“Doin’ It” is a comedic attempt to explore the complexities of teaching sex education from the viewpoint of an inexperienced Indian American woman in her late 30s, lured into the profession by its provocative nature. Despite the film's compelling premise, the execution of this raunchy comedy falls flat due to an inconsistent and forced comedic tone.
The film, well received at the South by Southwest film festival due to its unconventional storyline, struggles to maintain comedic momentum. The character central to the story, Maya (played by Lilly Singh), is expected to teach sex education following an abstinence-based curriculum despite her own ignorance about sexual matters.
In an attempt to break down barriers around human sexuality, the film opens with an embarrassing incident involving a teenage Maya and her dance partner, who are exposed in front of their school audience, causing distress and ultimately leading to Maya's departure to India.
Years later, a more mature and ambitious Maya returns to the U.S, dreaming of creating an app for teenagers. Maya lands a job at Proudamore High School as a substitute teacher, offering her a chance to understand her target audience. However, her approach to sex education, including her aim to lose her virginity to enhance her personal experience, sparks controversy and humor.
As humor is subjective, what's designed to make the audience laugh often feels misplaced or inappropriate, with jokes revolving around Maya's cultural heritage and her cringe-worthy attempts to modernize sexuality education.
"Doin’ It," while trying to propagate sex positivity, often slips into the style of immature shock-comedy reminiscent of films like “American Pie.” Moreover, the character's backstory reflecting her repressive Indian American upbringing is a recycled narrative from countless other movies.
In summary, while the film aims to blend comedy and sex education within an Indian American context, it often misfires, resulting in a confused narrative that relies on cheap thrills rather than sophisticated humor.
