Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask is Woody Allen in pure sketch-comedy mode: a fast, shamelessly inventive carousel of mini-movies that turn taboo curiosities into punchlines, sight gags, and absurd little nightmares. What makes it special is how confidently it commits to each vignette’s world—medieval farce, mad-scientist satire, game-show spoof, even an inside-the-body caper—so the film keeps surprising you even when one segment isn’t your personal favorite. The humor is irreverent and knowingly juvenile at times, but it’s also sharply timed and joyfully performed, with Allen’s anxious persona bouncing off a parade of straight-faced authority figures and escalating ridiculousness. If you prefer a single, cohesive story or you’re allergic to 1970s sex-joke sensibilities, it may feel hit-or-miss, but if you’re on the fence and want a comedy that swings for the fences, it’s hard to resist its cockeyed, anything-goes energy.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) is trying to turn a pop-sexology book into a grab-bag of sketch comedy, bouncing from medieval farce to mad-scientist parody to an inside-the-body finale with cartoonish ambition. The problem is it’s wildly uneven: a couple of bits land with sharp timing and clever absurdity, while others drag, feel awkwardly staged, or lean on “isn’t this shocking?” discomfort more than actual jokes. If you want a cohesive story or modern, thoughtful takes on sexuality, this will feel dated and scattershot, and some vignettes may play more cringe than funny depending on your tolerance for broad caricature. Still, if you’re in the mood for early-’70s Woody Allen silliness and can accept that you’ll be laughing in bursts rather than consistently, there’s enough inventive nonsense to justify a casual watch.