Killing Candy

Willing to get rich very fast, three ex-convicts join forces to accomplish the perfect crime: kidnapping a famous movie-star and forcing her to play the main role in a pornographic movie which will be broadcasted live over the internet. They set up an elaborate plan and start executing it but as you might expect, deviations will inevitable occur. Jealousy, pride, hunger for money and self- pleasure might end their plan early. Will they be able to stick to it till the end?

Contrary to what you might think, this movie isn't a pornographic one. Except from 2 sequences which together take about two minutes and in which nothing very explicit is shown, it's everything but erotic. It feels cheap from one end to the other but that doesn't necessary make it a bad movie. It has some essence in its story but nothing elevated. You really get to see what people are ready to do for money, but that's about it. Despite its mediocrity, you will be presented with a really unexpected finale. I have to say I wasn't expecting it, by any means.

I can't actually recommended it but if you get your hands on it, you might want to take a look, at least for its ending.

(2002) Stealing Candy THRILLER/ DRAMA

Straight to rental with simplistic plot that has three or four men plotting and then succeeding to kidnap a supposedly well known actress, and then exploit this for the intention of making money out of her by forcing her to do short make out videos online, while wearing masks to conceal their identities! I must confess much of the plot is inexplicably explained at the back of the DVD case motivating me to use a 'fast forward' button while playing, so basically this film didn't have any new surprises until the very end which is supposed to be a twist that can be seen a mile away or already leaked out on the synopsis. Much of the film also consist of the robbers arguing with each other about when to release her and who gets the money blah blah blah... Low budget with the only highlight I can see is to all the testosterone males, this actress by the name of Jenya Lano doesn't look too bad appears to be the only person who gets naked in this.

"Stealing Candy" is another modest budget crime thriller with a twist at the end. These twists are becoming so obligatory that it is about time one of these movies tried the unexpected and did not include a twist. That would truly be a shocking ending.

Whatever budget they had for this did not translate into anything interesting from a production design perspective. A group of friends could have shot this one weekend at their homes. Technically it is a solid production although very little is attempted. The gun play looks realistic enough.

Despite having talents as enormous as Pamela Anderson's, Jenya Lano is actually a very good actress. Her scenes in "Stealing Candy" are entertaining. Lano is my all time favorite "Xena" bad girl and now has a fairly regular part on "Charmed". Unfortunately she is only on screen for about a third of the movie. Daniel Baldwin, Coolio, and Alex McArthur seem very awkward with each other.

Don't rush out to buy or rent this but it's an OK diversion.

This wasn't a good movie, it wasn't a bad movie either. Definitely a rental. The concept of the movie was decent and I think it had a lot of potential. A couple of plot twists and a good looking girl like Jenya made it watchable. This could have been a great movie if it had a bigger budget and better stars.

The premise of the movie is that three ex-cons kidnap a movie actress who has a "no nudity" clause in her contract, and persuade her to perform for the internet for some quick cash to be made for all three, only, you guessed it, something goes wrong.

The award for best actor in the movie goes to Daniel Baldwin (purely coincidental, but I've seen a lot of his movies recently). He's the only character that had any depth put into it.

I liked Jenya Lano and would like to see if she has some more range as an actress. She has appeared in S.W.A.T. and Blade but nothing else I have heard of. Hopefully, she'll put out some more meaningful movies in the future... And while I'm at it, I gotta say I love that name Jenya.

Alex McArthur played the mastermind and did a mediocre job. No complaints, no compliments, just OK. It might have been fun to see Kelsey Grammer in this role in sort of a Sideshow Bob kind of way. It could have made it more interesting.

Coolio, on the other hand, should get a Razzie. As far as rapper-actors go, he's on the bottom of that list, and the list itself is pretty much a bad list to be on anyways. Let's just say he's no LL Cool J. More than once he reminded me of a very unfunny Marlon Wayans and tried too hard to be the scary villain. He didn't succeed. Samuel L. Jackson seems a natural to play this part. Stick with what works. If anything, Coolio should have watched a Samuel L. Jackson movie to prepare. Typical rapper, they're all actors anyways but not many have any range past playing a thug. Enough said on that I suppose.

Overall, the movie was another one in the middle of the road. I gave it a 6 out of 10 because I liked the idea of the movie and a few decent scenes but nothing more. Try to catch it on cable somewhere if possible.

I recently watched Stealing Candy (2003) on Tubi. The story follows two convicts who team up with a third-a tech-savvy fellow inmate-to kidnap a famous movie star. Their plan? Force her into a livestreamed sex act and collect money from viewers. But once the kidnapping takes place, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems.

Directed by Mark L. Lester (Commando), the film stars Daniel Baldwin (Vampires), Coolio (Daredevil), Alex McArthur (Kiss the Girls), and Jenya Lano (Charmed).

The concept had some promise and could have worked with a Wild Things-style execution. The opening pool scene and shootout are over-the-top and amusing in a ridiculous way. Unfortunately, that's where the fun ends. The writing, acting, and dialogue are painfully bad throughout. Coolio, in particular, becomes increasingly over-the-top and grating as the film goes on. The female lead is undeniably attractive, and her sex scene is probably the most polished element of the film-but that's about the only highlight.

In conclusion, Stealing Candy is just as bad as you'd expect. I'd give it a 3/10 and recommend skipping it.