into the abyss of their careers.

There is some quirk to Hirons’ story. It’s not a film to avoid, it has its charms but it doesn’t reach the peak that Hirons might have been aiming for. The success and acclaim of the stage play showcase her talents immensely, so here is to keeping her on our radars. 

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A Guide to Second Date Sex
In cinemas Wednesday, 12 February 2020
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