Three

This DVD is an anomoly in so many ways that it may be worthy of attention from folks who would be interested in more than its softcore porn-y aspects.

While from a production standpoint, this DVD belongs to the family of British-originated (or British-market targeted) erotica, meaning that there are significant restrictions on what can be shown on-screen (i.e., no penetration, etc.), a fact that cute blonde model Kris alludes to during a scene featuring him in the shower.

However, this particular video is more than the watered-down "Bel Ami" video or "naked sports" fare that one traditionally expects due to its unusual genesis. This DVD is in fact an extension on the hugely popular "coffe table" book of photographs of the same name ("Three") by Howard Roffman. The original book of photographs purportedly documents moments in the life of an all-male "permanent menage a trois," in a fashion that largely idealizes the relationship among the participants. Both the book and the video therefore trade not only on the attractiveness of the stars, but also on the voyeuristic tendencies that makes "reality TV" so intruiging to viewers.

Unlike most of the DVDs in this genre that present fictional or highly fictionalized plots, "Three" the DVD is a modestly insightful documentary, connecting the dots for viewers (somewhat predictably, alas) and shedding additional light on the nature of the relationship shared by the film's subjects that was first presented in the book.

Roffman himself becomes a fourth chracter in this drama, acting as the cameraman and interviewer. Unlike most documentarians, Roffman is not an uninvolved third party; indeed, the origin of the relationship being documented is credited to the photographer, who actually introduced the three guys to each other. Read More...