“The Little Hours” opens with a serene view of Fernanda, played by Aubrey Plaza, walking a donkey through the woods. Peaceful music plays while the sun shines, creating a calm environment. The first line of the film is then delivered by Plaza, “What the fuck are you fucking looking at?” Immediately, the audience is emerged into the hilarious comedy about sex, seduction, and desire.
The nuns in the convent, Alessandra and Genevra, played by Alison Brie and Kate Micucci respectively, are vulgar, loud, and sexual. Massetto, played by Dave Franco, leaves his work as a servant and stumbles upon this erotic convent. In order to avoid attention, he must pretend to be a deaf mute. Despite this, he gains attention from the lustful nuns.
Jeff Baena, writer and director, does an incredible job of turning this story based in 1353 into a 21st century comedy. The film is based on “Decameron,” a collection of over 100 medieval folk tales by Boccaccio, an Italian writer and poet. While the film has a medieval setting, the dialogue is extremely modern; especially through the use of slang and modern sexual innuendos. The understanding of the dialogue brings the theme, sex and desire, front and center.
Through the use of dry humor and modernism, the film keeps the audience laughing. The comedy provided the audience with graphic details of sex and sexual mishaps, which were the largest amount of comedic relief. Whether it is Franco and Brie having sex in the dirt, or Jemima Kirk teaching Plaza how to pleasure Franco by sniffing his penis- which Franco said during the Q and A after the film was one of his reasons for taking the part, the explicit scenes are some of the funniest in the film. Every time one of the nuns attempts to seduce Franco, something goes wrong. The final mishap causes an ugly scene in which each woman walks in on the other. The comedy in this film is also exemplified by the idea of poking fun at sexual abstinence and how it is demanded by the church, regardless of whether it goes against natural human tendencies.
One may wonder if the film would have the same comedic effect without this star-studded cast. While the screenplay had jokes and humor, the actors who deliver those lines illuminate the comedy and bring the story to a modern day audience. While this is true with many other films as well, “The Little Hours,” in particular, is highly comedic due to its star-studded cast.
Due to its modernism and comfort regarding sex and desire, “The Little Hours” earns five DePauw paws. The comedy and storyline by Baena are impeccable. The choice in casting brought sarcasm and modern ideas to an ancient storyline. “The Little Hours” perpetuates the idea that sex and seduction shouldn't be seen as taboo, whether in medieval times or the 21st century. Sex and sexual tendencies are normal, and often extremely funny.