CHOKE, advertised as a satirical raunchy sex comedy and lauded as the second novel from FIGHT CLUB’s Chuck Palahniuk, will undoubtedly be seen by many wanting something wicked and different.

For one, the story is quite over the top.  It concerns sex-addict, Victor Mancini (up and coming actor Sam Rockwell) ripping off rich clients in restaurants by pretending to be saved by them from choking.  Hence the film’s title.  (Victor and the director should know however that the universal sign of choking is waving ones arms up in the air and then clasping ones throat and not lying motionless on the floor.) In the meantime, when not bedding down assorted ladies, Victor looks after his sweet demented mother (Anjelica Huston) in hospital.  That should make Victor a loveable character in the audience’s eyes.

CHOKE is actor (HOOT, IRON MAN) Clark Gregg’s first movie.  Gregg has a cameo role as Victor’s harassing geeky supervisor at the film’s start.  Palahniuk’s novel here is vastly different from FIGHT CLUB.  Though both share extremes in lifestyles projected from the author’s imagination, CHOKE contains more elements of humor and escape.  But as a director, Gregg has no comedic timing.  His film evokes very few laughs from the many comedic set pieces.  CHOKE at times feels like the cheap exploitation films of the 70’s like the Australian ALVIN PURPLE films or the British CONFESSIONS OF series but still fails to titillate enough.  The sex scenes in CHOKE appear restrained except for the one at the film’s start being the only one erotic.

Gregg has assembled a good cast with veteran actors like, Huston, Joel Gray and Scots actress Kelly MacDonald (GOSFORD PARK) playing Victor’s sexual conquest – Paige Marshall.  They seem as lost as Victor’s mother in the hospital.

Victor at one point in the film claims that he can fool people into loving him.  Apparently, director Gregg thinks that he can in same way that, fool audiences into believing that he has made a provocative upbeat innovative film.  Like sex, experience counts.  Newbies Gregg and Palahniuk need more work in the sex film genre.