At first glance, "Gigolo: A Love Story," directed by Axel Braun, sounds like the ultimate women's porno.

Aside from the promising title, the back cover copy poses the question, "Can you win a woman's heart through her body?" (Um, I'm gonna' say, 'Yes'). And the basic plot -- about a man who pleasures women for money but who is truly in love with his female best friend -- seems like the stuff of erotic fantasy.

I have to say, however, that the overall film fails to meet these high expectations, and seems to be more geared toward the male adult film viewer than his female counterpart.

The gigolo of the title is played by Italian actor Denis Martin. And while he's an attractive young man, with a good physique and thick dark hair, he lacks the strong element of sex appeal (that certain 'it' factor) needed to really arouse the female viewer.

The natural choice to play an Italian gigolo would be the legendary Rocco Siffredi -- not a smirking gent who spouts charming romantic adages such as, "Do you want me to fuck your wife? I would do it -- and do it good."

The film opens with a rather unbelieveable sequence that involves an extended blow job, administered on the gigolo by a ravishing young woman.

We're supposed to believe this beautiful woman approached this man and said, "Please oh please could I suck your dick? I'll pay you for the privilege!!!"

Things get even stranger in the second sequence, in which a jealous husband violently head-butts the gigolo -- only to share his wife with him moments later in some bizarre roleplay fantasy. O-kay. . .

So why do I give "Gigolo: A Love Story" a 'rent it' as opposed to a 'skip it?'

For one thing, the film does demonstrate various techniques of pleasuring women, as the gigolo is shown stimulating the clitoris and g-spots of his clients.

And in true Axel Braun fashion, the film does feature the introspective viewpoints of the gigolo and the woman he loves -- who finally come together in a very passionate final scene.

Indeed, unlike hardcore films that address the subject of female prostitution, "Gigolo: A Love Story" at least acknowledges the emotions and travails involved in sex for pay. And it might teach the female viewer that what starts out as a forbidden fantasy can -- if carried into the context of real life -- transform into an exciting but romantically confusing situation wrought with real emotions and -- eventually -- heartbreak.

And if one can learn this lesson from a movie, she's far better for it. . .