Absurdities alternate with exploitative sex scenes in this
screen version of the third novel in E.L. James' tawdry trilogy. With their
sadomasochistic relationship now solemnized by marriage, a fabulously wealthy,
controlling tycoon (Jamie Dornan) and his mousy book editor of a bride (Dakota
Johnson) look forward to a life of private jets, sleek yachts and kinky
carryings-on in their penthouse's well-equipped dungeon. But one of her former
colleagues (Eric Johnson) is stalking the happy couple, and his aim is not to
throw rice on them. Patrons unwise enough to shell out good money for this
campy nonsense will get a facial work out as they roll their eyes, drop their
jaws and gurgle derisively at the ineptness of it all. While some late plot
developments arguably introduce a pro-life tone to the proceedings, this can
hardly make up for the twisted view of human sexuality that pervades director
James Foley's piece of soft-corn porn tricked out as mainstream entertainment.
Watch out for: Excessive
sexual content, including benignly viewed perverse activity, graphic marital
intercourse and much upper female and rear nudity, some gunplay and nonlethal
violence, several uses of profanity, at least one milder oath, about a
half-dozen rough and numerous crude terms, an obscene gesture.
Rated: O, morally offensive;
MPAA: R
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2018