Please Please Me

Because of the hit movie, Linda Lovelace is synonymous with the technique of deep throat, while aficionados respect Bobbi Bliss who perfected the technique in the '90s. But back in the day the champion was Angela Haze (see classic DO YOU WANNA BE LOVED, where she is actually saluted in a guest shot demo), spotlighted as the star of this obscure porn film.

She's billed as "introducing Erica Strauss", cast as a female version of the 7-year itch, sick of her hubby Paul Thomas after that interval of marriage. She fantasizes a lot, beginning with a close to home daydream of P.T. actually satisfying her. The deep throat prowess is immediately evident, but so natural is Haze's execution that it seems perfectly normal. Odd touch is no cum shot in the fantasy sequence, perhaps more true to a femme fantasy than one expects (or gets) in porn where audience demand for a money shot is presumed a priori.

Though his performance picks up a bit in later reels, P.T. is unbelievably bad and annoying in his acting during most of the film, browbeating his wife, saying childish things and simply behaving badly way over the top. Nadir comes when he buys a bunch of sex toys on the recommendation of his Black buddy George (George Matthews), plays with them like a retard and then manhandles Haze with them in something closer to on-screen rape than eroticism.

Script's highlight is a still-timely reference, when P.T. complains to his wife after she announces she wants to get a job (evidently replacing Rosie on THE VIEW): "Two years ago you wanted to be the new Barbara Walters, but even Barbara Walters has got to have time for a roll in the hay". Forget "Lean In": these are words for every feminist to live by!

However, the deep throat queen oddly turns to lesbianism: first she attends a porno movie with gal pal Sharon Thorpe, but later on a picnic gives in to latter's advances, 69 style. I guess Angela Haze may deserve an Oral Queen of porn title, rather than just limiting her talent to servicing guys so well.

Film builds sloppily to some orgies, well-shot out on a deck with view of the valley. with some mixed combo action. P.T. wisely visits a shrink, played by portly Priscilla Alden (non-sex role), who I must take credit for outing as the actress who memorably etched Fat Ethel in Nick Millard's horrible but somehow beloved porno-guy-makes-horror-classic CRIMINALLY INSANE. I would have preferred if they had cast Shirley Stoler, hot off Wertmuller's SEVEN BEAUTIES in the role, but having Alden is still ample proof of the continuum of movies which encompasses both mainstream and porn (rather than being stove-piped industries as most people think).

Speaking of the continuum and fatness, it is unfortunate that Michael Moore as "Man in Theatre" (porno theater that is) in the cast list is most definitely not our beloved FAHRENHEIT 9/11 helmer -he was a tad too young and not a Frisco denizen to be in this film. More's the pity.

Main defect of PLEASE PLEASE ME is filmmaker Paul Lyon's stupid omission of Haze doing some eye-popping fellatio stunts -she merely gives Thomas (average size dick) a treatment and doesn't even show her skills with the Black dudes in the cast. Pornographers work with very limited budgets and resources, but like having a standing set and not using it, not putting Haze's talents to work in her only starring role is simply ludicrous.