Ken Kwapis directs this comedic drama using an ensemble to reveal the hopes, fears, lies, secrets and heartbreaks of several people whose lives actually intersect by way of shared sex partners. There is the whimsy, compassion, sympathetic and power of sex. A young prostitute Lorna(Azure Skye)seems to be searching for the difference between sex and love; finding that sex is very illusionary and at the same time a neccessatity and a deal breaker. Is sex stronger than those ties that bind? Can sex really substitute for a long goodbye? Along with the cute and overly affectionate Skye is: Carla Gallo, Tom Everett Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Steven Weber and Anne Heche. Strong sexual dialog and situations with nudity earn an R rating. Not out loud funny, but entertaining.

I liked this movie so much, it should be a continuing show on Showtime with these characters evolving. I especially like how the story subtly opened the characters' "truths" with sparing dialogue. The movie's pace was excellent, I avidly anticipated the succeeding scenes. The material was fresh and handled well. Acting and writing, cinematography and directing were all excellent. The depiction of sex so realistically without anything crossing into exposed flesh was less than seen on Californication, one of the great Showtime series. I was happy to find this gem on Showtime, albeit 3 or 4 years after it was made. The only change I can think of is to give Lorna the nickname: "Cookie" and she can figure out equally annoying nicknames for those who call her that (ha ha).

The idea of the film seems to be inspired in Max Ophuls' "La Ronde", that classic French film that showed how much life is inter connected, which in itself was based on Arthur Schnitzler's play. The theme has been explored in other films, and it probably was what the director of "Sexual Life", Ken Kwapis, wanted to explore.Each person we watch from the beginning, has something to do with someone else, and so on. Sex is what seems to hold these people together. We start with the high priced prostitute and end up with her. In between we get to see how a group of young Los Angeles residents having sexual encounters that are the basis of their coming into each other's orbits. Sex seems to be not a big deal with them and nothing is forever, as we watch them going in their own ways to a new relationship without any guilt at all.The cast assembled do a pretty good job in their different portrayals. Azira Skye, as the prostitute has some good moments. Kevin Corrigan, Anne Heche, Shirley Knight, Fionnula Flanagan, Kerry Washington, Tom Everett Scott, James Legros and the beautiful Elizabeth Banks, do excellent work under the guidance of Mr. Kwapis."Sexual Life" has a great contemporary look. While sex seems to be what consumes all the parties in the movie, it makes for a good excuse to watch some of the best young actors working in movies today having fun.

...and then some serious "doing it".This was the spoiler part, where you find out that there are portrayals of people having sex in this movie. Good, hard, good-bye forever sex. And then the transition to the rest of their life (with more sex strongly implied).This round of stories is entertaining, with pretty good production values. The dialog, although not crisp, felt more "real". This is how people really act, with insecurities, saying nearly the right things, and having thoughts that are linked to their actions only in the context of the moment.Worth a watch: light but enjoying. Certainly not the "biggest" or "best" you've ever had, but it will do for now.