Sonny (2002)

Some people are born into it. Think of the young Rockefellers, the latter-day Kennedys, the chick in high school whose dad made all that money in waste removal. By odds of birth, these fortunate youths were set smack in the middle of what the rest of us must strive a lifetime to approach. This is especially true for actor Nicolas Cage whose career was enhanced via his Coppola family connections: he’s the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire, and is cousin to actor Jason Schwartzman and filmmakers Roman and Sofia Coppola. As such, it’s fitting that Cage’s directorial debut should come with Sonny (2002). The R-rated film follows Sonny (James Franco) who has been raised in a New Orleans bordello that his mother (Brenda Blethyn) owns. Talk about luck! And yet this dude wants to break away from a life of promiscuous sex and easy money. With a bevy of topless chicks in the pic, we just can’t wrap our heads around this. Why would any man want to exit the scene when a wealthy woman (Janet Shea) is flashing her mams while engaging in bedroom role play? If that’s not arousing enough, Meg (Brenda Vaccaro) reveals her rack while in the sack. Breast of all, Gretchen (Josie Davis) bares her boobs, butt, and a bit of bush! Despite her flesh flashing, Sonny is in love with Carol (Mena Suvari) who weds another. But just because the titular fellow doesn’t get his happy ending doesn’t mean you won’t!