In spite of a protagonist who is not that likable played by an actor who is good looking and charming enough that you forget it every once in a while, Sex and Death 101 manages to really come together in the end. Unfortunately it's _mostly_ the end. As promised by the main character Mr. Blank we do get a satisfactory end. Winona Ryder's Death Nell is a compelling character who deserved more screentime as she ends up actually more likable than our Mr Blank. She has purpose and motive and gravias. Blank as a character is as his name. He's not really a person. He's a slave to the list unenthusiastically hunting down names to mate with and even when he's trying for love only cares about sex. It's a role and character that just wouldn't work in anyone with any less charisma than Simon Baker.

Thus noted even Baker's grin can only carry the movie so far. Ryder's Death Nell might have brought a lot more dynamism if she had a bigger part but for most of the film she's mostly a background character. The final act though is worth not stopping half way through the movie for. It might not be worth hitting play but it's certainly worth not hitting stop.