Grace Nichols (Megan Hughes) is an up-and-coming investment banker who is in competition with her male counterparts, Charles Walters (Jay Richardson ), Russel Meyers (Tom Jourden), and Derrick Miller (Joseph Maickel), for `that big promotion.' She seems to have the inside lane as the protege of the chairman of the board, Roger Sherman (Don Robb[II]) and friend of his wife Glenda Sherman (Trish Elliot). But her position is severely threatened when her secretary, Angie Li (Candace Kita), hooks her up with her personal trainer and sexual playmate Brian Lerner (Doug Jeffery). Complications arise when Grace in turn sets Brian up with Paula Diamond (Deborah Greene) an agent and promoter for a fitness club franchise who is seeking a poster boy for her product.
Warning to SPOILERPHOBIACS ***spoilers may lurk herein*** Director Kelley Cauthen sets up a nice contrast between the `beer-commercial-type' values of the gym/fitness club scene and focused, data-driven world of an investment banking office where $400K/year executives roam the halls. For instance, the minor role of Michelle (Tamera Sessions) who speaks a total of maybe six words in three short appearances is always seen in sweats, fitting in perfectly at the gym. In a nice, tailored dress, however, she would also look at home in the business world, but of course we never saw her there in this film. As a body builder Brian always appears in `grungeware,' except for the one time that we see him in a suit (no tie, but at least a suit) when he was at a party with Grace but it was her money that paid it. A third example: The snobbish remarks by Grace's colleagues toward Brian painfully revealed that he could not distinguish between the `paintings' of Monet and George Bernard Shaw and, therefore, belonged in some other world. (please email me if you need to have this explained) See, I did it, too!!
I thought that the role of Angie Li (Kita) was miscast--a little to sleazy and emaciated. She also may have tied Ms. Hughes for `the most bare skin shown during heterosexual activity' title. A sweet and playful little sex kitten like Kristen Knittle [(Siren's Kiss (1995), Sinful Intrigue (1995), Dreammaster: The Erotic Invader (2000)] may have been a better fit. BTW, did she retire after the Emmanuelle and Justine films? If so, it's too bad because she is a delight to watch.
Miss Kita's sleazy role here is a major contrast to her real life in which she is a college graduate and a classically trained musician. She seems to be constantly cast as the Asian stereotype.
Tammy Parks played a good hooker, but I couldn't figure out whether her john was the role played by Samuel Combs, Jr. or the `salesman' played by Joey Gaynor.
Trivia: This is the only `R' rated film that Ms. Hughes has ever acted in; IMDb lists no other works of hers after this 1995 movie. If she has retired, I hope she'll make a come-back. I thought she was pretty good in SO.
This was another romance/drama that Cauthen was able to make without excessive violence, adolescent-oriented car chases, or obliteration of human body parts in `living color,' as seems to be the norm for too many films of that decade. Whether Kelley is a `Ms. -' or a `Mr. Cauthen,' (I can't seem to find out), my hat's off for a movie for mature audiences where `mature' means what the dictionary says more than what MPAA means by the same word.
Warning to SPOILERPHOBIACS ***spoilers may lurk herein*** Director Kelley Cauthen sets up a nice contrast between the `beer-commercial-type' values of the gym/fitness club scene and focused, data-driven world of an investment banking office where $400K/year executives roam the halls. For instance, the minor role of Michelle (Tamera Sessions) who speaks a total of maybe six words in three short appearances is always seen in sweats, fitting in perfectly at the gym. In a nice, tailored dress, however, she would also look at home in the business world, but of course we never saw her there in this film. As a body builder Brian always appears in `grungeware,' except for the one time that we see him in a suit (no tie, but at least a suit) when he was at a party with Grace but it was her money that paid it. A third example: The snobbish remarks by Grace's colleagues toward Brian painfully revealed that he could not distinguish between the `paintings' of Monet and George Bernard Shaw and, therefore, belonged in some other world. (please email me if you need to have this explained) See, I did it, too!!
I thought that the role of Angie Li (Kita) was miscast--a little to sleazy and emaciated. She also may have tied Ms. Hughes for `the most bare skin shown during heterosexual activity' title. A sweet and playful little sex kitten like Kristen Knittle [(Siren's Kiss (1995), Sinful Intrigue (1995), Dreammaster: The Erotic Invader (2000)] may have been a better fit. BTW, did she retire after the Emmanuelle and Justine films? If so, it's too bad because she is a delight to watch.
Miss Kita's sleazy role here is a major contrast to her real life in which she is a college graduate and a classically trained musician. She seems to be constantly cast as the Asian stereotype.
Tammy Parks played a good hooker, but I couldn't figure out whether her john was the role played by Samuel Combs, Jr. or the `salesman' played by Joey Gaynor.
Trivia: This is the only `R' rated film that Ms. Hughes has ever acted in; IMDb lists no other works of hers after this 1995 movie. If she has retired, I hope she'll make a come-back. I thought she was pretty good in SO.
This was another romance/drama that Cauthen was able to make without excessive violence, adolescent-oriented car chases, or obliteration of human body parts in `living color,' as seems to be the norm for too many films of that decade. Whether Kelley is a `Ms. -' or a `Mr. Cauthen,' (I can't seem to find out), my hat's off for a movie for mature audiences where `mature' means what the dictionary says more than what MPAA means by the same word.