Sex Acts (Legend) Review

Reviewed by Diville  on  2/12/2001

Starring: Teri Weigel, Jessica Drake, Gwen Summers, Lola, Dayton Rains, Dolly Golden, Evan Stone, Michael J. Cox, Joel Lawrence, Devan Sapphire

Directed By: Jerome Tanner

Don't call it a comeback. She's been here for years, rocking her peers and puttin' suckas in fear. Ok, the part about suckas in fear is bullshit; it's just that I'm always on the lookout for opportunities to paraphrase L.L. Cool J. But Teri Weigel has been here for years, and that's certainly longer than the pornographic 15 minutes most people gave her when she stepped off the centerfold of Playboy magazine and into hardcore movies. Though what one man might call longevity another might call "being around the block." To that end, let me put your worries to rest. She still looks good. That is, if you like the overly ripe comic book heroine type.

This time around Teri is a blonde, which takes some getting use to; I preferred her as a brunette. She's still damned noisy in bed, however, so make sure you've got your volume control handy just in case you have neighbors. What struck me as being most different about her, though, was not her body or sexual theatrics, but her maturity. And by maturity, I don't just mean the extra years added to her age, but the way she carries herself. I've always felt a little concerned for Teri when I've seen her perform. Sure, she's sexy, but there was also something about previous performances that made me think she wasn't completely in the moment despite her over-the-top histrionics--something akin to what many people picked up on when watching her contemporary, Savannah. Here, she seems to be more in control of herself, and for lack of a better term, more normal.

So, that's how Teri's doing. Thanks for asking. But, how's the movie? Well, it's not so good, unfortunately. The idea is that Teri and Evan Stone are mainstream actors auditioning for a new series which features hardcore sex. As unlikely as the plot is, it serves well enough for director Jerome Tanner to string together the requisite sex scenes. Basically, we just watch couple after couple give their closed set readings for parts.

Teri gets naked twice in Sex Acts. Once with Stone and again in a lesbian three way with Jessica Drake and Gwen Summers. These three women are the biggest selling point for this disc, but it seems to me to be a waste to put them together like this. Drake, who has a way of turning average viewers into devoted fans after just one viewing, seems particularly wasted here. This is obviously a movie made with limited resources, so why would Tanner take his three most important talents and "spend" them all at once? As lesbian scenes go, it passes the grade, but he could have gotten so much more bang for his buck by placing them in genuine one-on- one heterosexual action.

While watching Sex Acts, I often got the feeling that Tanner was in such a hurry to get the footage out of his video camera and on to store shelves that he didn't mind so much what kind of action he actually ended up with. Lola, who almost always brightens my day, comes across as just an average sex star under his direction. Too bad. And Tara's scene with Devan Sapphire would be more at home on an amateur compilation tape. Frankly, I would have been happier had their footage been edited out completely. As it is, I'm forced to relive that ugliness when I close my eyes at night. Such is not the case with the opening scene with Dayton Rains and Michael J. Cox, which is made watchable by Rains natural beauty.

More or less, this effort is an exercise in mediocrity. Teri is a nice drawing card, and Jessica Drake in a lesbian scene is better than no Jessica Drake at all. Overall, however, this is a blown opportunity. The behind-the-scenes featurette included as an extra is appreciated, but it isn't enough to make up for all the other shortcomings.

Teri is great to look at, and her longtime fans will be more than curious to see her in action after time spent away from the cameras. If your curiosity just won't let up until you see Weigel fuck somebody again, then make sure you find a bargain price for this DVD. It is, and should be, discounted.