1998 was just two years away from heading into the new millennium, so what kind of year was it. What was living like, what took place, what was memorable just seventeen years ago? As we always do let first take a look at what the cost of living was back then.
The average price of a new home was $129,300.00, the average income in 1998 was $38,100.00 and the average monthly rent was around $600.00. The price for a gallon of gas had skyrocketed all the way to $1.15, while the price of a new car averaged at $17,200.00. As for the marketplace, 1 lb. of bacon was $2.53, 1 lb. of hamburger was a $1.40, a loaf of bread was a $1.26 and you could get a dozen eggs for 88 cents. In the news in 1998, it was the time of the Clinton- Monica Lewinsky scandal and “I never had sexual relations with that woman.”. In other news headlines, the U.S. begin launching cruise missile strikes against al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan. The Dow Jones drops over 500 points on August 31st on the New York Stock Exchange and the U.S. announces first budget surplus in 30 years. Tornadoes in central Florida destroy or damage 2,600 structures and kill 42. After a long battle, Europeans agree on a single currency to be called the Euro. Two oil companies, Exxon and Mobil, merge to create the world’s largest petroleum company. In technology, the world’s first Digital Television Service is launched in the UK. Windows 98 is released by Microsoft and the Search Engine Google is founded while Apple Computer unveils the IMac. The FDA approves Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence, becoming the first pill to be approved to treat this condition in the U.S. In Hollywood Titanic, Saving Private Ryan, The Wedding Singer and Dr. Doolittle were the big movies of 1998. In music, Celine Dion, Marilyn Manson, Aerosmith and Janet Jackson were among the big names and some of the top TV were South Park, Law & Order, The X-Files, JAG and NYPD Blue. Among the celebrities we lost that year were actor Lloyd bridges, singer/politician Sonny Bono, country singer Tammy Wynette, western star Roy Rogers, comedian Flip Wilson and singer/actor Frank Sinatra.
In 1998 a lot of very good porn films were released in a variety of genres that were very popular with the fans. There was one film that year, however, that stood head and shoulders above the rest. It is the one we take a look back at today, Wicked Pictures “Double Feature”.
Double Feature – Wicked Pictures – Director – Jonathan Morgan – Cast – Serenity, Jewel De Nyle, Kary Evers, Sana Fey, Shanna McCulklough, Ursula Moore, Danielle Rodgers, Stephanie Swift, Randy Spears, Mickey G., Ian Daniels, Herschel Savage, Anthony Crane, others.
Fifteen years ago the porn world was blessed with a sex comedy that still holds up today as one of the funniest porn comedies ever done. Jonathan Morgan took a break from his dramatic films to put this spoof of the 1950’s B movies about sci fi, aliens, monsters and other creatures together. What he wound up with was film that swept the 1999 AVN awards and one of the most clever and funniest porno’s ever done along with some pretty steamy sex scenes. However, in this film, the sex scenes actually take a back seat to the hilarity that comes across on the screen in this exceptionally done spoof.. If this film doesn’t make you laugh, laugh and laugh some more than I suggest a visit to your doctor to help him find your sense of humor. When I first reviewed this film for NightMoves in 1998, I was still laughing as I wrote the review and said then that it was a no brainer for multiple awards and it was. I also said it was one of the best porn comedies to come along and would still be remembered and enjoyed years later, which it has.
Morgan fashioned a great spoof of the old B films of the 50’s with a great cast headed by Randy Spears and Serenity done in the old black and white style with the sex scenes in color. It opens with host Anthony Crane taking you into the theater for previews of coming films starring Suzie Cheesecake (Serenity) and Rip Rockwell (Randy Spears) and with titles like ‘Gangbang Zombies’, a horror movie, ‘Death Rides a Rubber Horse’, a a murder mystery where someone is murdering blow-up dolls and ‘Attack of the Twelve-Story Dildos’, a sci fi flick. Already the laughs have begun with these previews before we even get to the two main features. A word here about Anthony Crane, while he does not take part in any of the eight sex scenes, he is all over the film. Aside from being your opening host, Crane plays about six or eight different roles throughout the film and is simply brilliant in the various roles he plays.
After the previews we get into the first feature, ‘Attack of the Bimbos From Outer Space’ a take off of the 50’s outer space movies The aliens are (Shanna McCullough and Kary Evers) and Commander Clitora from Uranus (Jewel De’Nyle). They land their UFO in a little hick town and the fun with the locals begins with one laugh after another. The heroes of this movie show up Trent Nerdski (Randy & Rip) and Judy Luvjoy (Suzie & Serenity). Clitora announces to they are going to take over and their se3xuality will not be resisted. General Slowmo (Herschel Savage) isn’t going to take this lying down. After finishing an office war maneuver reminiscent of the film “Stripes” he sends a commando squad to destroy the aliens. What takes place is hilarious and very sexual. Of course the hero steps in and saves the world, but how it is all done and what takes place is filled with sex and laughs.
Then comes the second feature ‘Man Made Beast” a spoof of the monster films of the 40’s and 50’s. Dr. Shelley (Serenity), is a mad scientist who can’t find a man who can satisfy her. Dr. Shelley has an assistant, Tabitha (Sana Fey) complete with a hump on her back. Tabitha mentions that the problem may be she needs to try females, but that, as we see, doesn’t work, so Dr. Shelley creates a monster she wants to satisfy her sexual needs. She only needs one more piece, a cock, so she sends Tabitha for one. What follows is pure hilarity when it comes to this new cock. It is especially funny and somewhat grotesque when Tabitha moves her hump to the front and takes on the monster (Randy Spears) to see if the new cock works. There is a lot more that takes place with Dr. Shelley, the monster, the people in the village and the sex. It is filled with more laughs to makes this second feature another solid spoof.
Suffice to say Jonathan Morgan was spot on with everything here. The writing was sharp, very funny and some great over the top deliveries by the cast. The camera work was exceptional with the black and white morphing into color for the sex scenes. The sets, costuming and makeup were on the money and the music was absolutely perfect for every scene to really give it that 50’s crescendo feel. The sex scenes were steamy even with the fun attached and Serenity showed why she was one of the most popular performers of the time, talk about being like a rubber band…wow! Jewel De Nyle and the other girls held their own, but the top honors go to Randy Spears who was just outstanding in his varied roles. The entire production was masterfully put together, it was obvious the cast relished their roles and purposely displayed bad acting just as they did in those films of the 50’s.
The film swept the 1999 AVN awards and rightfully so and has gone on to become a true classic of porn. The film proved that you could mix very funny comedy, hilarious performances and delivery with hot sex. It is now available on DVD with some solid extras including some very fun commentary from Morgan and Serenity. If there is one comedy classic to watch, enjoy and be totally entertained by, “Double Feature” is a must see. But I must warn you to be prepared to have your face and sides hurt from laughing so hard. Going through this film again to write this feature I am still laughing not only about some of the dialogue, but some of the many sight gags that pop up as well. This is one not to miss!
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
