Vicks Vapo Foot Rub – AFTERNOON DELIGHT

by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor

Afternoon Delight seems to already have left the Ritz Theaters and had a very limited release, but I wanted to recommend it as a future renter.

T&T Synopsis: Rachel (Kathryn Hahn) is a stay at home mom going through a crisis of everything’s fine, but I’m NOT okay. Here husband Jeff (Josh Radnor – who is so much less annoying in this than on How I Met Your Mother) is a successful app’s programmer, she has the most adorable 5 year-old son, they live in a great neighborhood, with plenty of other couples with kids to hang out with; but Rachel still feels the need to see a shrink, played by a toned down, but still wonderfully kooky, Jane Lynch.

Rachel and Jeff haven’t had sex for 6 months, they don’t discuss it, but they have a code – he asks her if he should put the dog out of the bedroom – she hesitates, then replies – No, he can stay – which means she’s not in the mood, and then they just go to sleep.

Her girlfriend Stephanie (Jessica St. Clair) convinces Rachel to go on a couples date to a strip club, where Jeff buys Rachel a lap dance from a stripper named McKenna (Juno Temple).  Part sexual attraction, part fascination, part altruism drives Rachel to seek out McKenna and eventually invite her into her home as her son’s Nanny.  Only McKenna still maintains part of her old life which includes being a “sex worker”, which both appalls and intrigues Rachel.

The theme of this movie: can fall under that old adage – No good deed goes unpunished.

What’s pleasing to me is: that it explores a completely different sort of female friendship.
And I’m still thinking about the Vicks VapoRub foot massage McKenna gives to Rachel. I really want one, it would be so cool and warm and reach every chakra!

What’s not pleasing to me is: it’s a hard movie to market and it’s gonna go unnoticed, but I really didn’t find any fault with the film.

Around the web: In the space between now and when you move through that sloshing, soapy cleansing from the real world into the secret space of this film, I’ll add one more thought: I love thinking about women’s secrets. What happens in that time of day after you drop your kids but before pick-up? You’re not a mom anymore, you’re just a person, and if you want to, you can be an anonymous person. READ MORE writer/director Jill Soloway Landmark Exclusive Letter

LAMB Score: 3.5 out of 5