Angelique Review

Reviewed by Naiad (SGPC)  on  1/18/2005

Overall rating: 4
Female looks: 3.5 (Teri's overindulgence in silicone is a disappointment)
Male looks: 4
Sex: 3.5 (This would've been 4 but for the first scene which really spoiled the record)
Plot/Acting: 4
Extras: 4
A//V quality: 4

Condom use: Yes

The opening scene shows silicone-endowed Angelique (Teri Weigel) alone on a large bed in a brick-lined artist's studio. Her body is covered intriguingly in dramatic red writing and she masturbates with genuine, unrestrained abandon to a very vocal orgasm, the writing on her body smudging to illegible blur. Her enthusiasm was contagious and it was a scene that piqued my curiousity and raised expectations of a plot with a hint of artistic angst that might just offer something to arouse the mind as well.

'Angelique' is an artist, a photographer in the process of putting together her first public exhibition. I won't dwell on the plot beyond saying that it is sufficiently believable and flowing to satisfy anyone looking for context and story in their porn. There is background to the characters, relationships are established and the sexual encounters are believable in the circumstances.

The next scene shows a business-like Teri Weigel selecting photos with her assistant Armand (Evan Stone) before stripping naked to begin work on a photo shoot featuring Julie Robbins and Dale Dabone. Angelique gives them some direction of what she wants from the scene with the key feature being that they write on each others bodies, though she gives them complete freedom as to what and where they write. Using bright, fluorescent finger paints presented a superb opportunity for erotic teasing and I would have liked to see much more made of the sheer sensual pleasure that this activity offers. However, I was to be disappointed as Julie moved almost immediately into a blowjob followed by vaginal sex (with condom) in various positions. This scene felt contrived and flat, having missed the earlier opportunity to build an onscreen rapport between the two participants that would have given it real sizzle. Julie's characteristic curled-lip snarl is a little disturbing, particularly at the end when Dale comes on her breasts and belly and she curls her lip at his cock making me fear he was about to lose a few inches. He did well not to flinch.

After an argument with her boyfriend/manager Jacob (Brad Armstrong), Angelique visits lesbian friends Marie (Jessica Drake) and Collette (Dolorian) who run a Bed and Breakfast where Angelique takes refuge from her boyfriend for a few days. A deliciously playful and tender scene between Jessica and Dolorian follows. Both girls are having fun and delighting in each other's bodies. A genuine affection between them brings this passionate scene to life as they bring one another to ecstasy orally, with vibrators and dildos. Exquisite.

Angelique encounters a nameless stranger (Randy Spears) in the girls' kitchen (presumably a fellow guest) and before long she has daubed him in intriguing Japanese characters. Sadly we again see far too little of what should be a deliciously erotic teaser as the sex scene begins as she applies the finishing touch and cleans her brush. The sex scene (with condom) that follows has a raw enthusiasm that fits well with the plot and Teri's orgasms are powerful before the scene ends with Randy coming on her face.

The encounter helps clarify for Angelique what her true desires are and the next scene finds her back at work with enthusiasm. By this stage I have no expectations for sensuality as Angelique applies purple crayon to her two assistants, Armand (Evan Stone) and Suzette (Elizabeth Delmar), so I am not disappointed when none ensues. Elizabeth has a beautiful natural body and her fresh, innocent look coupled with her obvious unrestrained enjoyment help make this DVD appeal to female audiences.

The story culminates with Angelique and Jacob declaring their love for each other and the scene offers beautifully choreographed make-up sex between lovers that feels real with the right mixture of tenderness, quiet desperation and promise.

The disk quality is good with sound quality, lighting and camera angles well handled. It offers an excellent range of extras including star stats, star galleries (nice to see the guys represented in the stats too though I would have liked to see them in the galleries too), photo gallery, "The Making Of" documentary, interviews and trailers.

Overall I was delighted to find such a well thought-out feature to appeal to couples and particularly women – especially those wanting an introduction to porn. The plot is believable and consistent, the acting good for the genre and the sex manages to be appropriate to plot and context and at the same time believable, genuine and arousing for both male and female viewers. The only criticisms I have are that some sizzling opportunities for sensuous teasing presented by the plot were completely overlooked and that excessive fake breasts always detract from even the most genuine and enthusiastic sex scenes.