Adolescentes à louer

Not one of Gary Graver's sterling achievements, TANGERINE is nonetheless an effective porn programmer, executing an okay storyline.

Premise is that attractive MILF Jennifer West in the title role has three pretend teen daughters who she essentially pimps out (in her home) to blackmail all and sundry who are seduced by them. They not only pretend to be her kin but also 15 years old (hardly credible), putting the rogues in jeopardy.

Film unfolds like an endless dinner party, with guests heading for the bedroom to get down with the kids Faith, Hope and Charity. Of course the scheme unravels, but the sex scam is fun to watch.

West looks great but her acting this time out is really poor, frequently giving unconvincing line readings, which Graver left in the finished film. Stealing the show in one of her earliest appearances is Holly McCall as the busiest daughter Faith. Her mature figure and manner never come close to the underage premise (even pretend). She also steals Veri Knotty's specialty routine involving a trick with her labia.

The other two girls are convincingly young looking, but have little to do compared to uninhibited Holly. Many big stars appear in supporting roles, notably Aunt Peg: Juliet Anderson, who vainly overacts to compensate (and succeeds to a great degree) for the non-acting of most of the other women. One of my all-time faves Kitty Shayne is wasted and photographed unflatteringly in a shower scene.

Credits are intentionally confusing and filled with unnecessary pseudonyms. The dumbest of these is identifying Jesse Adams, who's in the shower threesome with Kitty, as "Jessie St. James", a sex change pretending he's the equally famous actress, who is not in the film at all.

Richard Pacheco predictably turns in the best performance, as a guy who sees through all the scheming, but not before sampling all three of the girls. Tech credits, including shooting on film, are above-average for porn.

Faith, Hope and Charity pretend to be underage daughters of Tangerine (Jennifer West.)

They all run a scam to extort money out of wealthy men after they have had sex with them in a mansion. None of them notice that these daughters are not remotely minors.

Some of them agree to pay up $1000 a month. They will get to have fun with the girls at the regular dinner parties that Tangerine throws.

In this particular dinner party Tangerine needs to do a bit of industrial espionage. However her days of hustling might be coming to an end.

This is a minor entry from the golden age of porn. Director Gary Graver has made better during that era and that includes the sex scenes.

One of the problems is Jennifer West's acting is poor. She just about manages to recite her lines and that is it.

It is left to Juliet Anderson to ham it up as the prudish aunt who barges into the mansion and then collapses when she sees the bawdiness around her. Only to later heat up and lose her inhibitions.

Holly McCall is the standout as daughter Faith who could turn anything into a knot.

Tangerine, directed by Gary Graver, is a film that embraces its niche in the vintage adult film category. It presents a provocative and spicy tale, one that is sure to titillate audiences seeking a trip back to the heydays of erotic cinema.

The premise is undeniably intriguing: we meet Jennifer West, an attractive MILF, who plays the titular role of 'Tangerine'. Tangerine has a unique business venture-she 'rents out' her three pretend teen daughters for erotic encounters, using these encounters as a means to blackmail her unsuspecting clients. This sets the stage for a series of steamy scenes and a narrative that, while simple, effectively drives the film forward.

The performances are competent, with West embodying the role of the cunning and seductive Tangerine. The three 'nymphettes', as they are referred to, each bring their own brand of allure to the screen, ensuring that the film maintains a high level of sensuality throughout.

However, where Tangerine falls short is in its attempt to blend a narrative with eroticism. The story, though interesting, often takes a backseat to the explicit content. As a result, the pacing feels uneven, with the film's short runtime of 90 minutes still feeling a tad too long. The characters, beyond their physical performances, lack depth, and the potential for a truly engaging, nuanced exploration of this unique premise is unfortunately missed.

That being said, Tangerine does deliver on its promise of providing a provocative experience. The erotic scenes are well-crafted and creative, ensuring the film's place as a memorable entry in the annals of vintage adult cinema. For fans of this genre, it is certainly worth a watch, even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression beyond its spicy narrative twist.