by Jen McNeely
I sat down with Amanda Crew, star of the new dirty teen flick SEX DRIVE, and over lattes at the Intercontinental Hotel in Yorkville discussed themes of confidence, cock and sagging ball sacs. Just like that favourite scene in American Pie (ahem -getting caught with your pants down in some deep and delicious stove top goodness) Sex Drive is likewise a film that is perfectly perverse for those frustrated teen years when boys wake up in icky white puddles of cum stained sheets and dry humping for horny girls is wetter than it will ever be.

Hailing from the small town of Langley BC, twenty-three year old Amanda Crew had a culture shock moving to LA, for instance she confused throngs of orthodox Jews for downtown Amish and wondered where their horses were.(??!!) That said, her naivete did not expand to the subject of sex. She confirms she’s very comfortable talking about dick – giddy up. This is important – as one would have to be at ease with this topic to play the role of Felicia in Sex Drive; girl next door dealing with a series of penis related surprises like old men watching TV with their balls hanging out and coming to the rescue of an enormous donut with a giant dildo stuck to his frosting. You know; the usual.
Moving away from cock n’ balls, I asked a more serious question, “What do you think the toughest thing is about being a teen?” INTENSE.

”Oh God, everything. I hated my teens, I really did. I feel bad for people in high school. It’s rough.”

This then turned to a focus on my spectacles. “You know, those glasses are really cool, they have personality and style. If you wore those in the tenth grade, everyone would make fun of you.”

I had a brief flashback to being in grade ten. What was cool back then anyway? Oh yeah…getting drunk in a park and barfing on my own clothes. Hard core. Yes, the glasses would not have been nearly hip enough for my rage fueled angst, but puke stained converse certainly were. Teens are fucked and Sex Drive does a good job at conveying the half cooked brain of hormone bubbling randy youth.

That said, it comes as no surprise that Director, Sean Anders, took several cues from legendary eighties teen film master John Hughes (Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink) to help depict this somewhat tormented stage in life. As a result the characters in Sex Drive feel more real than blockbuster hits Clueless or Mean Girls, whose bitchy stereotypes are over the top. Although infectious, the roles are not really identifiable – unless you really are a dumb two-dimensional cheerleading bitch…it happens but not as often as the pimply, anxiety wracked masturbating addict.

I quite enjoyed the over confident, and overweight, nympho character Lance, played by Clark Duke – a mix of Corey Feldman and Jack Black, and appreciated the awkwardness of shy guy Ian, Josh Zuckerman, willing to do just about anything to lose it. Amanda’s character, Felicia, reminded me of a time when chasing the ‘bad boy’ was top priority and I was in perpetual flux over whether to play the part of tom boy buddy or hot-to-trot girlfriend. However, echoing Jessi’s sentiments from The Hills After Show, I was riled by the character of Rex, older brother to Ian who is – well, quite simply a homosexual hating bigot. Although, truth be told attending the 10AM press screening prompted me to cough, not scoff, up my coffee in raucous laughter.

Amanda Crew was a pleasure to chat with. I was dazzled by her good looks and enjoyed bantering about the filthy hanging testes of older men. Suck on that Tara Reid! You and your disturbing fake tits have been replaced by a new teen idol, she’s a down to earth Canadian, who although admits to being incredibly self conscious in high school – will now ramble on about whatever is on her mind now with ease, confidently injecting uncensored and ridiculous impure thoughts. Off-the-cuff, down home and dirty – just the way we like it.