The Invitation – Dorcel – Director – Kay Brandt – Cast – Kenna James, Vanna Bardot, Gia Derza, Bella Rolland, Destiny Cruz, Jay Smooth, Codey Steele, Robby Echo, Jesse Jones.

***** 5 stars

Once again award winning director Kay Brandt puts her stamp on another terrific couples oriented film with a solid story line and compelling performances by a stellar cast. As she has done in previous productions for Marc Dorcel, Ms. Brandt brings out the very essence of couple’s relationships, the ups and downs, the wonderings, the fantasies and how they all play out. In this latest offering, that is sure to garner award buzz for next year, you have film that has plenty of juicy sexual scenes bridged in fine fashion by the wonderfully paced story and dialogue that creates a total realism and believability to this release. Dorcel could not have selected a better writer/director to helm his U.S. film productions than Kay Brandt.

The key characters in this story are Janie (Kenna James and Justin (Jay Smooth). They are a very much in love couple who seem to have everything they need except the most important one, loving sex. Oh, they have sex alright but it is no longer the same. Janie had been hoping for a big time job she has always wanted and finally got it. The problem is that she became so involved with this new job that it has affected her and Justin’s love life. When they do find time to be together, Janie is always preoccupied and has her phone nearby in case of business calls. As she says at one point, her phone has replaced her vibrator…………not good! But Janie has put everything, her sex life, her husband in the rear view mirror with her job the priority……again, not good.

At this point Justin receives and invitation from some long time friends Anthony and Sage (Codey Steele and Vanna Bardot) that he and Janie had lost touch with over time. The invite to spend a little time with old friends seems like the perfect solution to their current situation. Time away from the routine for a couple of days and getting back into a better place mentally will be a big help for both of them. When they arrive at the couple’s home they find out that after being together for some time Anthony and Sage are having a big engagement party and have invited a few couples to join them. What Janie and Justin come to find out is that this gathering is more than just a big happy engagement party and that the invited guests are all sexually open minded and have no problems when it comes to sharing.

Of course this takes Janie by surprise and in the process begins to see, by Justin’s reactions that he may be hiding some things from her. It seems as though some of the guests and Justin know each other from the past. Janie notices that Sage and Natalie (Gia Derza) are more than just friends by the way the greeted one another and the looks they give each other. Little by little Janie is warming up to what this is really all about. However, she needs to confront Justin and find out exactly what his situation is, or was, withy these couples before they met and got together. This is when things begin to really open up and get interesting.

So, what does take place between Janie and Justin, their hosts and the other guests? What is Justin hiding from Janie? Will this getaway make their relationship better or worse? We will leave the rest for you to find out and see how this all plays out for everyone involved. But be rest assured there will be plenty of fireworks of all kinds taking place that you do not want to miss.

Another spot on presentation from Kay Brandt not only in the well paced direction, but in the totally believable writing of the story and the dialogue between the main characters that is done with just the right embellishments and once again showing off the powerful presence of Kenna James. Vanna Bardot once again shines, but the entire cast comes through in every way in this film. The settings are lush, the cinematography is exceptional and the sexual scenes, there are five, are definitely eye catching and offer up plenty of sizzle. This has award noms written all over it and is definitely not one for couples to miss. Once again the combination of Dorcel and Brandt is a big winner. Do not miss it, you will not be disappointed.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN