I mostly liked this movie, which is adapted from the supposedly shocking account of a (French) female university student who turned to prostitution to pay her way through school. It’s likely the film's intention to expose this situation that gives the whole thing a somewhat negative feel – as you’re introduced to the main character, Laura, and see her descend into a state of personal degradation while trading her youth for money and trendy items. The initial shock value of the book the screenplay was based on came from claims about widespread prostitution among female college students struggling financially, so it's not surprising that the director seemed determined to ensure the sexual activity in the film didn’t appear enjoyable. They definitely succeeded in that! Deborah Francois, the actress who plays the lead, is beautiful – in a way that makes her believable as a vulnerable protagonist for this unpleasant story... and she clearly doesn’t seem happy about what she's doing sexually. This made the plot feel increasingly unbelievable and hard to follow after a while. Even though Ms. Francois reveals her body frequently and participates in sexual encounters with various somewhat flawed men, nothing is remotely exciting or stimulating. It's clear how bored and disgusted she seems! You have to wonder why one of her regular customers, 'Joe,' keeps returning, or why she continues for as long as she does. Without getting into the complicated moral and political issues surrounding prostitution, I felt this film presents a very one-sided and preachy view of the situation. Some critics compare “Student Services” to "Pretty Woman" and praise it for offering a more realistic depiction of the unpleasant aspects of prostitution – but personally, I think a better comparison would be to the cable TV series "Diary of A Call Girl," based on the true experiences of London escort (and student!) Belle de Jour. 'Belle' also portrays a conflicted character trying to balance her life while facing societal disapproval of sex workers—but she at least derives some pleasure from what she does, and occasionally even finds that her sexual skills can help people overcome personal problems. Granted, the clients Laura encounters in "Student Services" are depicted as particularly crude – but where’s any sense of connection or compassion? Ultimately, I started to feel sorry for her self-hatred and lost interest in the story, such as it was. There are obviously larger issues of youth poverty and economic inequality at play, but they aren't explored or answered here. If you’re only interested in seeing Ms. Francois naked, then it might be worth a look—but don’t expect to be thrilled by it.

Source on TMDB