Allyson Is Watching

Considering the usual level of Made-For-Playboy movies, "Allyson is Watching" represents a landmark exception. Jennifer Hammon has the smile and charm of Sandra Bullock and her straight-forward performing style elevates this low budget (simulated) sex film beyond the norm. Allyson is an aspiring young actress who learns about sexual matters by spying on her prostitute neighbor and fighting off the advances of a pushy acting partner, an acting coach of questionable integrity, and a landlord with evil on his mind. Hammon jumped from this film to a regular role on the ABC soap "Port Charles," so you are not likely to see her in this type of film again. Now that she's moved on to Prime Time guest appearances, she's an actress worth watching.

In a perfect world, this would be an average soft-core porn flick. Cute lead, nice lesbian sex scene, actors apparently conversant with the basic principles of sexual intercourse. Since this is *not* a perfect world, you should go rent this right now just to prove to yourself that it is possible to get these things right. I've read that there's a lobotomised version floating around, so be careful you don't get that one.

Who are these two ladies,where have they been and where the hell are they now?I am referring to the two female leads in this softcore late night cable delight,Jennifer Hammon(Allyson) and Caroline Ambrose(Bridget).The story revolves around Allyson's struggling acting career in her new home in Los Angeles.However the fun begins when Allyson hears noises coming from the adjoining apartment and investigates by peering through the keyhole to witness her neighbour and a (client) getting it on.She continues to watch and get aroused by her new friend and then the good times roll.What follows is surely one of the greatest lesbian scenes of all time between Allyson and Bridget.Throw in a psychopathic killer for a twist and you have all the necessary ingredients for cinema at it's best.But where are these two lovely ladies now,we the fans deserve to know.Come back Jennifer.come back Caroline.

The film starts off with country girl Allyson (Jennifer Leigh Hammon) saying her goodbyes to her boyfriend in the only way possible in a film like this, by having great sex in the back of a pick-up, halfway up a mountainside! Taking acting lessons, she moves LA and just happens to take a room adjoining that of Bridget, (Caroline Ambrose) a woman who makes it her business to pleasure men in any way they desire. Allyson is turned on by what she sees through the keyhole and she and Bridget are drawn together. An assault by a photographer friend and a disappearance give the film the look of a well written production, plus, of course some steamy sex scenes.

This brings me to the main gripe with this film and indeed other films of its type, the use of overly loud music. Is it just me who finds this music annoying? For me, the sounds of love-making are just as important as the visuals in the erotic experience but the film-makers do not seem to think so; or could it be that they have been doing it this way for so long that they do not consider any alternative. Thank goodness that this film has some positive aspects.

The two leading ladies are well chosen for their roles. Caroline Ambrose with her obviously enhanced body gives it all she has got as the good-time girl who tutors Allyson in all things carnal, not that she needs to be taught anything judging by her other sex scenes. Jennifer Leigh Hammon plays it well as the natural looking fresh-faced young innocent. It is a pity that these two ladies seem to have disappeared from the acting scene. The acting honours though, go to Jack Deleon as the creepy landlord, Mr Merry, who gets creepier with each appearance. Overall then, a production well worth a good look.

I ask so little from my sex exploitation movies. A few attractive females. A decent plot. And at last a few scenes of eroticism. This movie falls flat on at least two of these fronts. The ladies in question both of them are okay but just don't push my buttons at least. Allyson looks like Rachel from friends while her call-girl neighbor resembles Xena the warrior princess. The scene where the get it together could easily pushed this film to a six or seven. The call girl kisses Allyson in an attempt to seduce her while Allyson explains it is her first time. The movie then has them both waking up to each other the next morning. What is this the USA network. Implied sex does not a decent explotation film make a generous 3 is my final score