How To Plan An Orgy In A Small Town

How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town, directed by Jeremy Lalonde and released in 2015, sits among the ranks of raunchy comedies while combining undertones of drama and the spirit of an indie film. Its main cast comprises talented actors like Jewel Staite, Ennis Esmer, Lauren Lee Smith, amongst others. The narrative follows the life of a city columnist, Cassie Cranston (Jewel Staite), who is forced to return to her small-town roots due to unfortunate circumstances that haunt her metropolitan quite life. Notwithstanding her reluctance, this return is the impetus for the town's transformation as it leads her into planning an unlikely event that will drum a new lifebeat into the community.

Cassie Cranston, our leading lady, had fled her small hometown of Beaver's Ridge years ago after being labeled a "slut" post a publicly humiliating incident. Consequently, she found shelter in the urban jungle, where her sex column flourished, inspiring city dwellers' amorous adventures. The story picks up the pace when Cassie's world is suddenly turned upside down due to her mother's death, dragging her back to her hometown, this time as a sex advice guru and not as a town pariah.

The small town of Beaver's Ridge is the quintessential representation of conservatism, shyness, and prudishness. Its inhabitants struggle with expressing their sexual desires openly due to the fear of community judgment and ostracization. This is where the central plot revolves around the concept of planning an orgy - a potent symbol for freedom, liberation, and acceptance of more free-spirited perceptions. The town's folks may seem overly wholesome and innocent on the outside, but their curiosities and suppressed desires present a contrarian perspective.

A potential windfall occurs when Cassie is approached by her former high school friends. Led by Adam Mitchell, played by Ennis Esmer, and Heather Mitchell, portrayed by Lauren Lee Smith, this group is willing to shed their inhibitions and face their small-town anxieties. They want to explore outside of their traditional norms and organize a secret gathering that would help them find release from their pent-up frustrations - an orgy. Nevertheless, the job of planning and executing this event in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business is as complex as it sounds.

Things escalate as Cassie navigates the tricky task of planning this private event in the most unlikely of locations. She grapples with the practicality of convincing the shy and prudish townsfolk to participate and issues of discretion because in a town as small as Beaver's Ridge, secrets are not easily kept. Amidst these challenges, Cassie discovers a journey of self-discovery, renewed friendships, and deeper connections than she had anticipated.

While the title of the movie may suggest a heavy dose of erotica, it is, in essence, a comedic drama exploring the themes of acceptance, sexual liberation, and the judgment that often constricts small rural communities. It is an attempt at challenging societal norms regarding sexuality and stimulates conversations around sexual freedom and acceptance. It showcases how the people you grew up with perceive you and how those perceptions can change over time. It also serves as a poignant reminder that no matter how far you go or how much you change, where you come from will always be a part of who you are.

Director Jeremy Lalonde successfully weaves an entertaining storyline, navigating sensitively between comedy, drama, and taboo-breaking adventure. He navigates heartening personal journeys for his characters within a comedic frame without resorting to crass or cheap humor. The performances by Gemma Staite, Ennis Esmer, Lauren Lee Smith, and others are remarkably nuanced, bringing life and depth to their small-town personas.

To wrap it up, How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town is a refreshing Canadian indie comedy that uses its explicit and awkward premise to tackle conservative attitudes towards sex. It shows the journey of a group of friends who are willing to break barriers, exploring the dichotomy between the private desires and public image of small-town inhabitants. Central to its plot is an orgy, but beyond the racy proposition it offers multiple life lessons in discovering oneself, challenging societal norms, and embracing liberation. It presents a lighthearted, entertaining watch, filled with surprising depths and heartwarming moments.