Grace
- Video
- 2020
- 1h 28m
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A bittersweet romance
When not cranking out literally hundreds of rather shallow vignettes (in tandem with Bryn Pryor) for Bree Mills' Gamma Entertainment, Casey Calvert directs far more personal (and serious) features for Erika Lust Films. "Grace", like its sequel "Rose", is a romance starring Kristen Scott and a less widely known actress Ravyn Alexa as what one might call geographically-challenged lovers. This isn't Shakespeare, but instead a pastoral sort of filmmaking, stressing natural, calm and subtlety.
To call this uncommercial is praise, not criticism, but by eschewing drama Calvert has settled upon a rather dull approach. All the actors are convincing, staying in character and never showboating or reverting to bad habits learned through so many XXX roles. The sex scenes are there, but not played like the usual porn, other than an obligaory cum shot.
Amiable to a fault, "Grace" scores high on the positivity meter, if limp on what Al Goldstein used to term the Peter Meter. Erika Lust movies are overtly designed to be female-friendly, almost by definition, and this has been one of them.
Once best friends, Nadine and Grace, played by Kristen and Ravyn, haven't seen each other in four years, ever since Kristen moved to the "big city" (Nashville) and they lost touch. Almost on a whim, Kristen contacts Ravyn at Thanksgiving holiday time, and Ravyn invites her to visit a remote cabin where she's staying with its owners, her friends Whitney Wright and Michael Vegas. Ravyn works in a coffee house and likes her life, while Kristen is frustrated and lonely, working in a menial job (director Calvert plays her boss) with hopes of advancement keeping her going.
The four folks in a cabin get along in Cumbaya fashion and a game of "Never Have I Ever" leads directly to a daisy-chain style foursome. Left alone by their hosts, Kristen and Ravyn connect more directly and become lesbian lovers for the moment. The rather tentative ending (recall: there's a sequel to look forward to), has Kristen heading home with polaroids for her memory book.
Cast is okay, underplaying in line with the realistic format, with even Michael Vegas, despite being styled with a stupid Carrot Top hairdo, on his best behavior. Kristen Scott has another crossover role (as in "Teenage Lesbian", accepted by non-porn audiences) that is subtly performed, but her co-star Ravyn Alexa fares less well.
An audience expects more than the grace notes of "Grace" -lack of excitement, conflict or any diversion from the main event of "falling in love" is a drawback. I'm looking forward to some sparks flying in "Rose", but not counting on it.
To call this uncommercial is praise, not criticism, but by eschewing drama Calvert has settled upon a rather dull approach. All the actors are convincing, staying in character and never showboating or reverting to bad habits learned through so many XXX roles. The sex scenes are there, but not played like the usual porn, other than an obligaory cum shot.
Amiable to a fault, "Grace" scores high on the positivity meter, if limp on what Al Goldstein used to term the Peter Meter. Erika Lust movies are overtly designed to be female-friendly, almost by definition, and this has been one of them.
Once best friends, Nadine and Grace, played by Kristen and Ravyn, haven't seen each other in four years, ever since Kristen moved to the "big city" (Nashville) and they lost touch. Almost on a whim, Kristen contacts Ravyn at Thanksgiving holiday time, and Ravyn invites her to visit a remote cabin where she's staying with its owners, her friends Whitney Wright and Michael Vegas. Ravyn works in a coffee house and likes her life, while Kristen is frustrated and lonely, working in a menial job (director Calvert plays her boss) with hopes of advancement keeping her going.
The four folks in a cabin get along in Cumbaya fashion and a game of "Never Have I Ever" leads directly to a daisy-chain style foursome. Left alone by their hosts, Kristen and Ravyn connect more directly and become lesbian lovers for the moment. The rather tentative ending (recall: there's a sequel to look forward to), has Kristen heading home with polaroids for her memory book.
Cast is okay, underplaying in line with the realistic format, with even Michael Vegas, despite being styled with a stupid Carrot Top hairdo, on his best behavior. Kristen Scott has another crossover role (as in "Teenage Lesbian", accepted by non-porn audiences) that is subtly performed, but her co-star Ravyn Alexa fares less well.
An audience expects more than the grace notes of "Grace" -lack of excitement, conflict or any diversion from the main event of "falling in love" is a drawback. I'm looking forward to some sparks flying in "Rose", but not counting on it.
helpful•10
- lor_
- Mar 12, 2024
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- Runtime1 hour 28 minutes
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