DOWN TO YOU

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 2 out of 5

Because of: sexual and drug content

Rated:

Probably the best way to summarize a film like Down to You is "a how-to" on ruining your life, wrecking your future romantic relationship with your spouse, and living the life now that isn't and never will be appropriate for a Christian teen. The film is so immoral, detrimental to spiritual health, and controversially out of whack that it plays like a bad movie on how to do everything wrong. Well, is that what the producers wanted? To point out the dangers of a drug-addicted, alcohol-infested, sexually free lifestyle? I don't think so, particularly after one has finished and the credits roll. Nope, the message here is -- live life like it's your last day on earth... with or without moral boundaries.

Still here? Well, considering that you are, let's explore the film more thoroughly from an objective perspective. (Which is difficult to do, since I've seen first-hand the effects a low moral lifestyle can have on your life.) Al is the kind of guy that everyone likes. Funny, down to earth, good-looking and witty, he has quite the odd group of friends, ranging from a porno producer with a King Lear complex to the emotionally dry Cyrus who believes love is just a hormonal imbalance. One night at a bar, Al accepts a bet from a "friend" that he can bed a selected "cutie." This turns out to be Imogen, a perky, fun-loving blonde bombshell who is seriously into art.

They don't wind up spending the night together (yet) but instead begin a serious romantic relationship, loving each moment of getting to know one another. Sadly, this relationship takes to the sheets not too long thereafter and the two enjoy a carefree lifestyle living under the same roof, which they candidly refer to as "the honeymoon days." In this perfect world, there are no relationship problems, no concerns... just beer, cake, and each other. That is, until Imogen takes off for a three month trip to France without asking him to come along.

In the time that she's gone, the two grow apart. Al doesn't like his new and improved girlfriend, who likes to kiss with her eyes open. And she thinks, in comparison to her friends in Paris, he behaves like "an old man." Their relationship seriously hits the rocks when Imogen suspects that she's pregnant. Fortunately, she isn't but this places a damper on their life together, because it has brought up the "m" word she heard several times while abroad: "marriage." As Imogen confides in the audience, she isn't ready for marriage. And she's not sure he's the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with. That bump turns into a roadblock, and the pair begin to quibble, getting short-tempered with one another until one evening at a drug-laced party both blow their tops. Imogen has a one-night stand with Al's best friend and Cyrus suddenly shows an interest in Al. There's only one place the story can go from here -- yep, you guessed it. A battle between the twosome to repair the relationship or jump ship before their love life sinks completely. Viewers along for the ride will get a spattering of language and drug addiction, as well as a heavy dose of a seriously immoral lifestyle.

The only good point in a film as seriously flawed as Down to You is that the pair are honest with another and do try to repair their broken relationship. Julia Styles, who hasn't made a decent film yet, is very good in the role; she's personable and even likable despite her character's bad choices. The dark-haired, languid Selma Blair is both disturbing, creepy, and looks seriously drawn-out half the time. There's nothing likable and/or redeeming about the film which plays off some seriously wrong ideals. Love, we are told, is nothing but a series of "tingles" that don't last.

The film is laced with sexual dialogue, partners cheating on one another, and implied sexual encounters. We see Imogen and Al fooling around in bed numerous times and hear a lot about porn tapes (we glimpse a few covers but nothing explicit). There's some innuendo and one disturbing line about bedding a sixty-year-old woman in addition to an f-word and "the finger" being used in jest. Visually the film isn't as offensive as it could have been... which is all the more disconcerting -- they were obviously aiming at all the high school kids and a few preteens by keeping it at a PG13 rating. Older kids well grounded in right and wrong are discerning enough to realize that Down to You is bad news. But younger teens less knowledgeable will get some seriously warped messages about love, sex, drinking, and Raves. What do they do when upset? They party! While there Imogen befriends a stoned musical artist, Al's friend Eddie has his nipple pierced by two scantily-clad women, and Cyrus comes on to Al in the kitchen. I'm sure by now you've got the picture. If it comes Down to You, I'd rather trust someone else any day.