Michael Raven very effectively merged the two poles of his porn career: storytelling features and all-sex exercises in style with "Island Rain", a Sin City release that reminded me of the dreamy getaway Adam & Eve productions of its era instead.
There is very little story or characterization, with the show carried forward almost exclusively by voice-over narration. Main protagonist Steven St. Croix is tired of his marriage and has headed to a Caribbean sex-oriented resort for personal r&r. The beautiful, idyllic settings, lovingly photographed by Raven and ace cameraman Jake Jacobs are quite convincing, and entirely shot in Malibu rather than some exotic, globe-hopping location.
St. Croix observes and also participates in a series of XXX couplings with lovely femmes, ranging from succulent and ultra-busty Kristal Summers decked out with black hair (or wig) for a change all the way to contrasting Sin City contract star Monique Alexander. Monique earns the cover shot on the DVD, but Monika Star as Steven's wife is the actual lead. Very predictably, Star & St. Croix get back together again for a happy ending.
This type of Life Style porn is a favorite genre of mine, and given a wonderfully escapist tilt by Raven, as opposed to the heavy dramatics with which say a Paul Thomas treats the genre.
