The title of Richard Le May’s unusual romantic comedy refers to the amount of money that Conrad, a high powered advertising executive who’s recently split up with his boyfriend, offers to a young, good looking hustler to ease his solitude. It’s a hot few hours of passion, but leaves Conrad wanting more.

Before long he’s moved on from spending $1,000 to keep Tyler for the entire night and has offered him a job at his agency, working as a photographic assistant, with the one proviso that he still sleeps with him twice a week, which, seeing as Conrad’s far more attractive than the hustler, is definitely easy money.

However, like a true relationship, as soon as they enter into a formal partnership the sex dies and their eyes begin to wander onto fresh flesh, causing unforeseen consequences for Conrad, his ex and the firm’s senior art director.

Oh, and let’s not forget the random female employee who’s sent to spy on Tyler (or should that be sent to make sure he doesn’t sleep with anyone else?) and ends up being sold into white slavery! This is without doubt one of the most bizarre plot distractions I’ve ever come across and certainly hasn’t been inserted for comic potential.

Despite the obviously sexy angle to the film, the attractive actors, some cute shots of naked flesh and the tantalising cover shot that promises far more than it actually delivers, 200 American is not a film that’s going to keep you up all night.

LeMay teases us with the notion of sex, but ends up only skimming the surface as he jumps from one narrative strand to the next without fully fleshing out any of them. This is disappointing, as the first half of the film is an enjoyable, honest and quirky look at the reasons for buying and selling sex.

“How can you justify $200 for something you can get free,” Tyler asks the beautiful Conrad. “At least with you I know you only want me for my money. No hassles,” he replies.

Okay, so their post-coital conversations are forced and rather laboured, but they do make a point and nicely set up the role reversal theme for later.

However, for a film that’s only 85 minutes long 200 American soon begins to drag as the messy story, lack of a decent script, pop music soundtrack, and a very dodgy Australian accent by the actor playing Tyler becomes unbelievable.

Plus, the references to Pretty Women towards the end of the film destroy any suspense as it so blatantly hints at the inevitable happy ending.

200 American  [2003]
Label: Millivres Multimedia
Released: 9 January 2006
ASIN: B000C4ETJW
Catalogue Number: MMD045

Buy 200 American online and make your own mind up about this sexy film about love and gay hustlers. Buy it online and save yourself some money to put towards The Trip, P.S. Your Cat Is Dead, Yossi And Jagger, Regular Guys, Cowboys & Angels  and the excellent Latter Days.