Peter Sarsgaard is a computer nerd named Richard. Molly Parker is a stripper named Florence. They negotiate a vacation together where he'll pay her ten thousand dollars and she'll give him about two-thirds of the girlfriend experience. The Center of the World has an overall mumblecore feel to it, which makes sense given Miranda July has a story credit.

Florence is quick to clarify that she's a stripper, not a hooker. She insists on a long list of rules, including no kissing and no penetration. This movie is proof positive that "simp" is recent slang for an ageless concept. On the other hand, at least she's not heartless enough to stick him with three days of constant blue balls. Dry humping is still on the table.

Carla Gugino appears as an old friend of Florence. Richard and Florence keep playing the boyfriend/girlfriend roles in front of her. When they run into one of Richard's college friends (Balthazar Getty), they take the roleplay a step further, with Florence affecting a southern accent and devising an intricate back story.

This is about the time Florence starts to worry about catching feelings for Richard. I didn't really see why. He's a socially awkward manbaby. I'm sure she has regulars at the strip club who aren't half as off-putting as he is, and she hasn't caught feelings for any of them, has she?

When a rumor spreads that Richard is in Vegas with a hooker, his business partners email him, concerned that the scandal could "kill the IPO." Come on. A techbro with a hooker isn't a scandal. It's a bullet point.

If you're looking for a romance, this ain't it. If you're looking for a character study, it ain't much of that either. Richard's not interesting enough. Florence feels like a plot contrivance. The ending sucked.

4 out of 10.

Seen on Tubi.