Home New Productions Library Markets Distribution News About Contact

‘Yes, God, Yes’ Review: Sin and Sensuality

July 23, 2020


In the masturbation comedy “Yes, God, Yes” — a title that begs for an exclamation point — Alice (Natalia Dyer), a 16-year-old virgin and naïve Catholic high schooler, embarks on the road to solitary orgasm with more persistence than luck.

Primed by multiple VHS viewings of the sex scene in “Titanic,” Alice is experiencing urges she’s unsure how to satisfy. Experiments with a vibrating cellphone and an inadvertent dip into a cheesy AOL chat room (the movie’s setting is the early aughts) are frustratingly interrupted. At school, she’s plagued by a nasty rumor of her involvement in a mystifying sex act, and a faculty that aggressively polices impure thoughts. And in morality class, Father Murphy (Timothy Simons) unhelpfully compares sexual arousal to the workings of kitchen appliances.

Slight and sweet, and without much of an edge, “Yes, God, Yes” uses the pursuit of climax as an opportunity to take a gentle dig at religious humbug and holier-than-thou hypocrisy. At a lakeside faith retreat — recalling the anti-gay conversion therapy camp in Jamie Babbit’s 2000 comedy, “But I’m a Cheerleader” — glimpses of fellatio and furtive onanism lurk alongside the singalongs. Later, a scene in a lesbian bar (featuring a wonderful Susan Blackwell) provides a jolt of secular common sense.

By Jeannette Catsoulis

Other News

All News

Toronto First Look at Time Travel Romance ‘Fate’ With Harvey Keitel and Faye Dunaway

September 8, 2024

Read More

Simon West’s ‘Old Guy’ to World Premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival

September 3, 2024

Read More

First Look at TIFF Sales Crime Thriller ‘Wardriver’ Starring Dane DeHaan and Sasha Calle

September 6, 2024

Read More

16 acquisition titles to look out for at Toronto film festival

September 4, 2024

Read More

TIFF unveils Industry Conference line-up, 10 Industry Selects titles

August 16, 2024

Read More

One of the year’s best underrated action thrillers just dropped on Netflix

July 18, 2024

Read More

6310 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90048
United States

sales@highland.film

+1 310 271 8400

highlandfilmgroup

highlandfilmgroup

HighlandFilmGrp

highland-film-group

© 2025 Highland Film Group LLC

Privacy • Cookies • T&Cs

Created by i2i Media

This site uses cookies to ensure the best experience.

Okay Close