Search - Skipped Parts on DVD

Underrarted Charming Gem

mobby_uk | London United Kingdom | 03/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Skipped Parts, or Wonder of Sex its UK title, is an absolutely charming gem of a movie.
I was completely engrossed by this coming of age story, that is very rewarding for the viewer, offering some good script, tight direction and wonderful acting.
The unconventional relationship between a liberated mother and her teenage son on one hand and her occasional indian lover on the other, and the unconventional friendship between her son and his 'girlfriend', discovering sex together(which results in a pregnancy), this is all filmed with such care and seeming simplicity, yet without being judgemental. This is why it works so well.
The acting is top class! Jennifer Jason Leigh proving yet again that not only she is one of the best actresses around today, but that she chooses her roles very well. Bug Hall and Mischa Barton (who again does a very good job in TV's Once and Again) are very promising talented actors.
The teenagers attitude towards sex is charmingly naive and at times funny. When Barton's character is staying at sam's place after her pregnancy (since her father did not tolerate what happened), and he offers to sleep outside on the couch, she charmingly suggests to him ina straight faced manner..sleep on the floor in case I need you!.
So Skipped Parts is a very rewarding and sadly underrated film, that well deserves to be in your collection."

A great coming of age novel. Unforgettable!

FloozyFlapper1926 | Somewhere in the 20's | 03/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great coming of age story that I have watched twice in one week since I decided to buy it on a whim. The story of Lydia and Sam and their exile to Wyoming, their unconventional relationship as mother and son is unforgettable. Lydia isn't a woman who is very good at being a mother considering she drinks quite heavily and goes home with men at the bar. When Sam meets a girl named Maurey, they both decide to start trying to figure out what sex is like. Lydia tells them how to have sex and from that point on, this movie is a strange, oddball journey. This film shows what can happen to kids who grow up too fast, but it does this in a way that is heart-warming and different than most films.I especially liked Michael Greyeyes' character, Hank Elkrunner. He plays a good guy who falls for Lydia only to have to deal with her wild ways. All of the actors in this film did a great job. And surprisingly, this film has a happy ending. All in all, a great, funny film that is sure to stay with you long after its over. Hilarious"

Read the book...

Robert W. Berg | New York, NY United States | 07/13/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie was in many ways for me a major disappointment. By itself, it is excellent, with great, oddball performances from its entire cast, and including wonderful cameo appearances by Drew Barrymore as the Dream Girl. I would have absolutely adored this genuinely bizzare but loving black comedy...if only I had not already read the book. The book by Tim Sandlin, also called "Skipped Parts" is one of the best coming-of-age stories I have ever read. It is funny, crazy, and poignant. The movie didn't capture even a tenth of the charm of the book, and also did not handle the relationship between Maurey and Sam very well. This is a result of trying to tone down what is in essence a story of two young children experimenting with sex. This made their story seem more like a by-the-books moralistic tale than the authority-be-damned, life-affirming tale that it really is. The characters in the book are understandable; the characters in the movie are understandable...only if you've previously read the book. So my advice is read the book first, and then see the movie. For a fan of the book, it contains enough great moments to make one smile. But I don't think this film will win any new fans who are not already familiar with Sandlin's work."

"Here's rule number one - you better not squirt."

K. Gittins | CA USA | 06/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Skipped Parts" takes place in 1963. It is narrated by Sam (Bug Hall), a seventh-grader, and aspiring writer. He doesn't know who his father is because his mother, Lydia (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a promiscuous lush. Sam's Grandfather sends them away, with his financial support, so he won't be embarrassed by her when he runs for Governor of South Carolina.

They end up in Wyoming, where Sam meets Maurey (Mischa Barton) during a school baseball game. They argue about Mark Twain in class. Shortly after, Maurey and her mom (Peggy Lipton) do a neighborly visit - the Welcome Wagon. Lydia is embarrassingly rude to them. Later, Sam tells his mom he thinks he's in love with Maurey cuz he can't stand her. Sam gets teased and hassled by girls in school, and also by Maurey's boyfriend, Dothan (Brad Renfro). On November 22, 1963, Kennedy is shot. Maurey is very upset and cries, and Sam consoles her. Dothan makes some racist remarks, and Maurey and Sam go to her house. In another fantasy, Sam kisses Maurey's mom. He has a resulting nocturnal emission and shows his mom. Later, Sam tells Maurey about it at the soda shop, and she talks to a waitress about sex. Maurey later shows up to "make sex" with Sam as a learning experience. They try but fail in a funny scene. Later, Lydia gives them a sex talk and advice. Maurey inevitably gets pregnant, and after some initial reluctance, Sam seems happy as a father.

The movie is well-acted by all. There is quite a bit of humor, too. The movie is R-Rated for language, which includes frank sexual talk, and sexual content. However, the sex scenes involving Sam and Maurey are tame and mostly set up by the dialog, which is quite funny. This is probably Mischa's best movie after "Lawn Dogs". Drew Barrymore has a small part in Sam's fantasies.

The movie only skims the book, which has more sex-related and bodypart-related dialog.

The DVD has a good commentary by director Tamra Davis, and a trailer."