Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

By the time Lemon Popsicle, series of Israeli period sex comedies, reached its fourth instalment, its creator Boaz Davidson became aware that the films started resembling each other too much. New element of the formula was needed, and Davidson found it and used it in 1982 film Private Popsicle.

Davidson found it in experience which had, in the past, been marking symbolic start of adulthood for many young men (and might do again in the future if certain geopolitical trends continue). At the start, we are again introduced to trio of teenagers in late 1950s/early 1960s Tel Aviv – good-looking ladies man Momo (“Bobby” in English version, played by Jonathan Segal), bumbling overweight Yudale/Huey (played by Zachi Noy) and ordinary-looking protagonist Bentzi/Benji (played by Yftach Katzur). They were spending all of their free time chasing girls, but those carefree days are coming to an end because they reached the age when they must serve in Israeli Defence Force. There they are subjected to many indignities, like having their hair cut or having to perform humiliating chores, usually at the supervision of pompous Sergeant Major Shemesh/Ramirez (played by Yoseph Shiloah). For Bentzi and other boys, however, the service becomes more tolerable when they find that the neighbouring barracks house female IDF conscripts, so they again have opportunity to engage in their skirt-chasing antics. Along the way Bentzi falls in love in female conscript Rina/René (played by Sonja Martin).

Those who didn’t like previous three films are unlikely to like the fourth. Humour is again very crude, but effective and change of setting from urban Tel Aviv to the more austere and oppressive military barracks seems quite refreshing. Davidson and his co-writer Eli Tavor, however, mostly evade opportunities for “fish out of water” situations as cause of humour and again there is more emphasis on sex as part of “sex comedy”. There is very little sentimentality and romance between Bentzi and Rina looks uninspired and perfunctory. More memorable are jokes that, for the first time, feature content that would be branded LGBT is these days. That includes trio of protagonists being forced by circumstances to dress as women and even perform rather impressive drag act. Best addition to the film is, however, Yoseph Shiloach in the role of protahonist’s comical nemesis. He delivers good performance even when burdened with inexplicably Indian sounding accent in English dubbing version. Private Popsicle represent notable change in the franchise because soundtrack isn’t completely made of 1950s/1960s pop hits, but, for the first time, features original material, like “I Want My Mama”, song written for protagonist’s drag act, as well as “Strictly Private” (also known as “Private Popsicle March”), film’s theme song. Although far from the best in the series, Private Popsicle is still effective, well-acted and decently directed sex comedy that benefits from its unusual setting and it could be recommended to viewers interested in 1980s “guilty pleasures”.

RATING: 5/10 (++)