Special Delivery (Wicked Pictures, 1998)
Rating is on a scale of 1-5. 1 being poor, 3 being average, and 5 being exceptional. For an explanation of the review criteria, click here
- OVERALL: * * *
- SEX: * * *
- ACTING: * *
- SCRIPT: * *
- J.O.P.: * * *
- FAST-FORWARDING: * * 1/2
- EDITING: * * * 1/2
Starring: Brooke Lane, Johnni Black, Melanie Stone, Katie Gold, Syren & introducing Mandi Frost.
Directed by: Jim Enright
Special Delivery stars former Penthouse centerfold Brooke Lane. Gorgeous, she is... blonde, wonderful body. I mean, just look at her! I believe this is Brooke's second film. Although certainly beautiful, I would say she needs a bit more time before she is ready to burn up the screen sexually. Perhaps this starring role comes to soon, could be she simply doesn't have the raw talent... time shall tell. My guess would be the former, however, as when she is pitted against a male with some experience behind his belt, she does manage to keep up and even impress!
The premise here is set "behind the scenes" at a porn company. Brooke plays a delivery girl (that drives a brand new Mustang) who cannot find the intended recipient of the "Special Delivery" she is toting and, after peeking in on a scene where Jonathan Morgan and the adorable Katie Gold are going at it on a desk, winds up thrown into a film when her search leads her into a dressing room where she decides to try on some of the provocative clothing there. A director comes in, assuming she is the new actress, and she is shuffled into a threesome with Melanie Stone and Vince Voyeur. The sex is moderate. Brooke does not command the scene as a leading lady should. It seems she lacks the confidence that might come with experience, but is so important to really make the viewer believe it. There is little exciting about watching people "fuck for the camera." 
Although, technically, that is the objective, they are called "actresses" for a reason. Brooke displays some natural talents... she can give some decent head and I am sure would be a blast in the sack in the "real" world, but on camera, porn actresses, especially leading ladies, should be exceptional. It is all about providing the fantasy, after all. Brooke is not ready for the starring role just yet, in my opinion. She needs to forget about the camera and just let go.
Johnni Black adds some flair to an otherwise putter of a threesome that is near extinguished by a lame performance on behalf of Frank Towers. Syren is adequate, but little more. This is a by-the-numbers scene that is not terrible, but fails to excite. Johnni should have been given more "down" time (i.e., more time spent actually fucking). Had she been the focus of the scene, it would have made things considerably better.
Brooke tangles it up with Mandi Frost in a lesbian scene. Special Delivery "introduces" Mandi, although I have seen her before in Date From Hell. I would suppose that means S.D. came out first, although we received Date From Hell a few weeks before. Mandi does not look as ravishing in this scene as she does in others (such as a later scene with Vince Voyeur). She is a bit too "done up." Mandi is a porn female that is attractive in a very down-to-earth way, and as a result is one of my favorite new stars. She does not need to have her hair teased out or to be covered in makeup to look beautiful, and it is overdone a bit here and the scene suffers as a result. The sex, again, is standard. Not bad, but not great. Mediocre would be the best word to describe this, and the majority of the scenes in Special Delivery, with two exceptions.
The first is a scene shared by Mandi Frost, looking considerably less done up and a whole lot cuter clad in a skimpy nurse's outfit, and Vince Voyeur. Although there are too many "insertion" shots and they are held for too long, Mandi looks great and both she and Vince do a fine job getting one another, and the viewer, off. This is without a doubt my favorite scene in the film and one of the few that holds up to repeat viewing. No surprises, but then again, you seldom wind up surprised when you are settling down to a nice big, juicy steak, but it is no less delicious.
T.T. Boy manages to bring out the best of Brooke sexually in the final scene in the film. At this early stage, Brooke is only as good as who she is paired with, as she has yet to develop a strong on-camera presence. T.T. Boy fucks her and fucks her well and Brooke manages to hold her own against this experienced actor. This scene confirms that Brooke has the potential for stardom, but only time will tell if the potential shall develop into talent.
As for the direction and editing, I have to give director Jim Enright credit for coming up with some inventive shots in Special Delivery, but he tends to hold them for too long. A plague that has stricken the porn industry for many years now. Will somebody please figure out that the best shot is one in which you can see the entire scenario? Or at least more of the woman than just her genetalia being plowed by some guy's dork (when was the last time you heard that word used to describe a penis?)... a classic filmaking unwritten rule is that a single shot should never be held for more than 10 seconds without some change in view or action. Most pornos not only break this rule, they stomp it to the floor, tie it to a bag of bricks with a chain and sink it to the bottom of the river. It is especially a shame here, because the good shots are good, but there just are not enough of them. - Al Kikuras
For ordering info, visit the Wicked Pictures web site