Debbie Does Dallas...Again

The greatly anticipated Blu-ray DVD debut of Paul Thomas's DEBBIE DOES DALLAS...AGAIN, strangely enough, reminds me of the events surrounding 2006's SUPERMAN RETURNS, and it's possible that the polarized audience reception which happened to Bryan Singer's Man Of Steel may happen to Debbie herself. Both are highly prolific films in their respective genres, with a fascinating cinematic history of remakes and sequels spanning nearly three decades. Both serve as vague sequels, and by design, also as pseudo-remakes of the originals in terms of story structure and action. Both are also visually distinctive, with muted colors and a generally dark appearance even in outdoor scenes. Finally, both have become highly touted for their long-awaited debut on high definition home video, where competing formats are engaged in a war not unlike VHS versus Beta. (And of course, both introduce a superpowered offspring of the main character...Just kidding, folks.)

However, unlike the Superman movie, DEBBIE DOES DALLAS...AGAIN falls short of even the most modest of technical expectations expected of a Blu-ray title. Obviously, it's still the same critically acclaimed, best-selling feature which premiered in early 2007, and was preceded by a popular Showtime documentary series. However, its presentation on high definition disappoints on so many levels that it may ultimately do the new disc format more harm than good. Because this is a Blu-ray title, the actual content of the movie is probably less significant than its video quality, so all home theatre enthusiasts and porn fans undoubtedly have just one question to ask: How does DEBBIE look?

Well, the actresses who play her (leggy blondes Stefani Morgan and Hillary Scott) look terrific, as does most of the female cast including the beyond beautiful Sunny Leone. As for the picture itself? Well... It's okay. If I was watching a standard definition, anamorphic DVD, I would be impressed. But given that this movie boasts of a high definition source presented on 1080p Blu-ray disc, the visuals are overwhelmingly unimpressive. (For the record, I watched this disc from a PS3 on a professionally calibrated Sony 46" 1080p LCD using outrageously overpriced "videophile" cables.)

Visually, DEBBIE DOES DALLAS...AGAIN suffers from an excess of grain, occasional picture drop-outs, and hazy lighting, all of which are commonplace in porno flicks, but I expected better for such an ambitious production. (Legendary filmmaker Andrew Blake once explained how cheap film stock and mediocre processing lead to grainy transfers, and that is what appears to be the case here.) Despite all the modern advances in video, DEBBIE...AGAIN looks only slightly better than previous classic films directed by Paul Thomas like BAD WIVES and JUSTINE: NOTHING TO HIDE PART II, yet those were made more than ten years ago. If you are interested in DEBBIE merely for the experience of watching electron microscopic details of human flesh, then really, don't bother. I stared as hard as I could at the girls (especially Sunny Leone and Penny Flame, who are just about as easy on the eyes as one could imagine) to see if I would discern lifelike details, but ended up with no notable results. (In the case of guys like Marty Romano, the visual mush is actually a benefit.) My impressions were confirmed when I compared the Photo Gallery to their video counterparts - such as the stills of Cassidey and Hillary naked and doing their thing in a locker room threesome - and by far, the static images were crisper, more colorful and displayed more detail and depth than anything in motion. If the main feature looked half as good as the Photo Gallery, then I would have been dazzled and breathless.

Like the video, the sound quality is also just okay. Dolby Digital 2.0 is about as standard and generic as the audio gets, so don't expect a dazzling surround sound experience, and don't even think about high fidelity. Still, when compared to the second-rate audio heard on the standard definition-shot "Vivid Store" featurette (basically a series of ads, with babes like Briana Banks and Sunrise Adams seducing us into buying more studio products), it's clear that the actual film and the Behind The Scenes piece are at least technically above average. And I was grateful as hell that the generic rap number heard during the main menu did not play a significant role on the movie's soundtrack.

As far as bonus features are concerned, this is yet another Blu-ray title which doesn't carry over all the extras of its DVD counterpart. Mainstream HD programs usually forego or truncate extras found on the original releases, but the missing material here further places into question this title's overall value. Gone is the bonus disc featuring the original DEBBIE DOES DALLAS (through an arrangement with VCX), as well the director and performer commentaries, bloopers, outtakes, and excerpts taken from previous Vivid films which cashed in on the DEBBIE title. I understand that not everyone indulges in the extra material, but their absence here demonstrates less than goodwill on the studio's part. I was mildly amused by the alternate angle feature which actually allows you to watch different takes and camera angles of the hardcore scenes without employing any annoying icons, and the scene selection options (by action or by cast) are handy. Still, what we lose here versus what is available on the original DVD is considerable, and can piss-off even the most forgiving of customers.

Ignoring the questionable added value of its Blu-ray picture, there is still no doubt that DDD...A is still an exceptional porno. The movie takes us back to a place as far removed from Texas as a porno can get, where the iconic and ambitious Debbie (Stefani Morgan) gets herself involved in personal and intimate settings. In this case, she is riding her team hard in order to get to some cheerleading competition in fabulous Bakersfield, California. Schoolgirl rival Allison, as played by Monique Alexander, indirectly manages to get Debbie killed during a stunt. (During cheerleading practice, Debbie is thrown in the air by Derrick Pierce and her teammates for the famed "triple double tumble flip." Maliciously, Monique flashes her crotch at Derrick Pierce, who apparently has never seen an exposed clitoris sparkle in cartoon colors before, and who thus fails to catch Debbie when gravity pulls her back to earth.) Stefani then meets up with her guardian angel who happens to look like the fetchingly cute Penny Flame, who helps Debbie out by putting her into the body Hillary Scott, originally introduced as a sort of nerd girl. As expected, we see Miss Scott's transformation from awkward bookworm to sexual powerhouse, and Debbie's vengeful exploits are pushed to the limit. Sex happens (and often), and eventually there's some resolution with Debbie's dilemma along with a plot- twist at the end.

Despite the line-up of Vivid Girls appearing here (just check out the eye-catching box cover for a sample), the hardcore isn't nearly as physically impressive or daring when compared to what's typically available on your average gonzo release. If you're looking for something a bit kinky, or novel, or even different when it comes to the fucking and sucking, then lower your expectations. The true erotic value in adult features is derived from tension-filled sexual situations as well as the natural chemistry brewing between the performers. Extended gynecological shots or triple pussy penetration scenes are great and all, but can look and feel more clinical than exciting. Even when the drama is done poorly, the set-ups and situations add some value and depth to the action. Luckily, DDD...A succeeds in telling a fairly coherent story where the sex develops naturally and through an understanding of the characters. No, it's not an epic worthy of Mario Puzo or even Joe Eszterhas, but the story works.

Then again, those viewers who are familiar with Paul Thomas's work may find the supernatural concept of DDD...A (an angel, a devil among other elements) to be a retread of the same theme. Concepts based on revenge-fantasy, deals with the devil and so forth can make for imaginative sex scenes and storytelling, but I've grown a little weary of this kind of device. It was done exceptionally well in BAD WIVES 2, but enough already. Yet, the director retains his skill and imagination when it comes to the "good stuff" (despite the presence of condoms in a few straight pairings), especially during the multiple partner segments such as the aforementioned locker-room threesome with Cassidey (it's a pleasure to see her again, even though she left the business on a high note with MARISSA), Hillary and Derrick, and the orgy finale with Monique, Savanna Sampson (as "Miss Jones" an inside joke which works on several levels), Evan Stone, Jay Huntington and Christian X.

However, of the seven sex scenes, there are a few below-average moments which hurt the erotic flow, including an unattractive fetish-based affair between Staci Thorn and Marty Romano (the presence of tattoos, use of candle wax and occasional spanking simply are not at all my cup of tea), and a tepid all-girl trio with Sunny Leone (once again, gorgeous beyond belief, but sorely underused in this film), Lacie and Courtney Simpson which suffers from awkward camera work and uninspired performances.

Likewise, there are jarring moments when the overall set-up and direction of what should be a big-event title look surprisingly pedestrian and at times less than fully competent. I have to assume that the director chose to go casually over-the-top when it came to the physical "comedy" because Mr. Thomas is surely capable of more professional work, and some scenes like Debbie being tossed into the air, a priest (played by Paul Thomas) being knocked down with cremated ashes thrown all over him, and similar situations look like something produced and planted on YouTube. Other potentially good scenes like Evan Stone taking on both Stefani and Penny while Kayla Paige, Kina Kai, Lisa Daniels and Samantha Ryan flirt and cavort around them are visually arresting, but lack any wit or tension. .

Similarly, the acting is a mixed bag even for smut. Hillary Scott, Stefani Morgan and Penny Flame give good, solid performances, but the guys seem less than dedicated. Evan Stone as "Todd" mugs incessantly, but we expect that from this guy, while lead actors Derrick Pierce seem a bit lazy in delivering his lines. Back in my day, major films like Night Trips and Chameleon had solid studs like Randy Spears and Tom Byron at least trying to display some acting talent to go along with their cocksmanship. But as DDD...A demonstrates, acting in porn remains one of the weakest links in even the most high budgeted of productions.

Speculation on the viability of Blu-ray versus HD DVD has already run rampant in the general media and on the Internet since the high-def wars began a few short years ago so a debate in this review would be less than useless. Only one thing is for sure: today's technology will always be superceded by tomorrow's, so even the most popular and long-lasting of formats will someday acquiesce to the superiority or convenience of another. The real question is not whether the format you choose will be forever permanent and prevailing (it won't), but whether an appreciable upgrade in your video collection to present standards is worth your time and money. Mind you, this is not the first time the lowly cinematic genre we call "dirty movies" has been available on a high falutin' format, for once upon a time, laserdiscs were the high end alternatives to the now-unwatchable media known as VHS (or Beta) videotape. Yet, even adult material couldn't raise that niche format to anything above cult status. (Of course, it didn't help matters that videodiscs would often deteriorate into chemical sludge once the dreaded "laser rot" set in.)

Given the fairly inexpensive cost of Blu-ray players, I definitely feel that the "new technology" in porn will be worth every dollar. If you loved the standard DVD version of DEBBIE DOES DALLAS...AGAIN, and you have the technical and financial means, then picking up this disc is a no-brainer. Life is too short not to experience your favorite flicks on the best home video medium available. Hell, if fans are willing double or triple dip on mainstream movies, then why shouldn't we do the same with porn (which, let's face it, probably gets more repeated plays than all your versions of ROBOCOP)?

But if excellence in picture presentation is what you really want, then porno videophiles will have to wait for future releases which accurately show off just how stunning a Blu-ray picture can be. Debbie does indeed do Dallas again, but she has yet to do provide orgasmic satisfaction to high definition.

Probably the biggest release we've seen from the adult industry so far in 2007, Debbie Does Dallas...Again lives up to the hype, and is one of the most enjoyable porn flicks we've seen from Vivid Pictures in quite some time. This is the umpteenth attempt by Vivid to capitalize on the popularity of the 1978 classic (which Vivid has included as part of this 3-disc release), but I don't think they've had as much fun with the character before as they do this time around.

Directed by Paul Thomas and starring Stefani Morgan as Debbie, the movie begins with a shocker - as Debbie is killed at cheerleader practice while attempting the "triple double tumble flip". The squad is practicing so they can win the upcoming World Championship in Bakersfield, but there's trouble brewing between Debbie and one of the other cheerleaders on the team (played by Monique Alexander), who gets jealous when she finds Stefani making out with Derrick Pierce in the movie's opening sex scene.

When Stefani is attempting her difficult flip in practice, Monique distracts Derrick (who's waiting to catch Stefani) by flashing her pussy at him. The distraction is enough for Derrick to miss catching Stefani, and the next thing we know we're at her funeral. But this is only the beginning for Debbie/Stefani. In the afterlife, she's welcomed by a guardian angel (Penny Flame) who eventually grants Stefani's wish of returning to Earth. But there's a catch - she's not allowed to return in her former body, but has to use another one. Fortunately for viewers, it's the body of sexy starlet Hillary Scott!

Hillary's character is pretty much a geek before Debbie inhabits her body, but after she does - watch out! Hillary shows how much she has "changed" in a wild locker room threesome with Derrick and Cassidey, during which Cassidey dons a pink strap on and helps double penetrate Hillary - with the strap-on in her pussy, and Derrick up her ass.

Director Paul Thomas, who's always been into the surreal in many of his movies, holds off and presents a pretty straightforward plot up until the very end, and then gives Debbie Does Dallas...Again a nice little twist. As it turns out, Penny Lane's angel isn't an angel at all...but the devil herself, and she manages to have both Stefani and Monique in hell for the last scene of the movie. But that's not all - Savanna Samson also joins in, playing "Miss Jones", presumingly the same character she played in Thomas' The New Devil In Miss Jones. The three ladies get into a movie-ending mini-orgy with studs Evan Stone, Jay Huntington and Christian that includes Savanna getting anal doggy style.

There are seven total sex scenes in the movie, and other than the ones I've already mentioned, viewers will also get to see the following: a casket sex scene between Monique and Derrick that takes place right after Debbie's funeral; a girl/girl pairing between Lacie Heart and Sunny Leone (which is intercut with a masturbation scene featuring Courtney Simpson); a "heavenly" threesome involving Stefani, Penny and Evan Stone; and a funny boy/girl scene between blonde Staci Thorn and the heavily-tattooed Marty Romano.

Disc 1 of this set contains the movie, which is shown in widescreen anamorphic with a 2.0 Dolby soundtrack (available in both English and Spanish). For the most part, this is a pretty good transfer, but there are some noticeable flecks of dirt on the print during certain scenes that prevent me from giving the video a perfect score (like most Paul Thomas efforts, the movie has been shot on film). Certain portions of the sex scenes have a second angle available for viewing, and viewers have the option (in the "Set Up" menu) to turn the multiple angle icon (which will appear in the top right corner of your screen) on or off before watching the film. Sadly, there was no director or performer commentary track recorded for the movie.

Over on Disc 2 is all the bonus material, including a nice 38-minute Behind The Scenes featurette, along with over an hour of "Bonus Sex", which consists of both raw footage of sex we see in the movie as well as some unused/deleted footage from those sex scenes. Also on Disc 2 is a collection of six bonus scenes taken from previous incarnations of the Debbie franchise. Viewers will get to see Lexa (aka "Lexus") and Jon Dough from Debbie Does Dallas: The Next Generation; Lexa, Lovette and Billy Glide from Debbie Does Dallas 99; Sky and Tyce Bune from Debbie Does Iowa; Sky, Chandler, Blair Segal and Devin Wolf from Debbie Does New Orleans; Sunrise Adams and Randy Spears from Debbie Does Dallas: East vs. West; and Sunrise Adams and Nicole Sheridan from Debbie Does Dallas: The Revenge.

Wrapping up the bonus material on Disc 2, viewers will find three slide shows (one for the girls, one for the hardcore sex, and a behind the scenes one); trailers for other Vivid titles; and a text biography for Stefani Morgan. As already noted, the third disc in this set is the original Debbie Does Dallas, and it's basically the same disc that VCX currently offers separately.

I've generally found that big press and big releases usually result in "big disappointment" when it comes to porn, but I have to give Vivid credit: they've managed to live up to the hype on this one. I think one of the reasons is because they didn't take themselves too seriously this time around. Debbie Does Dallas...Again is light and fluffy...but it's also a whole heck of a lot of fun. Porn fans haven't been let down this time...so sit back and enjoy!

I hate to sound like an echo, but the good doctor's got it right on the nail with this one.

I'll concede I'm not a fan of American porn (for too many reasons to list here), but I thought with this release (one of the first Blu-Ray adult films) I might find a "gem".

Imagine my dismay when the video began to play. I'm not convinced this video transfer looks any better than the standard DVD would "upscaled" by my PS3.

And very noticeably absent are all the bonus features of the standard DVD.

Here's to hoping that this lackluster Blu-Ray release isn't a precursor of what's to come from adult film companies looking to cash in on the Hi-Def market.

I was excited to watch this film even after the numerous delays.First off I have not seen the original DVD or even the HD DVD version, so I don't have anthing to compare this version to, but the picture quality is poor. For the first Blu-Ray porn on the market and all delays, my hopes were high, but after only ten seconds into the movie the video noise drove me mad, prompting me to stop the movie. It brought back bad memories of the Blu-Ray version of The Fifth Element with its poor video quality and lack of substantial bonus material.

The disc is compressed using the standard video codec Mpeg2 and the audio is a 2.0 Dolby 192 kbps track presented in English and Spanish.

The movie itself is very good with great sex scenes and an above-average story, but unfortunately the negatives outweigh the positives. I would recommend this version only for the most die-hard Vivid fans.