This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
You put up with a lot of raunch, and a rough beginning, to get to the fun in the sex comedy "For a Good Time, Call … ."
Mousy Lauren (played by Lauren Anne Miller) gets dumped by her boring boyfriend, just as brassy Katie (Ari Graynor) faces eviction. Flaming-gay mutual friend Jesse (Justin Long) urges them to become roommates, despite the fact they hate each other.
Lauren learns Katie's big money-making secret: She takes phone-sex calls. Lauren figures out Katie would make more money if she ran her own service. Eventually, Lauren starts taking calls, too, and the girl-power bonding begins.
The script, by Miller and Katie Anne Naylon, wallows in verbal vulgarity and some not-too-funny cameos before settling into a charming odd-couple friendship comedy.
That's where rookie director Jamie Travis unleashes his secret weapon: Graynor, who confidently graduates from best-friend roles ("Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist," "Celeste & Jesse Forever") to a witty, wise-cracking and hilariously sexy leading lady.
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'For a Good Time, Call...'
Opens Friday, Sept. 14, at the Broadway Centre Cinemas; rated PG-13 for violence and some scary images; 95 minutes. For more movie reviews, visit nowsaltlake.com/movies.