Second Nature (2016) Reviews

• Woman-Up

  dennis_chiu12016-11-11

  "Second Nature" demonstrates how sexism wears poorly on men and women. In his first feature length film, co-writer/director Michael Cross creates a gender equity fable where women have the power that men have in society today. (This film premiered at the Napa Valley Film Festival only three days after Donald Trump bested Hillary Clinton for President of the United States, despite Trump's comments denigrating women on "Access Hollywood" and in speeches, interviews, debates, and tweets.) Written before the Trump election, this film is set in small town America and depicts Amanda Maxwell, played by Collette Wolfe ("Interstellar"; "Hot Tub Time Machine"), running for mayor against Bret Johnson, played by Sam Huntington ("Superman Returns"; "Being Human"; "Sully"). Using the plot device of a magic mirror, Amanda and Bret are transported to a female dominated world where people say things like "woman-up" instead of "man-up," and a Hooters-like restaurant is now called "Peckers" where beefcake men must wear skimpy uniforms and are hit on constantly. Writers J.C. Ford, Edi Zanidache, and Mr. Cross choose to depict daily displays of gender inequity through comedy, as opposed to taking on the subject from a larger perspective with a mix of more drama. This is somewhat effective but made the level of comment on society one note. There are so many male-female power dynamic clichés that could be used that I sometimes wondered how they decided to depict some and not others. Mr. Huntington turns in an appealing performance never overacting as a sexist pig at the beginning of the film, only just a regular straight guy who accepts the male dominated society in which he was born. Ms. Wolfe also never portrays her character as a helpless female, but as a straight woman competing against men in a male dominated world. While I think this film might have been better as a dramedy, as opposed to straight comedy, "Second Nature" works as a light hearted send up of gender roles in a nation where some need to be reminded. Due to the timeliness of the subject matter, I highly recommend this film for film festival competition. If I was still writing script coverages for a film studio, I would recommend this film be picked up for distribution in the U.S. for streaming services and a limited release in theaters in urban and suburban centers where Hillary Clinton was the top candidate, because of the timeliness of the subject matter.

• This movie sucks big time

  kimmishy52019-04-20

  I say who would like this dumb movie! Full of idiots stereotypes and lousy acting

• An excellent date night flick.

  MartinHafer2017-08-25

  "Second Nature" is a cute little film about role reversals…a subject which has been tackled quite a few times before but never quite like this one. Amanda (Collette Wolfe) is a lady who wants to run for mayor of Louisburg, now that a special election has been announced. However, Bret (Sam Huntington) seems like a shoe-in. After all, politics in Louisburg seems like an old boys' network where women aren't taken very seriously. She knows she could do a great job…if she only got the chance. Around this same time, her grandmother gives her what she claims is a magic mirror…and magic it certainly turns out to be! When Amanda and Bret are later arguing about the unfairness of male and female roles, they inadvertently use the mirror to change things….to make it a world where women are like men and vice-versa. As for Amanda, she really likes this new world. While the folks in town look like the same old folks she's known her whole life, they certainly don't act like them. In Ellenburg, women are in charge and men are often just seen as sex objects and bimbos. Because of this, it seems certain that Amanda will win the election and life just seems easier for her thanks to the mirror. At the same time, however, Bret is miserable. Women don't take him seriously and they spend so much of the time objectifying him and the other men! The problem is to return to their old lives, if it's even possible, they both need to find the mirror and unwish the wish….but the mirror has disappeared and Amanda is just too darned happy in this new life! The film has a lot of interesting things to say about men and women and couples no doubt will enjoy watching the film and talking about it afterwards (yes, men….talk to your partner…it's a good thing!). The acting is very nice (particularly by Wolfe) and it's a light, enjoyable little comedy that made me smile. My only reservation is that at times the film is a bit too broad in how they portray the difference between the sexes and it is far from subtle….whether in real life or the mirror universe. Overall, despite this minor problem, a clever and fun film that is hard not to like.

• What if women started acting like men? Terrifying.

  peterp-450-2987162017-10-12

  "Behind every great woman, there is a man … staring at her ass." Remember Mel Gibson in "What women want" where you could see him experimenting with cosmetics and nylons just so he could relate to the female emotional landscape? I admit it. I always watch this movie when I come across it on a TV-channel. I guess it's one of my guilty pleasure. It's not entirely identical to the concept of "Second nature", but the film also tries to show how different women and men think about certain things. Mel Gibson had the privilege in this movie to capture the thoughts of women surrounding him and use it to his advantage. Well, maybe it was the concept that attracted me and the usefulness I saw in it as a man. Or perhaps it was due to the presence of the attractive actress Helen Hunt. In "Second nature", it's a complete community where the personalities of women and men are being exchanged. Except the main players. They are being spared and retain their typical characteristics. What makes for hilarious conditions again. At least that should be the intention. However, there's not much hilarity to be seen in this "Switch"-like pseudo comedy. Amanda (Collette Wolfe) tells her grandmother Estelle (Carolyn Cox) about the sexist behavior of her boss Bret (Sam Huntington) and the way she's being judged by the male community. Estelle knows a redeeming idea. Before you know it the two are digging for a time capsule in a meadow (Who came with that idea?). To Amanda's astonishment the capsule contains, besides a giant dildo (uncontrolable laughter), a magic mirror that apparently could change her life. Don't expect a detailed explanation about this. No clue how Amanda's in-earlier-days-sexually-highly-active grandmother got it and what happened to her. Better this way. Otherwise the movie would take even longer. When the ruling mayor subsequently drives of a rock (fellatio-wise), Bret and Amanda are candidates for the vacant position. Bret has the most chance of getting this privileged position as he, as future mayor, will make sure that Louisburg will have plenty of strip bars and bars where lascivious, big-breasted servants serve the always horny male population. While Amanda is being laughed at because of her safety-suggestions and other less impressive slogans. Until the darned mirror shows its force at a political meeting (apparently Amanda carries this antique trinket with her everywhere) and suddenly the chances of Amanda look quite promising. The magic mirror causes women to behave like men. While men suddenly inherit the characteristics of the women. What follows is a string of faint allusions to the exchange of male and female characteristics. Men are insecure, sensitive people who aren't afraid of using make-up now and then and who are being harassed by men-hungry women. And those women are suddenly individuals who are taking a leak while standing upright, make lewd, sexist remarks and as street workers make a pass at guys who walk by (while standing next to a warning sign that says "Caution: woman-hole!". How subtle). The used humor isn't really rude, but after a while you know which message they are trying to convey. Indeed, it's true that women are treated unfriendly by society. Their opinion isn't asked for sometimes. Or even heard to. And sometimes they are simply ignored. On the other hand, I feel a little bit insulted because it's as if all men are sexist, butt slapping, unhygienic pigs whose brain is in their pants and who treat women disrespectful. Sorry, but I don't think I match that profile. Is it really such a bad movie? No, I wouldn't call it bad. Maybe the movie isn't really funny (maybe I don't have a sense of humor), but the interaction between Collette Wolfe and Sam Huntington felt natural and was amusing. It's because of their enthusiasm that I kept watching. And some situations were ludicrous because of the recognisability. Like the toilet scene, for example. And in retrospect, the transformation of Dex Gamble (Riley Shanahan) was also quite funny in a certain way. Well, I'm sure if I keep thinking about it, I'm going to say it's a fun movie. Is it possible that the small amount of female hormones in my body, cause this indecision? One advice, watch it yourself and decide on your own! More reviews here : http://movie-freak.be

• ~ Sublime Polarity ~

  ojulie2017-10-08

  Loved the reverse-play on the gender axis that the "magic" mirror allowed...if only for a few days. Carolyn Cox was super hilarious in the rural shot-gun toting Grandmother role. Beautiful to see some older 1890's architecture mixed in with newer in the small town setting. The background rolling eastern-Cascade sagebrush landscape was visually pleasing. Male/female, east/west, young/old...sublime polarity throughout.