Imperfect but Honest, and Proudly Messy

Read Time:5 Minute, 22 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Doin' It
–

Genre: Comedy, Sex Comedy, Coming-of-Age
Year Released: 2025, Aura Entertainment Theatrical Release
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director(s): Sara Zandieh
Writer(s): Lilly Singh, Sara Zandieh, Neel Patel
Cast: Lilly Singh, Stephanie Beatriz, Sabrina Jalees, Sonia Dhillon-Tully, Ana Gasteyer, Mary Holland, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Trevor Salter
Where to Watch: in select theaters September 19, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: Awkwardness has long been comedy’s secret weapon, and DOIN’ IT embraces that awkward edge with enthusiasm. Lilly Singh steps into her first leading role on the big screen, playing Maya, a thirty-year-old software engineer who never quite grew out of the shadow of her strict upbringing. What starts as an absurd setup— a virgin suddenly tasked with teaching high school sex education — gradually morphs into something deeper, a story about shame, self-acceptance, and finding one’s voice. The film doesn’t always strike the perfect balance between raunchy gags and genuine commentary, but it has enough personality and honesty to make the experience worthwhile.

The movie’s premise alone is ripe for hijinks: Maya takes on a substitute teaching job as a side hustle to fund her teen-focused app, only to find herself at the center of a sex-ed classroom. Singh plays the role with a mix of nervousness and deadpan delivery, leaning into the absurdity of a teacher learning alongside her students. Director Sara Zandieh and co-writers Singh and Neel Patel use this setup to explore not just mishaps, but the cultural baggage around sex education, especially through the lens of South Asian families, where open conversations about sexuality are often avoided.

What makes DOIN’ IT stand out from other sex comedies is its willingness to address generational silence directly. Zandieh, who has spoken about her own Iranian-American upbringing, builds Maya’s story on the foundation of cultural conservatism, discipline, and the taboo of sexual expression. This isn’t just another raunchy tale — it’s a story about the ripple effects of being denied proper conversations about intimacy.

Many sequences are laugh-out-loud funny, particularly when Singh’s character abandons the safe curriculum and dives into raw, unfiltered discussions with her students. The banter is sharp, the situations absurd, and the willingness to be crass pushes it into territory reminiscent of the genre’s 2000s heyday. Yet there’s a looseness that sometimes undercuts the punchlines.

The supporting cast maintains a solid energy throughout. Stephanie Beatriz, always sharp, brings her sardonic flair as a sex-positive lunch lady who encourages Maya’s unorthodox teaching style. Sabrina Jalees plays Maya’s childhood best friend, delivering both comic relief and emotional grounding as she helps Maya make up for the teenage experiences she missed. Mary Holland embodies the archetypal uptight teacher with just enough bite to make her more than a caricature. And Utkarsh Ambudkar, as a figure from Maya’s past, adds surprising weight (and more) to the story. Everyone seems fully aware of the film’s heightened, chaotic tone, which allows them to lean into the ridiculousness without losing charm.

The film has an undeniable spirit. Singh, who built her career by breaking boundaries online, clearly pours her own anxieties and triumphs into Maya. Her performance isn’t about perfection — it’s about relatability. Something refreshing is watching a protagonist who isn’t hyper-qualified, but instead fumbles, sweats, and learns in real time. The fact that Singh co-wrote and co-produced the film only deepens the personal connect; DOIN’ IT is a project born of both humor and conviction.

Zandieh’s direction embraces that same mix of chaos and sincerity. She frames the classroom as a battleground of conflicting values: the institutional rigidity of outdated curricula, the messy desires of teenagers, and the awkwardness of a teacher trying to reconcile her cultural upbringing with modern takes. It’s a clever way to illustrate how generational silence collides with contemporary honesty, all while maintaining a playful energy. The film doesn’t moralize — it revels in discomfort, hoping the laughs will soften the impact of harder truths.

The most interesting thing about DOIN’ IT is how it challenges the boundaries of its genre. Hollywood sex comedies have historically centered on male coming-of-age experiences; here, the story unapologetically places a South Asian woman at the center of the joke, the struggle, and the triumph. In doing so, it flips the script, allowing a different kind of awkwardness and shame to be explored. It may have a few stumbles along the way, but it’s a significant step toward broadening the genre's possibilities.

By the time the credits roll, the film leaves you with a mix of satisfaction and thought. It’s funny enough to recommend, important enough to spark conversations, and messy enough to show where its creators took risks. That’s the kind of imperfection comedy can thrive on. DOIN’ IT isn’t polished, but it’s gutsy, loud, and personal — and in a comedy landscape that often feels risk-averse, that counts for a lot.

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[photo courtesy of AURA ENTERTAINMENT, CAMELBACK PRODUCTIONS, LIKELY STORY, UNICORN ISLAND PRODUCTIONS]

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