FIFTY SHADES DARKER – Review

As if it was actually possible, FIFTY SHADES DARKER may be even more problematic than its predecessor. And that might be the most shocking part of this tame sex-thriller. Trust is the main thing missing, and I mean this in many ways. Right from the beginning, Anastasia Steele attends a gallery exhibit and is instantly mortified when she sees so many photos of herself. Her photographer friend then comes up to her and apologizes for not asking or telling her she was going to be featured so much. The shades of dishonesty, manipulation, and jealousy only escalate from there. The film is centered on a relationship without trust, and director James Foley tries to distract the audience with sex so that no one can see the truth of the matter. One minute Ana is upset with Christian Grey’s jealous ways, while the next minute she easily decides to move in with him. Christian passive aggressively introduces himself to Ana’s male boss – “I’m the boyfriend” – while later berating her for having to go on a business trip out of town without him. The words “Be mine” have never felt more like a warning sign instead of a loving request. In the world of FIFTY SHADES though, the importance of control and trust – two keys factors in any dom and sub relationship – are irresponsibly thrown out the window. There’s a difference between being controlling in the bedroom and being controlling and manipulative outside of the bedroom fantasy.

Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) is set on getting Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) back into his life. She’s apprehensive at first, but agrees to give him a second chance on the condition that he makes changes in his life – he promises “no more secrets.”  As the two begin to find stability, shadowy figures from Christian’s past start to circle the couple, determined to destroy their hopes for a future together.

Jamie Dornan as the brooding billionaire delivers vacuous dialogue with neither a smirk nor a hint of personality. Relying heavily on her adorable smirk, Johnson’s mousy and naïve mannerisms give Ana a little more life than her muscular costar. Even though the leads are attractive and the sex scenes might be a little steamier, that doesn’t make up for the lack of chemistry between the two leads when they aren’t rolling in the sheets.

The dialogue is asinine and even occasionally silly (“kinky fuckery” is apparently a thing people actually say), while the story flaccidly limps along without any real structure. Characters exist and events occur without consequence, but there’s no forward motion or end goal pushing these pretty but blank characters along. It’s as if they exist to solely deliver the sex scenes to an insatiable audience.

At least the sex this time around might be a little more seducing for non “Grey-hards” (I might have just made up that moniker). The “steamy” acts that are at the center of FIFTY SHADES DARKER are far from the kinkiness typically associated with the world of BDSM; for those unfamiliar with the acronym, it means bondage, dominant, submissive, masochist. Most of what we see though is your standard choreographed Hollywood sex, but occasionally we are treated to some borderline provocative fun – especially in the form of some public foreplay. Whether it’s getting handsy in the elevator, discreetly removing panties at the dinner table, or attending a masquerade ball with some hidden guests (I will say no more), FIFTY SHADES might make some of the more prudish audience members blush a slightly darker shade of red than the previous film.

Much like the first film, the gender politics are incredibly unhealthy, and its portrayal of the BDSM world continues to be dangerously misleading to the uninformed viewer. Not to mention, once again, harping on Mr. Grey’s abusive childhood forces the audience to equate violence and abuse with the desire to be a dominant sex partner. Not all “doms” or “subs” come from a background of abuse, and this reckless insinuation that the book’s author presents is a misrepresentation of the heart at where BDSM relationships stem from. To say that the film’s view of sex creates a grey area is an understatement. FIFTY SHADES DARKER might have been more successful if it would treat the overly serious proceedings with a little more levity and soap opera theatrics, along with a little more knowledge of the subject at hand and a little more “kinky fuckery” (their words, not mine) in the bedroom.

Overall rating: 1 out of 5

FIFTY SHADES DARKER is now playing in theaters everywhere