A young generation or two of Adult Video fans is firmly committed to gonzo, wall-to-wall sex content, treating porn films that try to tell a story with the utmost contempt. Jonathan Morgan's excellent Wicked feature "Knockout" is recommended viewing to open their eyes to what they're missing.
It covers familiar B movie territory, dating back to Joe Palooka and up to Rocky and its endless imitations. Brad Armstrong, who also contributed the atmospheric art direction plays a down-and-out boxer who befriends a neighbor in the welfare hotel where they live, an equally down-and-out dancer played with tremendous understatement by contract star Stephanie Swift. This is no ordinary vehicle for a Wicked Girl, but rather a romantic portrait of two very sympathetic characters, who we know will get together in the end. I guess if it were made today it would star Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley, or perhaps Emma Watson now that the Potter graduate has become the hottest young actress in the business.
SPOILER:
Rodger Jacobs' script is highly functional, but Morgan pulls a switcheroo in the final reel, substituting a happy ending for the expected film noir downbeat progression established in the early plotting. Armstrong, who keeps asserting that he was "almost middleweight champion of the world, once" makes a deal with his old promoter, cleverly limned by a mean Herschel Savage, attempts a comeback in a fight against up-and-comer Mr. Marcus, while agreeing to throw the bout. Morgan shows the fight in a mere 6-second montage, and does not convincingly deliver on the inevitable outcome of Brad's decision to not throw the contest as required.
Sex scenes are particularly strong here, the best being a lesbian BDSM- tinged match-up of Stephanie with strip club owner Sharon Mitchell. In return for an advance payment on salary in order to pay her rent, Stephanie lets Mitch hump her with a dildo in the behind as well as terrific slapping around, amplified via excellent sound recording. Then she reneges on the deal.
Besides the climactic Stephanie/Brad humping scene, Mr. Marcus f*cks Raquel Deville in a hallway, with Raque's similarity in her eyes to Swift (their body types are totally dissimilar) paying off. Sydnee Steele is arresting in the opening sex scene as a unfaithful woman dallying with Brad, and Savage gets serviced by a hot pair, busty Sana Fey and brunette Melanie Stone, fellow strippers at Mitch's club.
One likely goof is Savage's character called Arthur and Artie by Mitch, yet listed in the end credits.
It covers familiar B movie territory, dating back to Joe Palooka and up to Rocky and its endless imitations. Brad Armstrong, who also contributed the atmospheric art direction plays a down-and-out boxer who befriends a neighbor in the welfare hotel where they live, an equally down-and-out dancer played with tremendous understatement by contract star Stephanie Swift. This is no ordinary vehicle for a Wicked Girl, but rather a romantic portrait of two very sympathetic characters, who we know will get together in the end. I guess if it were made today it would star Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley, or perhaps Emma Watson now that the Potter graduate has become the hottest young actress in the business.
SPOILER:
Rodger Jacobs' script is highly functional, but Morgan pulls a switcheroo in the final reel, substituting a happy ending for the expected film noir downbeat progression established in the early plotting. Armstrong, who keeps asserting that he was "almost middleweight champion of the world, once" makes a deal with his old promoter, cleverly limned by a mean Herschel Savage, attempts a comeback in a fight against up-and-comer Mr. Marcus, while agreeing to throw the bout. Morgan shows the fight in a mere 6-second montage, and does not convincingly deliver on the inevitable outcome of Brad's decision to not throw the contest as required.
Sex scenes are particularly strong here, the best being a lesbian BDSM- tinged match-up of Stephanie with strip club owner Sharon Mitchell. In return for an advance payment on salary in order to pay her rent, Stephanie lets Mitch hump her with a dildo in the behind as well as terrific slapping around, amplified via excellent sound recording. Then she reneges on the deal.
Besides the climactic Stephanie/Brad humping scene, Mr. Marcus f*cks Raquel Deville in a hallway, with Raque's similarity in her eyes to Swift (their body types are totally dissimilar) paying off. Sydnee Steele is arresting in the opening sex scene as a unfaithful woman dallying with Brad, and Savage gets serviced by a hot pair, busty Sana Fey and brunette Melanie Stone, fellow strippers at Mitch's club.
One likely goof is Savage's character called Arthur and Artie by Mitch, yet listed in the end credits.