XXX Factor (Wicked) Review

Reviewed by Kelly  on  4/8/2004

Title: XXX Factor
Company: Wicked Pictures
Length: 1hour and 20 minutes (80 minutes)
Production Date(s): September 14, 2003
Release Date: January 29, 2004

Director: Jonathan Morgan

The Abridged Version: In XXX Factor (2004), Stephanie Swift and Evan Stone play porn stars who moonlight as hosts of a he said-she said adult film review show that is aptly titled “XXX Factor.” Swift favors the romantic, self-righteously artistic yet ineptly made feature porn while Stone is literally moved to tears by the ridiculous set-ups and sets of vintage porn. This show within the show looks like something you would see on the Spice Channel or, in a more watered down version, on the Playboy Channel. Ironically, XXX Factor is the type of film that will undoubtedly, in a softcore form, grace those airwaves as well. The feature is clearly intended to be a lampoon of porn, but the kind of porn it is parodying is no longer made. Today is the age of gonzo and this film, which tries to make fun of feature length porn of yesterday, feels out of touch. I would have probably viewed it as a waste of time had it not been for Stephanie Swift. She is given little to work with but again displays acting skills quite uncommon for the typical porn star, which starkly contrasts Stone, who looks like a porn star trying too hard to act. It is somewhat jarring then when halfway through they show a supposed clip from one of Swift’s character’s films and we are reminded of the sex goddess she is. She far exceeds any of the other girls in this tape in that area, turning a potentially tame scene with Brad Armstrong into genuinely arousing material and using her diminutive stature to full effect in draining Evan of all of his energy in the last scene. Might I add, she looks painfully hot throughout most the movie in a black lingerie outfit. (No anal in any of the scenes for those of you who are curious)

Note: Wicked issued a press release concurrent with the release of this feature, announcing that it was to be Stephanie Swift’s Wicked Pictures swan song. They apparently came to an amicable split as the glorious Swift stated that she felt she had reached the top with them and that there was no place else to go for her as a Wicked contract girl. It is unclear what she will do now at the time of this writing, but speculation is running wild. Wherever she goes or whatever she does, I hope to see her given better material than this and work in harder scenes than these. She is hot, hot, hot.

Scene 1: Delilah Stone (hot, tall blonde w/great natural A-cup, B-cup tits) w/Eric Masterson (12 minutes)

Delilah, one of the hotter and stronger new girls of the past year, is the Indian princess to Eric’s cowboy in this clip from the fictional film “Westward Ho’s.” Delilah passes for an Indian about as much as Natalie Wood did in “The Searchers” but this probably meant to be a jab at the porn world, where girls are passed off for ethnicities they barely resemble. This joke is actually relevant today and after this clip Stephanie comments on it, arguing that Delilah “looks more like a girl from Jersey than an Indian.” As for the actual scene, Delilah’s sexy costume looks like a cross between a clichéd Native American costume and a loan clothe more than it does anything else. It matters not though. She looks damn hot. The two are on an intentionally badly designed farmhouse set, with lots and lots of hay. They exchange some cheesy dialogue before getting down. The sex is a bit more limited than I would like, but Delilah really shines in what time she is given. As far as couples fair goes, this is a solid scene, operating within the tame boundaries of mandatory condom use and absolutely no anal sex.

Scene 2: Julia Ann (implants, blonde) w/Cheyne Collins (12 minutes)

The next scene comes to us from a fictional film entitled “Sperms of Endearment.” Cheyne seems to be dying from a disease and is determined to take Julia Ann’s virginity before passing on. Of course, Julia barely resembles a virgin in her slutty outfit and shows no reluctance or inexperience. This is a stupid set-up but real porn films of the past have had just as ridiculous impetuses for sex. Of course, quite a lot of those were Wicked Pictures productions. In fact, some of them still are Wicked scenes. Other companies just get straight to the fucking. That is why this is the era of gonzo and a parody like this feels tired and played out. Unfortunately, the sex has that same exact feel. The more I saw of Julia’s breasts the less interested I became. For me, this one was instantly forgettable, though I will admit that Julia seemed into it.

Scene 3: Stephanie Swift (covegirl) w/Brad Armstrong (12 minutes)

Up until this point, Stephanie has hated both of the clips while Evan has been close to giving them standing ovations. She is suspicious of his integrity and rolls a clip from one of her films for him to view. In it, Stephanie and (I believe) Julia Ann play nurses to an ailing Brad Armstrong. They both look hot in a-typical porn star nurses outfits and before long it is just Steph and Brad. There is some clever technical work here, in which Stephanie is clearly putting forth bad acting as the camera is also ineptly directed. She even looks into the camera to ask the director an extremely quick question, “Now?” before spouting a cheesy speech about saving his life so he can climb the Himalayas or do whatever else life has in store for him. Announcing, “I will save him!” she rips open the top of her outfit to reveal her bare chest, with rock hard nipples, to him before lapping away at his cock. She gives him an extremely wet blowjob and they proceed to fuck in three positions. Up until this point, this is the best scene of the bunch.

Scene 4: Mason Storm (brunette, big implants) w/Evan Stone (12 minutes)

Evan is critical of Stephanie’s scene, pointing out its technical flaws. She is, however, quite proud of her work in the scene and his words cut into that pride. In retaliation, she unexpectedly cues the crew to run something she secretly taped before the show. It is Evan in his dressing room, using his status to get Mason to fuck him. Jonathan Morgan does impressive camera work here, convincingly operating the camera at times as if it were really the security camera this was supposedly filmed on in the storyline. However, his merits are easily unappreciated in light of the sheer tame, routines of the sex. Mason, who appears to be a bit of an older girl (actually, she’s probably the same age as the rest of the cast if you take away Delilah), is rather attractive and would probably have been a real star and fan favorite 5 or 6 years ago. However, implants do nothing but deter me from a girl and her’s are no exception. Beside that, I have seen her in much nastier fair and it suits her better. After the clip runs, the show comes to an end with the two of them extremely upset with each other.

Scene 5: Stephanie Swift w/Evan Stone (17 minutes)

Not surprisingly, these two make up after the show. In Stephanie’s make-up room, they continue their argument before coming to a common ground and agreement. They realize and acknowledge their mutual attraction to each other and come to grip with their current stations in life. On some level, it amounts to the two of them realizing they are in some way miserable in life and cope with this by fucking. This is perhaps depressing, but the actual sex that ensues is far from that state of being. As I stated earlier, throughout the film, other than in her previous sex scene, Stephanie has been wearing a tasty black lingerie and stockings combo. And here we finally get to see her doing what such an outfit was made for: fucking. This is most definitely the best scene of the tape, in which Stephanie squeezes the last big load out of a spent dick for Wicked.

The Verdict: Wicked will sorely miss Stephanie Swift. However, she probably deserves a better finale to her career with them than this shelf filler. As a couples tape, it is okay. As anything else, it is rent or buy at your own risk. Stephanie shines and, especially during the blowjob with Brad Armstrong, illustrates a nasty streak that working for Wicked has long suppressed. I have my fears that the future will hold even tamer material, i.e. Vivid Video, for Stephanie but I hope I am wrong.

Rent it or Buy It: If you are a hardcore Stephanie Swift fan, this is a must buy, though only as a collector's item and not on the actual merit of the feature. Otherwise, if you are watching this with a significant other and/or also enjoy watching the Spice Channel or the Playboy Channel then get this without fear. If you are not and are not a fan of Stephanie, then utterly ignore this one.

The DVD: As per usual with Wicked Pictures, this one is a well-done DVD. Sometimes, things are not exactly lit as bright as I like but that is probably not the result of a bad transfer. The VHS probably looks the same.
Behind the Scenes (22 minutes)
Bloopers (5 minutes)
Star Biographies
Interview with Stephanie
Slide Show
Trailers

About the Author: A current college student, Kelly began his infatuation with pornography with the likes of late night Skinimax before graduating to hardcore. As such, sometimes storylines go a long way toward his enjoyment but sometimes he just wants to see some hard sex. In either avenue though, girl/girl bored him to tears. He used to operate a fan site dedicated to Taylor St. Claire, who is still to this day his favorite porn star. Other favorite girls include Renee LaRue, Zora Banks, Cherry Mirage, Avy Scott, Alyssa Love, and Devinn Lane. Though he does generally prefer voluptuous, big-breasted women, he also enjoys the work of Stephanie Swift, Jennifer Luv, August Night, Luci Thai, and Selena Silver. He avoids Max Hardcore, Ed Powers, Vivid, and compilations as much as possible, and eagerly looks forward to releases from Evil Angel, Devils Film, Red Light District, and Platinum X. He generally favors anal scenes and DP scenes with big facials, but is too timid for gangbangs and any such other extremities. His favorite directors are Vince Vouyer, Mike John, Joey Silvera, Tom Byron, and Jules Jordan. His favorite porn films of all time include “The Fashionistas” (2003), “Whack Attack 9” (2001), and “Service Animals 7” (2002).