Takin' It Off

Ultra-low-budget '80s T&A extravaganza with little plot serves as an excuse to show various good-looking women naked. Not a porn flick, although there are porn stars in it, including the mega-chested Kitten Natividad and the spectacular Candie Evans, regarded by many porn aficionados--with good reason--as having the most mind-bogglingly perfect body in all of porndom. The filmmakers were at least professionals, so the photography is clear (always important in a film like this), the sound is good (not so important in a film like this) and the acting is, for the most part, passable (as if that matters in a film like this). The "story" (yeah, like you really care . . . ) has the huge-hootered Kitten trying to find a way to lose "weight" and how she goes about it. That's it. And with the kind of women that are in this picture, that's enough. Worth a look for the gratuitous nudity, especially Kitten's and Candie's, but not something you'd be interested in seeing more than once. Well, maybe twice. Well, maybe three times. Well . . .

My review was written in February 1985 after viewing the movie on Vestron video cassette.

"Takin' It Off" is a throwback to the nudie-cutie films of two decades ago, showcasing several ecdysiasts doing their peeling routines. Unreleased theatrically, feature is a mildly diverting home video entry.

Star Kitten Natividad, well-known through her Russ Meyer films, reteams with director Ed Hansen, who piloted her somewhat satirical 1983 workout tape "Eroticise". Portraying Betty Bigwons (spelling is a guess), she has fun lampooning her image in an absurd storyline: she must lose three inches around her massive bustline in order to qualify for a spot on a tv series. This takes Betty to Dr. Buzz Rauchy's diet institute, to psychiatrist-exorcist Dr. Lucifer Chaser and ultimately to Fosdick's Fat Farm. Meanwhile, the Little Playhouse, a striptease club run by Anita Little (Angelique Pettyjohn) is carrying on minus its star attraction.

Pic features okay dancing, a variety of stripping segments (including a young woman who features a Jim Henson-style puppet in her act christened The Nookie Monster) and some rather strained burlesque-style humor. Nudity is plentiful of course, while the softcore sex content would probably qualify, just barely, for an X rating if submitted for same.. The disco-style title song is played four times through during the padded running time.

The first 'naughty' movie I ever saw. The plot? There is none. But if you want to see a possible Dolly Parton look-a-like this movie is for you. Lots of T & A (and I don't mean talking & acting) and the acting is so bad it's laughable. Oh well, at least Sylvester Stallone wasn't in this one. (Hint - The Party at Kitty & Studs 1970)

If you're looking for a film that shows lots of skin, this is it. Betty Bigones (Kitten Natividad) sets out to make those big ones a little smaller, and her struggles to do so give the film a plot of sorts. The characters are shallow so no real oscar-winning acting is required here. Their erotic comments made to each other make for some laughs. The sound track isn't too bad either which might classify this movie as an "erotic musical" What makes this movie great, however, is the stripping acts by Betty and her friends in the "Little Playhouse" where they perform. Betty also plays several erotic scenes based on the diets she is trying. The ladies are takin' it off for sure and it's fun to watch. It's probably the best show of undraped femininity I've ever seen.

Have you seen the white whales? This film is the mother lode of Kitten Natividad's extraordinary bosom. C'mon, you HAVE to be curious about those jumbo puppies, uniquely styled somewhere between natural, the usual implant look, and a baby's soft rear end.

Of the 77 "Actress" and "Self" titles listed here at IMDb; I have viewed 12 of them and sought out numerous others. This is by far the most enjoyable and satisfying exhibition of the aforementioned bazooms I have come across. The Russ Meyer films have a novel, outrageous comedic style to them, but the visual presentation is very cluttered with skewed camera angles and extremely fast crosscutting between scenes. They also feature Kitten pre-implants: well endowed, but not nearly as spectacular.

If you really want to feast your eyes on 8th and 9th not-quite-natural wonders of the world, like a dog tilting his head in puzzlement and trying to figure out "How can it be??" … Takin' It Off is the catbird seat. You'll think there's two new balloons coming down 6th Avenue in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. It's one generous scene after another, in and out of various costumes and situations, with good picture composition, lighting, and close-ups … interspersed with silly comedy and an assortment of other nudie-cutie acts. In addition to the stage show at the strip club where much of the movie is set, there are a couple of very fun group strip scenes at a library and a workout spa.

The sequel—Takin' It All Off— is also quite excellent, with a mix of Kitten (in some new scenes and some flashbacks to Takin' It Off), the literally "outstanding" Candy Evans, the gorgeous Becky LeBeau, and the bevy of other cuties who show their assets quite generously to a great mix of fresh tunes. If you want a little more of Kitten after this, Eroticise is a good extension of the extravaganza.

Sadly, Kitten underwent a double mastectomy for treatment of breast cancer in October 1999 (per the IMDb bio). If you would like to witness her marvelous sense of humor about that misfortune, be sure to check out The Double-D Avenger.