Body Heat

BODY HEAT is one of Robby D's most ambitious titles, and certainly the best feature I've seen this year. If those comments sound familiar, it's because I've stated pretty much the same thing following my review of TEACHERS and FLY GIRLS. Like those "event" titles, this is a porno which stands apart from all the forgettable junk regularly churned out by the industry. BODY HEAT focuses on firefighters, and though the subject matter has been tackled before in porn, the results here are far more accomplished. Back in the day when DVD was still a fairly new technology, Wicked Pictures gave hungry smut connoisseurs a big budget film about firefighters entitled FLASHPOINT. It was highly acclaimed and became an instant bestseller. Well, as good as that title is, there's no doubt in my mind that BODY HEAT is better in nearly every respect. The sex is more natural and "realistic," and the movie doesn't have that unrelenting, melodramatic dreariness which tries to pass as a plot.

Like every American kid, I always wanted to be a firefighter growing up. It just seemed like a coolest job in the world (no irony intended). Many years later, I watched SEYMORE AND SHANE PLAYING WITH FIRE in which the luscious Shane finds herself stranded in New York, wanders over to a fire station, and generously provides an amazing blowjob to an anonymous fireman. The video eventually caused a scandal, but also reminded me why chicks dig these guys. (I don't think there are a bunch of hot, sexy groupies out there devoted to porn reviewers.)

BODY HEAT isn't meant to be an adult version of EMERGENCY! (an old TV show from the seventies) or even BACKDRAFT (a summer hit from the early nineties). Director Robby D. avoids taking the endless and tired cliches where a hit TV show from yesteryear is translated into yet another parody (who wouldn't yawn at the prospect of a THIS AIN'T LA FIREFIGHTERS or THIRD WATCH: A XXX PARODY?) by coming up with a fairly original story and engaging premise. Moreover, I was impressed by the use of authentic uniforms, actual firefighting equipment, and seeing a real fire engine roar down a city street. More importantly, the other action scenes actually advance the plot and affect the main characters within the context of the story; it's not just another suck and fuck flick where firefighting happens to be incidental, or shown as mere novelty. In this movie, Mr. Ferrara is blown-up ("real good!" as Big Jim McBob would say) when he unsuccessfully attempts to disarm a bomb planted by some anarchist, perhaps trying to thwart the interests of a greedy real estate developer. Along the way, we find that our heroines and heroes are in danger of being laid off and Kayden must deal with her loss with the support of her crew, Captain (Katsuni) and psychiatrist (Raven Alexis).

It's easy to see why a movie like this would need nearly two hours and twenty minutes to resolve all issues whenever someone isn't being engaging in hardcore conduce onscreen. As he did with the excellent TEACHERS and FLY GIRLS, Director Robby D. strikes a near perfect balance of hardcore and story, directing several scenes which are slower paced and romantic, such as Kayden's and Manuel Ferrara early morning makeout session which bursts into a very hot bump and grind in the back of an ambulance, and other scenes which are more frenzied and to the point, including Riley and Bridged B's blistering menage a trois with Ben English.

The film opens with some old stock footage of firemen (and I mean men) at work, and the black and white film makes the transition to color and to the present day, in which we see women doing what used to be considered a man's job. Aside from the gorgeous videography and unbelievable eye-candy, I was immediately struck by all the nuances and details which greatly add to the dramatic experience: detailed sets, a tasteful music score, and overall fine acting from the players, who manage to deliver their lines without sounding too stilted or over emoting.

A few in-jokes and snappy dialogue keep the drama from being too overwrought. In particular, I appreciated an obvious reference to Tera Patrick, made in passing by Jesse Jane and Tommy Gunn. There's also a brief but fun scene where bikini-clad Jesse and Riley attempt to raise money by washing their trucks with plenty of soap and water. As the fire Captain, Katsuni's thick French accent can be a bit distracting, but I can't complain about anyone who looks as fantastic as she does in workout shorts and a half shirt. Her threesome with Tommy Gunn and Mick Blue is playful and action-packed, but disappoints due to the absence of any anal or double penetration. (Katsuni has always excelled in both areas, and it's too bad her talents weren't used to their fullest potential.)

Also, psychiatrist Raven Alexis's somewhat monotone line deliveries could have been juiced up a bit, but her beauty and sex appeal easily make up for any alleged shortcomings. Her seduction of Tommy is a textbook example of a good, solid sex scene. Likewise, her team-up with Mr. Blue is almost as thrilling as her initial pairing with him in the terrific JACK'S POV 16, which happened to be my first indecent exposure to this sexy brunette. I was pleased to see that Alexis was significantly less inhibited and more responsive than when I last saw her as THE SUBSTITUTE, an otherwise fine flick where she seemed less than "inspired." However, it's easy to tell that for whatever reason, Alexis is more comfortable with a cock and even cum in her mouth than another guy's tongue. I guess kissing remains a bit too intimate for her.

Predictably, Jesse Jane delivers yet another high energy coupling with Scott Nails performed primarily on top of a fire truck. There's nothing more I have to say about Miss Jane other than she almost never shies away from an oral cumshot, and therefore, almost never disappoints. However, the most memorable events of BODY HEAT, occur at the end, where all five girls get together for an orgy. (One can safely assume that their get-together is a celebration of a happy ending.) Katsuni initiates the proceedings by stripping down to the familiar yellow biking, then all the girls surround her and help each other strip. Jesse works aggressively on Raven, while Kayden and Riley share a few mouth-filled moments together. (I've been dying to see the two blondes work together after watching them play sisters in THE SMITHS.) It's been a long time since I've seen any girl-girl action in a Digital Playground production, and this climax almost makes up for the unexplained absence. Kudos to the girls and their director for giving us lots of kissing and plenty of position and partner changes. With all the beauties involved, I feared that this five-way would be nothing but static poses and softcore action (which is fine for an Andrew Blake film, but not what I want in my features), but fortunately, Mr. D delivers a finale which concludes BODY HEAT perfectly.

Actually, the movie ends with a brief bit suggesting a sequel, as well as a concluding shot focusing on a picture of Jesse Jane, which humorously wraps up the in-joke set forth earlier. It's yet another stylish touch which really adds to our enjoyment of this excellent effort.

It almost goes without saying that BODY HEAT is a visually stunning DVD. I happened to review the Blu-ray edition, and the anamorphic, standard definition DVD compares favorably. I have no complaints about the way Robby D lights his scenes, which are usually bright and crisp without looking garish, and his look terrific on my 55" screen. It's true that high definition visuals can sometimes be merciless in highlighting blemishes, scratches and other natural"flaws" of the human body, but all the girls still look great even in microscopic close-up The sound is excellent, and dialogue is clear even amidst all the sound effects and music.

BODY HEAT is presented as a two-disc package, with the first platter containing the movie and the second disc providing the extras. Fans are provided an entertaining Behind The Scenes documentary, which runs over a half hour and offers short and lighthearted interviews with most of the cast. Also, nearly three minutes of previously deleted, non-hardcore footage is offered, which helps flesh the characters, but doesn't add that much more to the movie. Other than that, audiences get a set of studio trailers and a photo gallery. While I appreciate Digital Playground's efforts to beef up the extras, I wanted more, and definitely feel that BODY HEAT deserves it. This movie is hotter than hell.

BODY HEAT is one of Robby D's most ambitious titles, and certainly the best feature I've seen this year. If those comments sound familiar, it's because I've stated pretty much the same thing following my review of TEACHERS and FLY GIRLS. Like those "event" titles, this is a porno which stands apart from all the forgettable junk regularly churned out by the industry. BODY HEAT focuses on firefighters, and though the subject matter has been tackled before in porn, the results here are far more accomplished.

Like every American kid, I always wanted to be a firefighter growing up. It just seemed like a coolest job in the world (no irony intended). Many years later, I watched SEYMORE AND SHANE PLAYING WITH FIRE in which the luscious Shane finds herself stranded in New York, wanders over to a fire station, and generously provides an amazing blowjob to an anonymous fireman. The video eventually caused a scandal, but also reminded me why chicks dig these guys. (I don't think there are a bunch of hot, sexy groupies out there devoted to porn reviewers.)

BODY HEAT isn't meant to be an adult version of EMERGENCY! (an old TV show from the seventies) or even BACKDRAFT (a summer hit from the early nineties). Director Robby D. avoids taking the endless and tired cliches where a hit TV show from yesteryear is translated into yet another parody (who wouldn't yawn at the prospect of a THIS AIN'T LA FIREFIGHTERS or THIRD WATCH: A XXX PARODY?) by coming up with a fairly original story and engaging premise. Moreover, I was impressed by the use of authentic uniforms, actual firefighting equipment, and seeing a real fire engine roar down a city street. More importantly, the other action scenes actually advance the plot and affect the main characters within the context of the story; it's not just another suck and fuck flick where firefighting happens to be incidental, or shown as mere novelty. In this movie, Mr. Ferrara is blown-up ("real good!" as Big Jim McBob would say) when he unsuccessfully attempts to disarm a bomb planted by some anarchist, perhaps trying to thwart the interests of a greedy real estate developer. Along the way, we find that our heroines and heroes are in danger of being laid off and Kayden must deal with her loss with the support of her crew, Captain (Katsuni) and psychiatrist (Raven Alexis).

It's easy to see why a movie like this would need nearly two hours and twenty minutes to resolve all issues whenever someone isn't being engaging in hardcore conduce onscreen. As he did with the excellent TEACHERS and FLY GIRLS, Director Robby D. strikes a near perfect balance of hardcore and story, directing several scenes which are slower paced and romantic, such as Kayden's and Manuel Ferrara early morning makeout session which bursts into a very hot bump and grind in the back of an ambulance, and other scenes which are more frenzied and to the point, including Riley and Bridget B's blistering menage a trois with Ben English.

The film opens with some old stock footage of firemen (and I mean men) at work, and the black and white film makes the transition to color and to the present day, in which we see women doing what used to be considered a man's job. Aside from the gorgeous videography and unbelievable eye-candy, I was immediately struck by all the nuances and details which greatly add to the dramatic experience: detailed sets, a tasteful music score, and overall fine acting from the players, who manage to deliver their lines without sounding too stilted or over emoting.

A few in-jokes and snappy dialogue keep the drama from being too overwrought. In particular, I appreciated an obvious reference to Tera Patrick, made in passing by Jesse Jane and Tommy Gunn. There's also a brief but fun scene where bikini-clad Jesse and Riley attempt to raise money by washing their trucks with plenty of soap and water. As the fire Captain, Katsuni's thick French accent can be a bit distracting, but I can't complain about anyone who looks as fantastic as she does in workout shorts and a half shirt. Her threesome with Tommy Gunn and Mick Blue is playful and action-packed, but disappoints due to the absence of any anal or double penetration. (Katsuni has always excelled in both areas, and it's too bad her talents weren't used to their fullest potential.)

Also, psychiatrist Raven Alexis's somewhat monotone line deliveries could have been juiced up a bit, but her beauty and sex appeal easily make up for any alleged shortcomings. Her seduction of Tommy is a textbook example of a good, solid sex scene. Likewise, her team-up with Mr. Blue is almost as thrilling as her initial pairing with him in the terrific JACK'S POV 16, which happened to be my first indecent exposure to this sexy brunette. I was pleased to see that Alexis was significantly less inhibited and more responsive than when I last saw her as THE SUBSTITUTE, an otherwise fine flick where she seemed less than "inspired." However, it's easy to tell that for whatever reason, Alexis is more comfortable with a cock and even cum in her mouth than another guy's tongue. I guess kissing remains a bit too intimate for her.

Predictably, Jesse Jane delivers yet another high energy coupling with Scott Nails performed primarily on top of a fire truck. There's nothing more I have to say about Miss Jane other than she almost never shies away from an oral cumshot, and therefore, almost never disappoints. However, the most memorable events of BODY HEAT, occur at the end, where all five girls get together for an orgy. (One can safely assume that their get-together is a celebration of a happy ending.) Katsuni initiates the proceedings by stripping down to the familiar yellow biking, then all the girls surround her and help each other strip. Jesse works aggressively on Raven, while Kayden and Riley share a few mouth-filled moments together. (I've been dying to see the two blondes work together after watching them play sisters in THE SMITHS.) It's been a long time since I've seen any girl-girl action in a Digital Playground production, and this climax almost makes up for the unexplained absence. Kudos to the girls and their director for giving us lots of kissing and plenty of position and partner changes. With all the beauties involved, I feared that this five-way would be nothing but static poses and softcore action (which is fine for an Andrew Blake film, but not what I want in my features), but fortunately, Mr. D delivers a finale which concludes BODY HEAT perfectly.

Actually, the movie ends with a brief bit suggesting a sequel, as well as a concluding shot focusing on a picture of Jesse Jane, which humorously wraps up the in-joke set forth earlier. It's yet another stylish touch which really adds to our enjoyment of this excellent effort.

It almost goes without saying that the Blu-ray version of BODY HEAT is visually stunning. I have no complaints about the way Robby D lights his scenes, which are usually bright and crisp without looking garish, and his look terrific on my 55" screen. It's true that high definition visuals can sometimes be merciless in highlighting blemishes, scratches and other natural"flaws" of the human body, but all the girls still look great even in microscopic close-up The sound is excellent, and dialogue is clear even amidst all the sound effects and music.

All the extras for BODY HEAT (available as a second disc on the DVD package) are preserved on the single Blu-ray platter. Fans are provided an entertaining Behind The Scenes documentary, which runs over a half hour and offers short and lighthearted interviews with most of the cast. Also, nearly three minutes of previously deleted, non-hardcore footage is offered, which helps flesh the characters, but doesn't add that much more to the movie. Other than that, audiences get a set of studio trailers and a photo gallery. While I appreciate Digital Playground's efforts to beef up the extras, I wanted more, and definitely feel that BODY HEAT deserves it. This movie is hotter than hell.

Quite frankly, most of the big budget Porn Valley movies fall flat when they attempt a serious role. Faulted often by bad acting, bad writing, and a general lack of sincerity, most Hollywood style porno films seem like the inbred oversexed cousin of a B-Movie.

But notice that I said "Most". Body Heat is quite possibly the most unusual big budget porn film I have ever seen. Now I know that is a strange statement considering the amount of porn I have seen within and outside of my work in the industry, so I will explain what I mean in as simple of terms as possible:

Body Heat may be the best filmed porno movie in existence. There isn't a single frame that looks like a film-school dropout took on this project. Every frame, every scene, every take is impeccable. From the opening shot to the tragic bomb-detonation sequence, everything is crystal clear golden perfection.

Body Heat may also be the best written porno film ever released. The script is surprising at first; dealing with the usual 'Hottest Firewoman' fodder it suddenly delves into a world where a woman tragically loses her lover in the line of duty, and unlike most porn today - no one fucks her to comfort her when she cries in the shower. Instead we are given scenes where Kayden Kross expresses true loss, honest emotion, without a disingenuous blowjob scene or screwing her way to happiness. Instead she visibly deals with the pain of losing someone on camera. That NEVER happens in porn. Therapy in porn always involves a deep-dicking, never an attempt at becoming more self-aware and facing your demons in a realistic fashion. The script was incredible, with dialogue that never felt and people using real language as opposed to porno-tinged slang. This alone brings this film to a near-legendary status.

The acting in Body Heat is shockingly great. I mean that in all honesty because with the exception of a handful of films I have seen recently, acting in pornography is always point blank terrible. This sets the bar to an almost unreachable level. I honestly believed Kayden was emotionally lost at one point. Never in my pornographic life have I seen an actress show emotions with that level of honesty. Mick Blue, the Austrian almost cyborgian voiced actor, appears human here for maybe his first time on camera. Tommy Gunn proves why he really is ready to be on HBO programming like Entourage, showing his honest, actual, intense acting ability.

The sex in this film is incredible. The only problem people may have with it is it seems too realistic at times compared to most pornography today. Granted, the sex scene in the back of the firetruck may seem a little disingenuous, but the emotion behind it was not. It seemed real. It seemed honest.

My expectations were completely blown away by this film. Coming into it for a review, I really thought it would follow the same suit as every other Hollywood-style porn film has and be all fluff with no substance. I was very wrong. This is a big statement to make, but I honestly believe Body Heat is the best pornographic film I have ever seen. Hands down you have to own this film.

Love the quality of DP productions - they try more than most. Going through the motions - uninspired, blondes et. al. with fake tits, "acting" like they're into it. Almost tried to make a story, but everybody was just showing up for a paycheque, The opening credits were inspiring. The sex was run-of-the-mill. "Believe us when we say " you are faking it!!!!!!" The women are sexy but the men are BORING!!!!!!, None of us believe for a minute that they were there for the sex!!!!!