Elektra Luxx (2010) User Reviews (36)

Not the best vehicle for this couple

[TdSmth5 · 5/10 · 24 April 2016]

Gugino is lovely (not so lovely with a blonde wig) and can act. Gutierrez is a bright guy and can write smart, insightful, and occasionally funny lines. But in this "story" of a former major porn star who's pregnant and giving "how to have sex" courses their talents are wasted. There isn't really much of a story just pieces as an excuse for Gutierrez's musings. Gugino is placed in a couple of unlikely scenarios. A ridiculous and ridiculously articulate porn industry vlogger obsesses about Elektra and is nervous to meet her. Two friends travel to Mexico and meets some guys but one of them has a secret. What does all of this have to do with anything? It doesn't. What's the point? There isn't one.

A shame that big budget movies won't even try to offer something intelligent. And when intelligent folks want to say something it has to be in the context of a movie like Elektra Luxx.

The "women in trouble" return.

[lewiskendell · 6/10 · 11 July 2011]

Elektra Luxx is the slightly improved sequel to Women in Trouble. If you enjoyed that movie at all, then this one will also probably be worth your time. 

A lot of the failed attempts at humor where left out this time around, and the story focus also lies more heavily on the characters of Elektra (Carla Gugino), Holly Rocket (Adrianne Palicki), Bambi (Emmanuelle Chriqui), and Bert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The story lines of those characters in the first movie are continued right where they left off, and they're also joined by a few new faces like Timothy Olyphant, Malin Akerman and Lucy Punch. 

Elektra Luxx is also a much tamer movie than Women in Trouble, despite the fact that most of its characters are still porn stars. Besides a few curse words, this could have been a PG-13 film. 

As I said before, check this out if you're interested in the continued lives of the characters from Women in Trouble (the doors are left wide open at the end of this movie for a third entry in the series). Otherwise, there's not a whole lot of reasons to go out of your way to see this.

Elektra Luxx — Very light entertainment, but still appreciable

[AvidClimber · 6/10 · 27 April 2013]

Elektra Luxx is about sex and hot women, and set just after Women in Trouble (WIT), but not as interesting.

The good. An interesting, if not captivating, story. Beautiful women. Lots of things happening. Some laughs, a bit of drama, and sexiness.

The actors. Carla Gugino gives us a good performance as Elektra. I wonder if it's the limit of her acting capabilities. Adrianne Palicki is hilarious as the challenged beauty, while Emmanuelle Chriqui completes her admirably. And finally, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is just right as the obsessed blogger.

The bad. Using an actor for two different role. Not as good as WIT, and still portraying a career in the sex industry as something base.

The ugly. That bath scene with the virgin Mary. Badly shot and edited, with horrible sound take, and it doesn't even bring that much to the story.

The result. Nice entertainment, especially if you want to find out what happens after WIT. More geared toward men, even if it still empowers women.

story disintegrates

[SnoopyStyle · 3/10 · 11 January 2016]

Bert Rodriguez (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a fast-talking self-styled porn commentator reporting on 90s porn star Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino) from his mother's basement. She is famous for a porn with herself as twins but she actually has a twin in prison for real. She is pregnant and out of the business. She's teaching sex class in the community center. Cora (Marley Shelton) admits killing her baby daddy Nick while having sex with him. Cora gives her songs written by Nick about her. In return, Cora wants her to seduce her fiancée Ben (Justin Kirk) to even the score. She tries to accommodate but he wrongly mistakes robber Dellwood Butterworth (Timothy Olyphant) for him. Holly Rocket (Adrianne Palicki) is a former porn partner who is in love with her best friend Bambi Lindberg (Emmanuelle Chriqui).

This is the sequel to 'Women in Trouble'. It tries to be campy with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It tries to be an irreverent take on porn. I'm willing to go with this weirdness for another Sebastian Gutierrez episode. However it becomes rambling messy story. It has no flow. Its quirkiness is not actually funny. The first movie has a certain charm which this one seems to struggle to maintain. I still like Adrianne Palicki and Emmanuelle Chriqui together. Carla Gugino starts out fine but goes downhill. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is too broad and I grow to hate his part of the movie.

A Complete Mess

[claudio_carvalho · 3/10 · 4 July 2013]

The famous porn star Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino) has retired from the adult film industry since she is pregnant and now she survives giving sex class to married women. One day, the flight attendant Cora (Marley Shelton) meets Elektra after class and tells that she killed the rock star Nick Chapel, who is the father of her unborn child, and stolen lyrics that he had written about Elektra. Cora offers the lyrics to Elektra provided she seduces her fiancé to compensate the one night stand she had with another man. Elektra is reluctant to accept but she agrees in the end and everything goes wrong.

Elektra also meets her former colleague Holly Rocket (Adrianne Palicki), who has been expelled from the film industry, and she tells that she is traveling to Mexico with her girlfriend Bambi Lindberg (Emmanuelle Chriqui). Holly has serious difficulties in communication but along their journey she discloses a secret to Bambi that will affect their lives.

Meanwhile the blogger Bert Rodriguez (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a great fan of Elektra Luxx and he posts articles about the adult industry. He has a crush on the attendant Trixie (Malin Akerman) has difficulties to tell his feelings for her.

"Elektra Luxx" is a complete mess, with a story that is unfunny for a comedy; too silly for a drama or romance; and too well-behaved for a erotic or soft porn movie. The good cast is wasted in a weird and numb plot and surprisingly there are reviews promoting this terrible flick. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "Um Caso Complicado" ("A Complicated Case")

Not as good as it could be

[Gordon-11 · 22 May 2011]

This film is about the life of a porn star who quits the entertainment industry because she got pregnant.

"Elektra Luxx" is not really a comedy, but a quirky semi-serious drama. There are three vaguely connected subplots, one about the life of Elektra Luxx, another about a blogger and the third about two female friends of Elektra. While the main subplot of Elektra's life is interesting, the latter two subplots seem to add little to the main story. They seem disconnected and seem to function as fillers. Or, they are just reasons to put some soft porn in.

I find "Elektra Luxx" not so engaging or captivating as it potentially could be. What surprises me the most is the number of big names in the film, such as Joseph Gordon Levitt, Malin Akerman and even a long cameo by Julianne Moore.

Not a comedy, not a drama, not a good movie

[slake09 · 2/10 · 19 April 2011]

Elektra Luxx tells the story of a porn star's personal life, but fails as both a comedy and a drama. You can see the potential for laughs or serious drama, but the movie never gets there. There isn't much in the way of nudity, so the potential for exploitation is also missed.

The jokes fall flat, and the characters aren't particularly likable. The plot itself is fragmented, jumping all over the place without much exposition. The first few reviews here are glowingly positive, which makes me think the reviewers are somehow connected to the film. Don't be fooled by the name actors in the cast: this movie is a turkey.

If you're in the market for a drama about a porn star's personal life, you would be better served checking out The Girlfriend Experience.

The acting in Elektra Luxx was OK, nothing great, but not particularly bad either. It's mostly the script and direction that are lacking. The jokes probably sounded a lot better on paper than they do when the actors speak them; the plot probably looked better on the storyboard than it does on film.

You won't laugh, you won't be thrilled, you won't marvel at the drama. You will just wish you had watched something else.

Bert Rodriguez's blog

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 18 November 2011]

An amateur blogger, Bert Rodriguez, introduces us to famous porn star Elektra Luxx, now retired from the sensational days of her stardom. Her films are described in vivid details from the comforts of Rodriguez's living room where he is recording his piece about the luminous star while one hears in the background his mother's voice asking him to take out the trash.

Elektra, who finds herself pregnant from a boyfriend who died on the lavatory of a jetliner, has reinvented herself into a teacher for repressed women who has no clue as how to behave in bed. The singer has left a lot of songs which even Elektra did not know about. Elektra is surprised by one of her students, that turns out to be a professional writer who wants to write her memoirs, a sort of guide into the pleasures of sex.

There are about three narratives running into the plot, all of which come together toward the end. This is not a film for everyone. Sebastian Gutierrez expanded his previous "Women in Trouble" with an emphasis on the character of Elektra. The comedy is witty as it tackles its subject with an eye toward fun. Mr. Gutierrez even includes a scene where the Virgin Mary has a tete-a-tete with Elektra while she is having a bath!

Carla Gugino makes the most of her character; she really is an optimist in a field where one could not think it possible. The excellent Joseph Gordon-Levitt is perhaps the director's alter ego, Bert Rodriguez, a young man in awe of the pleasures he has received from watching all of Ms. Luxx's films. Most of the cast has worked with the director before. Among the supporting casts there are good performances by Marley Shelton, Emmanuelle Chiriki, Adrienne Palicki, Timothy Olyphant, Kathleen Quinlan, Malin Ackerman, and a great cameo by Julianne Moore as the Virgin Mary.

Mr. Gutierrez keeps things moving at a quick pace, which benefits the enjoyment of the film. The creator of "Elektra Luxx" shows an irreverent streak for the material he wrote and directed.

as unsexy as porn...

[skuggyngel · 2/10 · 11 July 2011]

I've never felt so compelled to enter IMDb.com just to give a bad rating. I saw this movie just because of Carla Gugino, and i've never seen her so unsexy as she is here, as pornstar Elektra Luxx.

The conversations in this movie are so unnatural, it's only to be compared to the horrible horrible light-design of this movie.

The forced comedy of the lines are delivered with no sense of timing and the acting leaves me wondering if the director/writer met his actors, even once, to talk about his text.

The director manages to suck all the actors dry of any talent they might hint in any other movie.

If there is anything positive to say at all: there are maybe two lines by character Holly Rocket (played by Adrianne Palicki) that would have been funny if delivered with any kind of timing ore feeling...

Everything about this movie is so unsexy, but then again, so is porn.

Better than I expected - and pleasantly weird

[BeneCumb · 7/10 · 7 February 2013]

The topic of porn industry and their performers usually bring along ambivalent feelings related to shame, sympathy, or disgust, and those thinking broadly beyond have thoughts related to abuse, humiliation and human trafficking. Elektra Luxx can nicely "hover" above this, depicting a deliberately hectic story of porn stars trying to leave their regular track and start to live "normal" life - whatever it means... The cast is even and strong, especially Carla Gugino as Elektra Luxx / Elektra's twin Celia, but also many supporting roles are performed by talented actors, e.g. Timothy Olyphant as Del, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Bert Rodriguez. In fact, the latter was the reason I decided to watch this movie (I had not about Women In Trouble, for which Elektra Luxx is sequel) - and I was not disappointed. Not a family movie, but recommended to those fond of twisted humor and "minced" but interrelated scenes.

A festival of random dialogs

[alex-frey-pattaya · 1/10 · 21 August 2011]

I always promised myself never to give a 1 star rating on a movie review because there is always a part where you can give credit for.. boy I was horribly wrong about that. I wasn't sure if i should check the "contains spoilers" boy or not, fact is there is nothing to spoil because nothing is making sense or is connected to something what REAL writers would call a storyline.

Now after this introduction you might expect that they packed the movie with a ton of nude scenes or flat jokes like in American Pie part 23, unfortunately there wasn't even that.

It is a pointless mini journey of a former porn actress stumbling from one random conversation into another, i was sitting put and thought in the end it they take all strings together and tie a knot. Oh boy i was wrong again. Apparently or better unfortunately this was a sequel, they must have sent Tony Soprano holding a gun at the producers head to make 2 movies out of nothing. The worst part is how the movie was advertised as a comedy when it turns out to be a wannabe drama, in fact it is neither of that and it is crowned with horrible acting. It has at least 5 actors i really enjoyed before, I assume they woke up next to a horse head and the contract for this "movie" I wish i could sue people for stealing my time, but after learning that the movie grossed only 10,000 USD this is a hopeless case since the makers of this "movie" must be flat broke now.

The only reason why i got the Blu-Ray was some of the reviews here which had 9 and 8 stars and the "movie" was called brilliant. Must be a plug review by the executives who released this "movie" or people watching the movie one handed and when they didn't find any nudity they thought it was intelligent or something like that, don't blame them the blood was elsewhere.

Hands down the worst "movie" I have ever seen in my life and I never thought that could be possible after seeing Titanic2.

Do not get fooled by the trailers or make up your own ideas based on the suggested storyline, it is not what it pretends to be.

A very moving and somewhat funny movie about a porn star trying to change her life. Not what I expected its better. I say B+

[cosmo_tiger · 8/10 · 17 June 2011]

"What kind of person are you?" Retiring pregnant porn star Elektra Luxx (Gugino) fills her days by teaching a sexology class. After being approached by a stranger with a tie to her dead ex-boyfriend her day starts to get weird. If you have seen the previews to this then you think you know what the movie is about. You would be wrong. From what I saw I expected a very funny comedy. While this movie does have it's funny moments, at its core it actually a very moving story. A woman who is trying to figure out where her life is is the one everyone seems to go to for advice, help or anything she can provide. Being that the movie is about a porn star there are a few pretty raunchy scenes and dialog, but no where near what you would have expected. There is a shot a a male and female butt and that is the extent of the nudity. The acting and characters are very entertaining that it makes you want to watch and see everyone get what they want. This is not at all what I expected, it was better. Overall a very touching, and somewhat funny story about finding out and being comfortable with who you are. I give it a B+.

Would I watch it again? - I think I actually would.

*Also try - Finding Bliss

Second verse, as aggravating as the first.

[MBunge · 4/10 · 24 April 2012]

A sequel to Women in Trouble, this movie has just as much talk and even less action. If you loved the first film and thought Carla Gugino was the best thing in it, you will revel in this motion picture. If it wore you out with non-stop blather and thought Gugino was just one among many other members of the cast, well…you're probably not going to be watching Elektra Luxx in the first place. If you're unfamiliar with either movie, this is what you need to know.

Aside from a couple of butt shots, there is no real nudity in Elektra Luxx. There is a lot of dialog, and I mean A LOT, but the characters do very little. This is more like a radio drama than a film or even a stage play. Some of the dialog is quite clever and entertaining. Some of it isn't nearly as clever or entertaining as writer/director Sebastain Gutierrez believes. The sheer tonnage of words spoken here without accompanying plot will likely wear on you over time, something which only enhances the lackluster ending of this thing. There's a dream sequence which demonstrates that Gugino should avoid any roles that require singing and dancing and that Gutierrez has no future in music videos. And this movie continues to employ Gutierrez' graphic but rather sanitized presentation of sexual discussion. These characters say a lot of supposedly provocative things. With the juiceless way they say them, however, they might as well be talking about the weather or comparing lawn fertilizer.

This story is again about the several intersecting lives, though fewer in number and importance than Women in Trouble. Primarily, it's about ex-porn star Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino). She's pregnant with her dead, rock star boyfriend's baby and teaching a class on "How to act like a porn star in bed" at the local community center. She gets caught up in the personal drama of Cora (Marly Shelton), the stewardess who was having sex with Luxx' boyfriend on a plane when he died. There's also a private eye (Timothy Olyphant), a best selling author (Kathleen Quinlan) and a naked, jealous neighbor (Vincent Kartheiser) who orbit around Luxx. There are also more disconnected plot lines about a Latino sex blogger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and about two sex workers from the first movie (Adrianne Palicki and Emmanuelle Chriqui) taking a vacation together and resolving the relationship cliffhanger Gutierrez left them at in Women in Trouble.

Look, the acting here is enjoyable and the direction, while not terribly involving, is perfectly acceptable. The problem is that this film goes on and on and on with the same thing over and over and over. If you took the best scenes here and inserted them into a story where stuff actually happens in between, Elektra Luxx would have been pretty good. As it is, watching this is like taking a long car ride with someone who won't stop talking. No matter how intelligent and interesting they are at the beginning, after a certain point you just want them to shut the hell up.

This is in no way a poorly made film, though the plot is pretty sketchy. It is a movie that completely reasonable people will find intolerable. Only those who were captivated by Gugino in Women in Trouble should bother with it.

When A Pornstar Retires

[Chrysanthepop · 10 July 2011]

Sebastian Gutierrez's dialogue oriented 'Elektra Luxx' is somewhat better than his next film 'Girl Walks Into A Bar', at least in terms of writing, especially where dialogue is concerned. It's wittier, fresher and funnier and fits well with the situations. 'Elektra Luxx' also has a film-noire style feel to it. The story of the title character juxtaposes with two others: one about Luxx's 'diehard' and desperate fanboy blogger Bert who's trying to move on with life post Luxx's film career (she quit) and another involving Luxx's former costar Holly. I thought the latter story, though well acted in by Adrianne Palicki and Emannuelle Chriqui, barely contributed to the film and perhaps it should have been left out as it only slows down the pace. The overall pacing is also uneven. At times the lighting feels excessive. The score is well utilized and pleasant to the ears. Carla Gugino is terrific in the title role and she is well-supported by Adrianne Palicki, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kathleen Quinlan and Marley Shelton. There's also an interesting cameo by one of the finest actresses.

To sum it up, 'Elektra Luxx' is refreshing. It has a novel premise and Gutierrez steers away from clichés. Some good editing was required to tighten it up a little.

Awkward and not a comedy

[Floated2 · 3/10 · 1 May 2022]

"Elektra Luxx" is apparently the sequel to 2009 film "Women In Trouble" (having not seen) so judging this film ad a standalone. It is quite predictable and offers far more talking than anticipated, and not much action or much going on.

Besides a few of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's scenes, nothing in particular is funny. Things feel forced for comedy and the drama isn't nearly intriguing enough. Nothing special about this film yet it may be considered a cult classic for some.

unfunny

[Rob-O-Cop · 2/10 · 8 January 2022]

How did he manage to get so much good talent on board for this terrible silly misguided film. Timothy Olyphant and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Either good friends or paid well, and it would have to be good pay to damage your career with this cack.

It just wasn't clever or funny and worse it was a pt 2 in a series which should have told everyone to stay well clear.

A paycheck is a paycheck I suppose.

Better than expected, but still mediocre...

[grantss · 4/10 · 17 September 2015]

Better than expected, and disappointing, at the same time. Initially better than expected, as I was expecting a lame send-up of the adult film industry, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt's opening scene is hilariously funny. Next few scenes were in the same vein, so I got my hopes up, thinking this could be a great comedy.

Unfortunately, it runs out of steam pretty quickly, and takes itself too seriously. At some point it becomes a drama, and the plot unravels and becomes pointless.

Ultimately the only positives are the scenes involving Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as they continue to be funny throughout the movie, while the remaining threads spiral into random nonsense.

Performances are pretty good, despite the weak material. As mentioned, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is great, and Carlo Gugino, as Elektra Luxx, is solid. Supporting cast, which includes Malin Akerman, Timothy Olyphant, Kathleen Quinlan and Julianne Moore is OK.

Could have been better, but also could have been a lot worse.

Malin Akerman deserves better than this.

[polariskunn2003 · 1/10 · 3 April 2021]

Malin Akerman is a brilliantly funny actress but even she couldn't save what has to be Joseph Gordan Levitt and Julianne Moore's most embarrassing film endeavor. The film is mean-spirited and pretentious and the anti-thesis of entertaining. The actors seem to be doing their best to get through this slog of a film. The writer/director comes off as judgmental towards sex workers which is ironic because I've seen hardcore gonzo films with more thought provoking commentary. This is truly a garbage movie if you can call it that, and Julianne Moore help me I have 30 more minutes to sit through.

Don't let the casting fool you

[shorty6_1_90 · 2/10 · 24 July 2012]

I thought with such a great cast of well known actors & actresses with some huge successful movies to their names this film must be great. The description even makes it sound funny. Everything is misleading this movie is total crap! There is no plot even when the movie opens it feels like it's starting in the middle of another film. The background information is developed during the progression of the movie which makes it even more confusing. It's like a bunch of small random scenes thrown together in a mess that doesn't make any sense nor develop anything. There was one interesting scene between Elektra Luxx and her sister and one cute character story between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Malin Akerman. I spent the entire film wishing something would happen or that it would hurry up and end

Weird, Wonderful, Sexy Elektra

[rocketship-2 · 9/10 · 12 February 2011]

This movie, several steps up from "Women In Trouble" in terms of consistency, further evolves the weird, wonderful and sexy world of the title character. Carla Gugino is so winning as this confused but sometimes wise former lady of porn that it makes you wonder what movies would be like if she got more leading parts. Returning from the first one are the awesome duo of Adrienne Palicki and Emmanuelle Chriqui, who are maybe the most moving part of the story. Joseph Gordon Levitt is hilarious in it too and Malin Akerman, who I wasn't all that keen on from "Watchmen", actually proves she's a very good actress. Sex-positive and lesbian-positive without being preachy or sappy, this is a smart, weird comedy with a ton of personality and GREAT DIALOGUE.

truly despicable

[karlericsson · 1/10 · 8 April 2011]

Possibly this is a movie for gay people, since the only nakedness in it is that of males behinds. For the rest it is idiotic talk, designed to make females more comfortable being hideously raped, which nowadays passes as "sex". I can see that women need comforting considering the abuse they have to take today but nothing gets better by lies. Being an unpaid whore does not get better by denial that this is the case. "Love making" should correctly be called "lust making" and in a power society that is, before all else, the lust for power and dominance. Seduction is just another word for rape and every seducer knows that. In the old days, the seducer could contend himself with having normal sex with his victims since the moral codes forbade any kind of extra-marital sex. Being able to seduce in the mildest sense was stimulus enough. Today, when it is truly hard to find any virgin, a simple seduction is truly simple and a reason for impotence. Today the seducer must make his mark and leave no intercourse undone in order to have some feeling of having taken the scalp. It is nicer to think that you have had "sexual experience" instead of having to think that you have served as a toilet - once the soul is damaged it will try to find solace or, even better, find a denial of the damage and transform it to its opposite. But that only enhances the spiral of power set in motion and is, I'm not kidding, a true reason for the absence of revolution where it should have been due ages ago. Yes, these power people know what they do when they emit abominations like this film.

Like a Skinimax flick without the payoff

[iumma · 24 September 2011]

I had the unfortunate displeasure of viewing this movie tonight, and my shock and awe at how bad it is cannot really be put into words. I got pulled in by the cover, shame on me. Gugino is a feast for the eyes for sure, and seeing Chriqui make out with another chick was a nice surprise, but those two niceities cant save this deplorable piece of trash. As with an earlier reviewer, I rarely give a movie one star, as I can usually find SOMETHING redeeming about the experience: that was not the case here. It gives off the stink of one of those late night soft-core skin flicks, but without the skin! What the hell was Gordon-Levitt thinking reprising this role? He is lucky he didn't screw up his chances landing the role in Inception. I wasn't even aware this was a sequel until I read some of the other reviews. Anyway, there is nothing else to say, this is pure garbage. I should receive some type of reward for making it all the way through...

Waste of a Great Cast!

[michaeltomorrow · 5/10 · 14 March 2013]

File this under "Wanted to Like This Movie But..," it's poor Sebastian Gutierrez attempt at a vanity piece. Maybe he can write, maybe he can direct, maybe he can produce, but he certainly can't do all three. The only redeeming thing here is the idea behind the plot, which could have been fun, sexy and touching...but instead it was given a bad 'caper' movie treatment. As a result his rich cast, including Carla Gugino, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Tim Olyphant, come off as having all the warmth of a bad SNL skit. The writing is so stiff that any attempts at humor fall flat, and the natural sexiness and charm of Gugino just disappears. I suppose trying to make Adrianne Palicki's charter ridiculously dumb was for comedic effect, but it's so unnatural that it ends up just being insulting. It's almost like Gutierrez couldn't make up his mind on this film, because the "quirky" bits (e.g. the Virgin Mary, and Levitt's roles) almost feel like they were bolted on as an afterthought. Too bad.

Actual porno is better written. Barely.

[GiraffeDoor · 3/10 · 18 September 2019]

I'm not ashamed to say I watched this because I thought I might see some skin. Did I get much? No. Did I get a touching narrative on one woman's journey of self re-evaluation? Also no. This smug and trite little dramedy does not invest in its characters, it settles for a sanctimonious tone, an annoying plot, thin characters, a lazy sense of humor and a dumb resolve.

I would not recommend even seeing it even out of curiosity. Except maybe way close to the end where you get to see her ass.

"Elektra Luxx" is a fun and enjoyable film with great performances all around.

[ScottDMenzel · 9/10 · 12 April 2010]

On March 14th in Austin, TX, I headed into the World Premiere of "Elektra Luxx" at the Paramount Theater and boy was I in for a treat. I was so pumped just being at SXSW but sitting a few seats away from me were Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino, Emma Bell, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and director/writer Sebastian Gutierrez. About an hour into the film, the worst thing that could ever happen to a director happened...the movie screen went blank during the world premiere. Within a few minutes, Sebastian Gutierrez appeared on stage doing a one man show entertaining the audience to the highest level possible. After about 20 mins, the cast came on stage to help fill the time. This is when my brilliant ass decided to ask the most awkward question to ask a filmmaker period, let alone during a chaotic screening. I began to ask "how do you make a sequel to a film that no one saw the original of?" After that sentence came out of my mouth, I actually felt really bad for asking it because I didn't realize how harsh it sounded but luckily for me Sebastian Gutierrez decided to answer it honestly and poke fun at me a bit in the process. The guy is awesome. I have met a ton of directors and celebrities and he ranks up there as the coolest guy I met in showbiz. He just seemed like the kind of guy who really valued his fans and I truly admire the man now. But as the 45 minute mark drew near, Janet Pierson let everyone know we would not be able to see the ending of "Elektra Luxx" tonight as the projector could not be fixed.

About two weeks ago, I was browsing online and came across the Gen Art Film Festival and to my surprise "Elektra Luxx" was playing at the festival. I knew I had to get tickets and surely enough just a few days later I did. So finally on Friday April 9, 2010...I entered the theater took my seat right across from Mr. Gutierrez again and shortly the film began...

"Elektra Luxx" is the sequel to the film, "Women in Trouble." For the most part, this film focuses around the life of "Elektra Luxx (played by the beautiful and very talented Carla Gugino) and her retirement from the porn industry. In the film, Elektra is trying to just live a normal life by teaching a class called "How to have sex like a porn star." Shortly into the film, her past comes back to haunt her as she gets a surprise visit from Cora (Marley Shelton) who has some information about her husband. The film only continues to get more interesting as it goes along.. A lot of laughs and some dramedy filled moments ensue...

"Elektra Luxx" has a cast of some of the most beautiful women in showbiz and surprisingly all of them are great actresses as well. Carla Gugino's lead role as Elektra is not only fun but a very good performance. Her character isn't as simple as you may think and Gugino plays the role with such passion that you just enjoy every moment she is on screen. Marley Shelton plays Cora and is very good even though she has very limited screen time. Emmanuelle Chriqui is always pleasure to watch as Bambi. Her role of playing the all business & no fun girl perfectly offsets her partner in crime Holly Rocket played by Adrianne Palicki. Holly Rocket is is my favorite character in the film as well as the funniest. She seems dumb on the surface but if you actually pay attention to her character, she really isn't and that's what I love about it. Joseph Gordon Levitt is great in the film as Burt Rodriguez. Levitt steals the show every moment he is on screen. Malin Akerman's character Trixie isn't in the film all that much but for what little screen time she has, her character looks like it's going to show some promise in the next film. Overall, everyone does an amazing job even the host of people I haven't listed but these are the main ones.

Sebastian Gutierrez pulled a "Woody Allen" so to speak and directed, wrote, and produced the film. He is truly great at doing all of those things. I guess having done a lot of writing for "Mainstream Hollywood" it is nice to see him create something more independent. After having seen two different Q&A sessions with Sebastian, I would have to say that he is one of my most driven and passionate directors in the biz. He loves film and he loves his cast and it truly shows. One thing I have to mention is that everyone in the cast pointed out was that Sebastian treats everyone like family and that shows. These films "Women in Trouble" and "Elektra Luxx," are his babies and while some may not appreciate them for what they are, I really enjoy the films thus far and can't wait to see the final chapter "Women in Ecstasy" next year. Great Job Sebastian! I applaud you and support your work. I would love to be in or work on one of your films one day.

Bottom Line: "Elektra Luxx" isn't for everyone and with that being said you have to have a good appreciation for fun independent films in order to appreciate the film. Horny guys seeing this film hoping to see a lot of sex will surely be disappointed. This movie is very much a character driven film that tells a lot of interesting stories. There are a lot of laughs to be had but also quite a few heartfelt moments thrown in as well. "Elektra Luxx" is a movie that is definitely geared towards a mature and smart audience. It has a beautiful and talented cast and I highly recommend it.

MovieManMenzel's final rating for "Elektra Luxx" is a 9/10.