This classic adult film was produced at the height of the "golden age" of porn, when a number of directors truly wanted to make "art" out of movies featuring people actually having sex.
Bolstered by an intelligent script by Daria Price, "Take Off" is a riff on "The Picture of Dorian Gray," with the main character of the film (Darrin Blue - get it?) remaining eternally young, while his image on a stag film continues to age. The film begins in the 1920s, and we follow Darrin's adventures decade by decade through the 1970s. There are some pretty corny situations that pop up along the way, along with a few adolescent attempts at humor, but this film still stands out as an example of a dirty movie that can maintain audience interest in between the sex scenes.
It helps that "Take Off" features some of the most well known porn stars of the era - Georgina Spelvin, Annette Haven, Leslie Bovee, and Wade Nichols - and their performances help raise the quality of the film. Wade Nichols and Georgina Spelvin, in particular, are a wonder to watch - they're not just good porn actors, but good actors...period. Wade Nichols did find some mainstream success in "The Edge of Night" soap opera in the late 70s and 80s, but I'm still mystified as to why Georgina Spelvin could never quite cross over - she could easily hold her own among a number of so-called accomplished actresses. Oh, and look for a brief cameo from Peter Scolari of "Bosom Buddies" fame in his first film role!
The production values of the film are noteworthy, too, with beautiful costumes and sets that represent in fine detail every decade depicted on screen.
And while this movie is no Oscar contender, after watching it, you can't help but wonder where adult films might be today had the home video phenomenon not transformed the porn industry into the wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am DVD selections of the present. "Take Off" certainly gives you a glimpse of what can happen when sex and smarts get together.
