In the charming comedic short Should We Do It?, writer/director Yuqi Sun celebrates the funny, nerve-wracking, and often mortifying specifics of young adult sexuality. Sweet and inexperienced college student Lily (Penny Lou) is headed to a party – and she has a mission: she’s going to lose her virginity. Adopting a pseudonym and provocative persona, she brings classmate Andy (Reed Barnett) back to her apartment to seduce him. Lily’s awkward advances keep hitting stumbling blocks as an amused Andy tries to get to know her and forge a real connection. As the night goes on, Lily’s search for a sexual partner results in unexpected intimacy and introspection.
Sun has crafted an entertaining romantic comedy filled with heart, depicting Lily lovingly even as her misconceived quest to ensnare Andy is mined for laughs. Sun captures the often-uncomfortable feeling of young adulthood, filled with new experiences, doubts, and self-examination. As she’s getting ready to go out, Lily practices conversation in the mirror, but the reflection betrays her unease, nervously picking at her clothes and second-guessing her line delivery. Lily decides to become “Sydney,” the perfect temptress, because she’s not yet comfortable in her own skin. Whether due to fear, embarrassment, or a combination of the two, Lily’s desire to appear worldly and alluring in front of her crush is an all-too-familiar feeling of youthful insecurity, and Sun depicts it with care. Simultaneously, Sun also finds humor in Lily’s inexperience; the film opens as Lily gives herself a lesson on prophylactics, clutching a banana wrapped in a condom and an instruction manual. Lily’s journey is silly, tender, and often relatable.
A two-hander that takes place entirely in Lily’s apartment, the cast rises to the challenge, working well together and finding nice moments of vulnerability. Lou is immensely watchable as Lily, excellently depicting the awkwardness of juggling her real personality with Sydney’s. Even as she puts on a bold show for her date, Lily can’t quite suppress her nerves or her true personality, letting Lou’s mercurial delivery drive the film’s humor. Barnett also delivers as Andy, imbuing his amusement at Lily with warmth and affection. Their chemistry is great, alternately shy and heated as they try to navigate the sometimes uncomfortable process of having an intimate encounter with a stranger.
The creative team has done a wonderful job filling out Lily’s world, providing a perfect backdrop for a strange night of seduction. Ziming Xie’s understated and intimately lit cinematography mimics the way in which Andy and Lily are drawn towards each other throughout the short, underscoring the emotional beats and working nicely in tandem with Sun’s editing. As the couple gets closer, so does the camera, finding shots that build on the tension between them. The makeup and costume design (Lily Kent) is also a highlight; Andy’s casual t-shirt and jeans represent him as an ideal everyman, while Lily’s sequined minidress and bold eye makeup feel like a costume she’s chosen for herself, meant to help her transform into Sydney.
Anchored by strong performances, Should We Do It? is an endearing short film that manages to depict a person’s first sexual experience with humor and truth.
