Brat, The

Released originally in 1986, "The Brat" has significance for porn historians on a number of levels. First, it established the fact that Vivid Video was not just a company put together to release Ginger Lynn's work; but, by creating a new star, Jamie Summers, the company let the world know they intended to be around beyond the lifecycle of a single performer. Jamie was the first "Vivid Girl" and numerous others were to follow, but almost none had her "class" and self-respect.

Secondly, with "The Brat" Vivid created the first porn series (although Western Visuals did have "Nymphette" out before--without the marketing know-how). By the late 1990s, every porno company in existence would be promoting a series or two--as a way of getting the public to repeatedly buy their product (Facesitter, Asswoman, Gangbang Girl, etc.)

Third, and most importantly, with "The Brat" director Paul Thomas and star Jamie Summers began their long, twelve-year on again/off-again partnership that would in many ways define Vivid Video's Approach To Porn: Beautiful women, story focused, female friendly, fun and light. Thomas and Summers would work together on approximately a dozen or so productions (If you forget about the "part 1" "part 2" distribution strategy that broke up obviously single films) before Jamie--not having the taste for the female-degradation that porn was beginning to embrace--retired from sex vids and ran off to Florida with (ugh!) Charley Frey.

Today, Vivid Video, attempting to maintain its "image" of "The Class Act" of porn, could really use a Jamie Summers--a true girl next door, without the self-degrading antics that most porn girls embrace today. Maybe Devon can fill this void; only time will tell.

Anyway, "The Brat" is basically a "Gidget Gets Married" scenario: the basic story could play out on Must See TV on Thursday nights. Boy (Jerry Butler) marries girl of his dreams, girl would rather shop, pamper herself, hang with her friends; and only satisfies her husband's sexual requests as a way of maintaining her material goods--house, clothes, etc.

After some infidelity on the part of the husband, and lesbian sex by the wife, all turns out okay (for now) and the couple stay together--to be tested again in the next installment.

This is very innocent porn, with the major "test" of the female's commitment to the relationship/marriage being her willingness to give head--and swallow.

Innocent, but accessible by the mainstream public, and couples audience. Vivid Video had, in 1986, struck gold; with VCRs in every upscale condo and tract house this kinder, gentler porn had a home.

The sex in "The Brat" is uniformly good--though not spectacular. This was Summers first major production, and although she has stated that she enjoyed working with Jerry Butler (who played The Brat's husband, "Mort" in the first production; though he was later replaced in the series by Summers' most constant co-star, Tom Bryon), the chemistry is still not there. Yet, this works for the premise of the video; they aren't supposed to have fulfilling sex.

Jamie's girl/girl with "Rebecca Lynn" (Krista Lane?) is much better--and foretells of Summers' long (Janine-like) girl/girl period in the late eighties.

Jerry Butler does far better with Sioban Hunter and the much under-rated Brittany Stryker. Their three-way is hot, fun and well paced. The camera work is very good, and although Henri Pachard is credited as the director, Paul Thomas' signature appears all over this video (he's listed as the "producer".)

The other two major sex scenes are Jamie's: First with Joey Silvera, who she would work very effectively with in 1990 in "Jamie Loves Jeff #2" and the final scene with Summers and Butler getting their relationship back on track. Both scenes have variety of positions, good camera work, and good male/female rapport.

Again, this is light stuff, and the viewer will walk away from it feeling "good"--and maybe willing to continue to work on his or her own real-life relationships.

"The Brat" is one of Vivid's newest DVD releases, and has a bonus second DVD of previews and scenes from other Vivid Videos. It's true: Vivid is giving approximately EIGHT hours of adult material for a very low price. Good deal!

Also, the "B" side of "The Brat" DVD has some good scenes: Lene from "Supermodel", a very good girl/girl threesome that includes new Vivid girl Devon and a girl/girl that looks like it's from one of the "Bad Girl" series, with a brunette putting a beautiful-breasted blonde (Christina Angel?) through some S&M paces.

Bottom Line: This is definately a DVD for the collection of either serious porn collectors, or people interested in great couples videos.

Good Work Vivid... now how about a complete, UN-EDITED version of "House of Beauties" or a complete (parts 1 & 2) of "The Phoenix"?