Playgirl: Sensual Playground

SENSUAL PLAYGROUND is a well-shot, and elegantly directed video from Playgirl TV (under Wicked Pictures). But don't let the studio name and introductory logo (featuring coy photos of naked buff guys) scare you off too much (and by "you" I am obviously directing my comments towards heterosexual males). The six vignettes are unashamedly couples-oriented, and the hardcore scenes are usually overdubbed with romantic Muzak, making the DVD seem like a collection of music videos.

The generic title recalls the work of renowned adult directors such as Andrew Blake (SENSUAL EXPOSURE, PARIS CHIC, and HIDDEN OBSESSIONS) and Michael Ninn (DIVA, FEM TANGO, and SACRED SIN), whose artistic visions and highbrow productions have made their movies genuine classics. SENSUAL PLAYGROUND doesn't attempt to achieve that level of craft, and indeed, for those who hate highbrow erotica, the more graphic sex scenes and straightforward editing in this movie will be a relief. So if it's hardcore you want, this movie delivers, but in rather dainty and pretty package aimed for those who want snippets of melodrama and romance.

Each scene is apparently categorized by theme ("Erotic Encounters" can be awfully generic) and title. For instance, Ahryan Astyn's affair with Danny Mountain falls under "Private Moments" and is titled "The Watcher" and basically involves some guy admiring his girl who is poses and masturbates with extreme proficiency. After her solo show, they make out, give each other mutual head, and then fuck in cowgirl and missionary until he nuts on her crotch. The whole prelude is a bit heavy-handed and rather ridiculous, but it probably works for Playgirl's target audience. This same physical formula is pretty much duplicated in each scene (with variations in positioning, of course) and the viewer is filled with a sense of sameness as the flick progresses. None of the cumshots land anywhere close to the mouth, and you can forget about the possibility of anal, threesomes or lesbian conduct. I understand that most women probably don't care to see oral cumshots, much less cum-swapping or swallowing, but a little nastiness would have gone a long way.

Other pairings include blonde and busty Charisma Cappelli with Rocco Reed as two Yuppie types, who dine then have sex under a patio. Aiden Starr and Tony DeSergio get wet and wild in a bubbly bathtub, while sexy brunette Bobby Starr has sex in a kitchen with Franco Del Toro. Alan Stafford provides "stress relief" to Jaylyn Rose with a romp on the couch (actually, it looks to me that he's getting more of a release than she is), while Carolyn Reese and Cheyne Collins have a bedroom romp based on a steamy story narrated by Miss Reese. The locations aren't at all exotic or even the slightest bit unusual, but I suppose they are varied enough to constitute "sensual playgrounds."

The Behind The Scenes segment runs less than ten minutes long, and offers an enjoyable look into how director Sky Blue approaches her scenes. A bonus scene featuring Emiliana and Christian shows the cute blonde getting all hot and bothered by her "gorgeous grease monkey" whacking off, and the two have sex on a garage staircase. Incidentally, this excerpt does have an money shot to her mouth, which was a welcome visual after all the coyness found in the main feature. The anamorphic picture is deliberately hazy due to some soft focus videography, but the images are still crisp and strong. Sound is generally good, even with the instrumental music blaring away during most of the of the sex scenes.

Overall, I enjoyed this movie based on the solid production values and attractive women, but it doesn't impress me as being anything above the average.