Anastasia Steele does not have an orgasm in the film “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Perhaps she’s intended to, but we, the viewers, have no way of knowing if and when she climaxes. Her orgasm is never spoken of. Not once.
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That’s a problem: instead of selling a fantasy, “Fifty Shades of Grey,” becomes a mess of innuendo, blurred consent lines and, ultimately, emotional and physical abuse. Ana says no a lot and fights Christian’s claims that he “doesn’t do hearts and flowers” at nearly every sexual turn. Yet he overpowers her by breaking his own rules (Christian even calls Ana his girlfriend) and giving mixed signals. It all results in the film’s dramatic finale — spoiler alert — a troubling sequence where Ana asks Christian to show her how “bad it can be.” It’s bad: he beats her with a belt six times, as she keeps count and we watch her cry. Pain and fear aren’t emotions “Fifty Shades of Grey” is afraid to show; too bad pleasure and ecstasy are apparently off limits.
