Tgi's Review
TGI's review with special attention for Bobbie Phillips.
American Virgin, or as it’s titled in Europe ‘Live Virgin’ is a somewhat semi-independent movie, or at least it gives that impression even though it’s quite literally speckled with stars of yesteryear on their way down or up n' coming actors trying desperately to breakthrough to the more mainstream on their way up. Somewhere in between both actor types meet - the result is American Virgin, the movie.
What’s it about?
Two rival porn producers always at each other throats go ballistic when one of them comes up with the idea of televising the ‘de-flowering’ of the rival producer’s daughter live on pay per-view TV.
Who’s in it?
English actor Bob Hoskins (Mona Lisa, who framed Roger Rabbit) plays the main porn producer, while his nemesis Robert Loggia plays the suffering father of the soon to be de-flowered virgin.
Who else is in it?
The movie is quite literally speckled with cameos including several real live pornstars such as Ron Jeremy, the lesser known if independent Kira Reed and Bobbie Phillips (best known from the Chameleon trilogy). It should be noted that Bobbie is not actually a pornstar in real life but does play a pornstar in this movie and looks great throughout.
Tell me more about Bobbie Phillip’s part?
Virgin was made in 2000 and by that time Bobbie was in the acting business at least eight years if not more having headlined several reasonably large movies and appeared in some top-notch TV. Sadly Bobbie’s part within the movie does not reflect this time and effort spent learning her craft, and although Bobbie is mentioned in the opening credits, the part of Raquel, the pornstar is small and fleeting. Even though Bobbie looks amazing as per usual, especially decked out in Medieval satin with 20th century lingerie beneath, nothing can rescue her underused performance or for that matter the movie. I’m a big fan of Bobbie’s work and it pains me to see her used this way. There’s nothing wrong with a supporting role but this role had nothing to hang on to and one wonders if Bobbie was used so as to add another name to the sleeve cover of the dvd?
Final words?
The movie isn’t entertaining however much it tries to say something seriously beneath its comedic exterior. In trying to be funny it causes embarrassment in juxtaposing comedy with a near intimate if suggestive portrayal of the porn business. In a word, the movie comes across as zany, but in a bad way, if there is a difference.