Broad Strokes

Vivid Interactive

Genre: Feature

Director: Toni English (box), Fred J. Lincoln (credits)

Cast: Farrah, Ian Daniels, Chloe, Evan Daniels, Alexandra Quinn, Kyle Stone, Mark Davis

Length: 84 minutes

Date of Production: 3/18/2000 (box), 4/14/2000 (credits)

Extra's: I've watched a lot of movies from Vivid over the years and they tend to have a standardized package of extras included in all but their compilations. In fact, I can't recall the last time I watched one of their movies that deviated from the set pattern they've established until now; all that was included were five completely unrelated scenes from other releases. I have mixed feelings about this approach but I will give Vivid credit for picking out some good scenes this time. I suppose it was due to the feature having been buried in the Vivid vaults for so long (nearly five years!) but even a hack like me could've pieced together something better in terms of related content. Oh well, at least they included something most porn aficionados will enjoy but they could've lost the forced spam too.

Condoms: Yes

Audio/Video Quality: Broad Strokes was presented in the usual 1.33:1 ratio full frame color that Fred Lincoln shot it in. For the most part, this shot on video feature looked fairly crisp and clear although it was very low budget in all ways. The colors were accurate and the composition of the shots was well done so at least it started off okay. The DVD mastering wasn't as good with a lot of compression artifacts onscreen during most of the scenes and the editing left much to be desired (maybe the day ended before all the shots were made and the production just had to make due). The stereo English audio wasn't bad either with a bit of dynamic range in the vocals and the music was as generic as ever (although mixed well into the show).

Body of Review: When companies shoot movies in porn, it's almost a given that the movie will be released very soon since part of the marketing strategy most companies employ deals very closely with timeliness. In one minute, a performer can go from "hot" to "not" so the marketing departments will really push to have a movie out the door quickly. One alternative strategy is to sit on weaker films in order to find a time when they might sell better if a performer has been over exposed (silly that this is a porn issue, yes?) by making too many movies or if they are stocking up on scenes when a performer is nearing the end of her contract. I think the latter reason applied to the latest Vivid Interactive release, Broad Strokes, since it was marketed around the blonde bombshell of years gone by, Farrah. Named after the mainstream hotty from Texas, Farrah was very much the type of gal Vivid liked to employ; implants, blonde hair, and a cute face. Her work wasn't all that hot but most guys just want to see cuties screw on camera so they can jerk off and this was something Farrah could do; coax out a load by virtue of her looks. That said, here's a look at the movie that centered around Ian renting a house from illustrator Chloe, and the sexual hijinks that ensued:

Scene One: Farrah, the promoted blonde lead of the movie as seen on the front DVD cover, was up first in a scene shared with Ian in the house. He slowly took off her clothes before going down on her on the kitchen table initially. Interestingly enough, her reciprocating oral was fairly weak but they screwed afterwards so maybe fans won't notice as much. She was loud during the vaginal intercourse but seemed to mostly just lie on her back and let him do all the work (making it tame for me). I can see why he was named Wally though as his sexual antics were definitely "Wally" style.

Scene Two: Chloe, well back in her prime (is she still even making porn these days since being fired by VCA?), had long been established as an anal queen when this movie was shot. She often gave some of the most energetic performances and while her skinny frame wasn't exactly to my liking, she was usually a class act all the way. Her scene here was with the mighty Evan, who added more than a little bit of sunshine to the show with his characterization of a sex toy salesman. Sexually speaking, the two did the usual oral and straight sex with Chloe moaning and screaming like always; probably orgasming several times (as she was apt to do). She also did anal here and the scene was very warm with some solid chemistry.

Scene Three: Alexandra, a vivacious redhead that nearly toppled the porn industry when it was found she had worked underage a long, long time ago (much like Tracy Lords), was well past her prime in the following scene with Kyle in a studio. That said, she still performed like a champion as the two of them went at it orally and in several screwing positions. I kind of expected her to do anal here but she wasn't a bad ride overall (although it was far from her best work).

Scene Four: Farrah, in a bondage set up including a ball gag in her mouth, took care of Mark next while Chloe sketched them. They both did oral (and did it very well too) and then the straight screwing with a bit of playful energy. She acted far more like she wanted to be working with this partner (I can understand why) and while the scene was still somewhat tame by comparison to the last two, it wasn't terrible.

Scene Five: Chloe, the actual female lead of the movie, gave Ian what he really wanted; a landlord with a sexual desire for him. She shined at the oral, she was good at the boning, and the scene covered for Ian's inabilities fairly well. It had no anal this time and fans of Chloe will not think it in her top hundred scenes but it was okay to watch a couple of times.

Summary: Broad Strokes is one of those movies that somehow got lost in the shuffle but for good reason. Looking like an unfinished work by someone no longer employed by the company, it had a typical premise, a limited cast, and a low budget. That said, as a fan of Chloe from way back, I wish they had marketed this one around her (she had more screen time than anyone else in the movie, except maybe, just maybe, Ian) but she faced this kind of discrimination her entire career so social inequity aside, it was a DVD that could only rate a Rent It by most of you out there. Two of the scenes were solid, three were far less so, and the resulting value of the show suffered as a result.

Note: You can see recent candid shots of many recent performers by visiting: My Photo's and read about their antics at 2004 AEE Show.