4
out of 5.00 -
Film:
4
Extras:
4
Video:
4
Audio:
4
-
6/13/2003
I was really looking forward to reviewing GRAND OPENING, based primarily on the cover-featured and starring appearance of Kody, formerly and familiarly known to those who have followed her Anabolic and Evil Angel work as Desert Rose. But while watching this Tommy Ganz flick, I was struck with a familiar sense of deja vu all over again: in terms of setting, cast and sexual situations, this film is superficially undistinguishable from BIG BLOWOUT (which came out first on DVD, but could very well have been produced immediately after GRAND OPENING), another movie also directed by Mr. Ganz which I enjoyed in spite of itself. Now then, the practice of producing multiple feature flicks back to back with the same performers, same time period and same sets is nothing new. Vivid and VCA among many studios have been doing this for years, and given the low budget nature of fuck flicks, who can blame them?
However, in the case of GRAND OPENING, the sex is so generic and unimaginatively executed that I had trouble immediately recalling what happened in this movie versus the affairs in BIG BLOWOUT. Both movies use the same wet bar setting featured prominently in most of the scenes, and the dramatic interaction (such as it is) between the actors is boringly familiar. This isn't necessarily a bad thing: Kody, Savanna Samson and Lezley Zen do just as well in the blowjob and fucking department in this movie as they had in the other flick, and Lola certainly burns up the screen in a hard and hearty bathroom tryst with Mickey G. Actually, only the Mary Carey and Stormy lesbian coupling fail to generate sufficient heat worthy of actually shaking hands with Mr. Johnson. (Mary does much better work with Kody in BIG BLOWOUT.) In fact, this girl-girl scene looks more like an outtake from another film, as opposed to being planned and executed for this one. However, audiences deserve more than just a variation of the same film when shelling out their paychecks for porno, and Vivid could easily have given us both features on one dual-layered disc. Perhaps it is asking too much of the most popular adult studio in America to give us more for the money, but faithful fans need a break once in awhile.
Anyhow, the beauty of the Vivid women and the apparently shot-on-film picture quality do go along way to mitigating any complaints. Kody, with her highlighted hair and petite body, looks cuter than a bug's ear during her straight opening scene with Steven St. Croix. Lots of sensuous kissing precedes their session, but they lack sufficient chemistry to make their coupling entirely memorable. Mr. St. Croix then gets his turn at Savanna, who looks also looks great as always, but their scene is likewise merely serviceable. Like most previously nasty babes who eventually go on to become Vivid Girls, Kody (who was sensational in THE VOYEUR 22 and SPECS APPEAL #4) and Savanna (who was much more carnal in ROCCO MEATS AN AMERICAN ANGEL IN PARIS) are more than a bit subdued in their sex scenes. While there is no doubt that fans will be pleased by what the girls do and how they do it, I couldn't help but feel a lack of spontaneity and heat.
Luckily, Lola and Lezley are on hand to give this uneventful video some added "oomph!" Quite frankly, I have never been too big a fan of either brunettes, but they rescue this flick from the drudges of mediocrity. Though both are certainly cute, they don't have the universal great looks of either of the co-lead actresses, so they may forever be relegated to supporting (though very important) supporting roles. It's a shame that Vivid has to rely on their non-contract girls to carry this film
As for the plot, well it's pretty much your standard soap operatic affair: Bar owner Steven St. Croix invites some friends over for a "Big Chill"-ish reunion. The characters do little more than spout off some emotional dialogue before engaging in intercourse, which is pretty much the formula every porn feature. There's a pseudo-surprise twist at the end, which I actually can't recall for the life of me (trust me, it's definitely not on the level of Keyser Soze or finding out that Bruce Willis is really dead, or that the guy is really a chick), so you're going to have to watch this film linearly to unravel the complete story.
Good picture and audio quality and a not-too-bad collection of scenes from other Vivid flicks round out an overall enjoyable DVD. The Bestseller status of this DVD just goes to show how popular Kody and Savanna are with the porn-buying public, but I hope that Vivid will eventually give us a flick truly worthy of their talents.
By:
Diesel
4
out of 5.00 -
Film:
4
Extras:
4
Video:
4
Audio:
4
-
5/12/2003
Although far from the most spectacular or sexually stimulating title Vivid has ever released,
Grand Opening does have a pleasantness about it that I found quite enjoyable. Set in a bar and starring new Vivid Girl Kody and porn veteran Steven St. Croix,
Grand Opening tells the story of a man who is about to start a new phase of his life by opening a bar.
The movie opens with Steven and Kody setting across from one another at the bar. No words are exchanged, but soon clothes are coming off and it's not long before Kody has Steven's cock in her mouth and is sucking away. The two continue the action with some reverse cowgirl and missionary fun, followed by Steven unloading on Kody's lower body. However, once the scene ends, we quickly discover that it was nothing more than a fantasy that Steven was having about his young bartender!
It's opening night for Steven's new bar, and to celebrate, he has some old college friends coming over. The only problem is that Steven wasn't the most reliable and upstanding person in college, so he's a little worried about the comments he'll be receiving from his old friends. Lezley Zen arrives at the bar, followed shortly by Mickey G., who brings along his new fiancé, Lola. While Steven is chatting in the bar with Lezley, Mickey G. discovers his bride-to-be in the bathroom masturbating on the sink, and soon the two are going at it, with Mickey licking and fingering Lola out. The couple then moves into a stall for some penetration, and they smartly choose the handicapped stall, so they can have a little more space and use those hand bars on the wall for support! After some standing doggy action, Mickey sits on the toilet so Lola can ride him reverse cowgirl. The scene concludes with Mickey pulling out, quickly yanking off his condom and then jerking onto Lola's pussy.
Returning to the bar, the group welcomes Savanna Samson, who is also an old college buddy. Lezley brings up the fact that Savanna was a lesbian back in school, and we flashback to a scene between Stormy (who is now a Wicked contract girl) and Mary Carey. I think Mary is supposed to be the younger version of Savanna, but I wasn't quite sure. Anyway, I liked this lesbian coupling better than most I see due to the fact that the girls are playing it like it's Mary's first time ever with a woman. So like it would be in reality, there's a lot of fumbling and giggling between the gals before things get more hot and heavy.
The next scene takes us into the kitchen, where Kody and Lezley make out on one of the tables. There's a good bit of oral and finger action between both girls, and Lezley eventually uses a silver vibe on Kody. However, we discover that this is yet another fantasy sequence, although we're never quite sure if Lezley is fantasizing about being with Kody or vice versa.
Steven approaches Savanna and thanks her for coming and tells her how much he has missed her. Taking her back to his office, the two slowly start to get turned on and start making out with each other. After some blowjob action, Steven slides his tool into her in the standing doggy position, followed by the two making out atop the desk in a position that is about halfway between being missionary and cowgirl. After Steven has come (some on Savanna's pussy, but mostly on his own hand), he discovers some information from Savanna that will change his life forever, and
Grand Opening ends on a fairly happy note.
Although
Grand Opening may not be the type of porno you'll want to watch over and over again, I did find it more enjoyable than most Vivid features I've seen of late, and fans of Kody will certainly want to add this to their collection. Not only does she have two scenes within the film, but three of the five bonus scenes (taken from other Vivid movies) on the DVD also feature Kody: a scene with her and Lee Stone from
Bankable; a scene with her and Mary Carey from
Big Blowout; and a pairing with her and Randy Spears from
Gold Digger. Additional bonus material includes a photo gallery for both Kody and Lola, plus a 20-minute behind the scenes featurette.
By:
Spooky