Second Chances – New Sensations Romance – Director – Jacky St. James – Cast – Carter Cruise, Jessa Rhodes, Allie Haze, Chad White, Brendon Miller, Logan Pierce
As result of the recent wins this film and it’s stars received from both XBIZ and AVN in several categories, I am rerunning this review in its entirety just as I did back in September 2014.
The adult industry is blessed to have some female writer/directors who continue to create and bring out fantastic, well written, realistic stories that cover love, romance, comedy, drama and real life. One those is the very talented Jacky St. James and once again she hits the mark with a terrific story about first love, betrayal, moving on in life and then finding, again, her first true love. Is it worth a second chance?
It opens with Madison (Carter Cruise) giving us a narrative and images of her first year in college and what it was like being new to everything. Then we quickly switch to several years later and Madison is working as a waitress in bar. Who is in the bar but Josh (Chad White) who was her first love, but also the person who humiliated her in college. She refuses to wait on him and her boss Dean (Brendon Miller),at the bar and can’t understand why. A little later Madison is outside talking to Brendon about what went down back when she was in college with Josh and using her as a big fraternity joke. It’s a humorous, but realistic scene. Dean has some feelings for her, kisses her and next thing you know they are ready to make love. Madison is so scared, she’s been sexless for some time, and it becomes a very humorous scene that doesn’t get consummated. When friends Olivia (Jessa Rhodes) and Luca (Logan Pierce) find out what went on we get another good touch of humor.
Josh, who wants to study for college tests, but girlfriend Bethany (Allie Haze) has other ideas and that leads to the two of them getting into a sexy, all out romp. Meanwhile, a mysterious donor has given $5K to Pets Heal Hearts a charity that Madison is involved with. Now comes time to find out who the mystery donor is. This is where the story begins to take some twists and turns for Madison, Dean, Olivia and Lucas, as well as Josh. It is all stylishly done with a very realistic time frame and timeline of events that impact their lives. It is done with drama, a lot of humor and how it all ends for everyone, we will leave for you to discover in this very polished, well written story.
The cast is excellent and Carter Cruise and Jessa Rhodes show off some excellent acting chops, that are award nom worthy. The rest of the cast bring humor, sensitivity and realism to the characters they portray. The cinematography is lush with both the interior and exterior scenes and capture all the emotions the characters go through. The sex scenes are very well captured and offer up plenty of passion, desire and fulfillment. Ms. St. James writing is crisp and her direction is very well paced to allow for the main characters personalities to develop. She gives the viewer a very real look at what one goes through with a first love and what can happen later on when you think all is lost.
“Second Chances” is a very solid romantic, sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, couples friendly film that is definitely going to be a very heavy contender, and winner, come awards time. I highly recommend getting hold of this 5 star film.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
