Time: 2:05, Director: Eddie Powell, Date: 2012
Screenshots: On our Tumblr
On the web: The Romance Series, IAFD
Cast: Lexi Bloom (23yo), Danny Mountain (28yo), Dana DeArmond (33yo), Xander Corvus (24yo), Giovanni Francisco, Riley Reid (21yo), and Anthony Rosano (35yo)
Source: DVD
Pleasure ✓, Passion ♀-, Balance ♀
Review
This is a Cyrano de Bergerac story, updated for the internet dating era. The script was written by Jacky St James, who is also credited as First Assistant Director and Production Manager.
Kevin (Anthony Rosano) and Gina (Riley Reid) are best friends, but just friends, who live together in one of those huge movie houses they could not possibly afford. Gina's sister, Wendy (Lexi Bloom), has her long-time boyfriend Mack (Danny Mountain) unexpectedly break up with her, so she proposes that they all try online dating. Kevin's work friend John (Xander Corvus) gives him some advice and offers to help him with his profile, using a picture of their other workmate Cameron (Giovanni Francisco). Of course, Gina finds that profile, and Kevin (aka "Surly Steve") and she start talking on the computer. In the end, Kevin has to confess, and Gina gets so angry with him she more or less ends their friendship. But everything works out in the end. Of course.
The movie, which was nominated for Best Romance Release at the AVN awards, is very story-focused, with about fifty minutes being devoted just to the story. And the story is an amusing enough version of the original (though not nearly as funny as Roxanne, though that is hardly a criticism). It is very, very funny in places, and in others quite sad. And, while there are places that the acting could be better, it is still pretty good overall, and it is very good at times.
It's a bit unfortunate how much is made in this movie of the 'friend zone'. The term has a lot of negative connotations for me, due to the way it is used by so-called PUAs. But set that aside. The term is embedded in the culture to some extent, and one does not have to understand the term the way the misogynistic dickheads do. It's certainly not what meant by it in this movie.
Overall, then, this is a really terrific porno. The sex is not as good as in some of the other movies in this series, however, though the women do seem to enjoy themselves. But the camera work in the sex scenes is really excellent, and the final scene is fantastic.
Scene 1: Lexi Bloom and Danny Mountain (♀♂)
Time: 15:00
Female Orgasm: Yes, Cumshot: Stomach
Pleasure ✓, Passion ♀, Balance ♀
In the first scene, Wendy (Lexi Bloom) is expecting her long-time boyfriend Mack (Danny Mountain) to propose, so she waits for him on the bed in white lingerie, after which they have sex. She cums while he is fucking her from behind. They cuddle afterwards, but his "surprise" turns out to be that their relationship isn't working, and he breaks up with her.
There's a great connection between them, with a fair bit of kissing, and some excellent communication. She is fairly active, too, but her moaning, though it may be natural, is a bit distracting.
The camera work is terrific here, with lots of close-ups of his face as she sucks him, and also as they are fucking. The camera moves a fair bit, too, and is rarely stationary for very long. There is quite a bit of editing, but it is well done, and the scene still seems to progress fairly naturally.
A really nice scene overall.
Scene 2: Dana DeArmond and Xander Corvus (♀♂)
Time: 18:00
Cumshot: Stomach
Pleasure ✓, Passion ♀, Balance ♀
In the second scene, Tiffany (Dana DeArmond) stops by to see her boyfriend John (Xander Corvus) so she can apologize for cheating on him. She says she had to do it because it was on her bucket list, but wants to get back together with him. So they have sex in the bathroom.
The connection between them is good, but not quite as good as in the first scene. But there is a lot of kissing, and a good bit of communication. She seems to have a very nice time, too, and often seems close to cumming, though she never does.
The photography here is similar to that in the first scene, and every bit as good.
Scene 3: Lexi Bloom and Giovanni Francisco (♀♂)
Time: 19:00
Cumshot: Tits
Pleasure ✓, Passion ✓, Balance ♀
In the third scene, Wendy (Lexi Bloom), who is getting frustrated with the online dating scene, decides to go out and get drunk. She ends up having sex with Cameron (Giovanni Francisco), the guy whose picture Kevin had used for his profile.
So it's meant to be two people who've just met at a bar or something, and who have more than just a sexual attraction, having sex for the first time. But it just isn't as passionate as it should be. It's sweet, and quite romantic, but that isn't the right feel, and they don't kiss enough. Ultimately, the sex seems a bit rote, and the ending, with them hopping up so he can cum on her tits, is pornish and out of character for the rest of the scene. Worse, she never seems all that aroused.
The camera work is again fantastic, though.
Scene 4: Riley Reid and Anthony Rosano (♀♂)
Time: 22:00
Cumshot: Stomach
Pleasure ✓, Passion ♀, Balance ♀
In the last scene, Kevin (Anthony Rosano) and Gina (Riley Reid) finally get together. The connection between them is fantastic, and sweet, and the way they interact is completely convincing for the scene. Their expressions of affection, and the way they smile at each other, add a lot. Overall, it is incredible how well this scene is acted.
The downside is that, while she seems to enjoy herself a great deal, she never seems all that aroused. It's too bad, because otherwise it is truly amazing.
