Customer Reviews

Joy & Joan

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Joy and Joan (1985 - French) In this sequel to 'Joy', based on the best-selling international novel, Brigitte Lahaie is cast as Joy, replacing Claudia Udy as the lead from the first film, and is probably reason enough to view this flick. Lahaie takes over the titular role of an international supermodel with a relentless passion for sensual pleasure, and possesses one of the screen's most near-perfect and desirable figures ever paraded for our pleasure. She's a statuesque goddess of the female form, worthy of worship and an altar, and is breathtaking when undraped.

Unfortunately, for me anyway, she's not undraped often enough, not when you consider her 70's career as a hardcore performer. And, to her credit, one of the few actors to transcend her early career and become a fairly respectable legitimate actress ('Henry And June', a host of Jean Rollin films, among others). Don't get me wrong, the film delivers to a certain European soft-core extent, but leaves you wanting more of what you were hoping for when you picked this one up. In the first half of the film, we don't get to see much of what's transpiring during the sex scenes, leaving them tepid at best. Bummer.

Once she gets to Thailand, however, things heat up a bit when Isabelle Solar is introduced as Joan, a tour guide who at first aids and comforts Joy, then there's a Sapphic session that's truly enjoyable viewing, and they fall in love afterwards. With the males in the film being as despicable as they are, it's easy to comprehend why. But can one woman satisfy the carnal desires that embody Joy and her lascivious lifestyle?

Soon enough, the ladies are back in France, old flames re-emerge, and new equations are thrown in the mix. There's an excellent ménage a trois at the conclusion of the film that redeems some of the lameness of the earlier sex scenes, but this and the scene with Joy and Joan are really the only worthwhile exploitive reasons to see this one. And the lush Thai scenery is as interesting as anything the plot has to offer.

As usual, Severin gives us a fine quality print with only a few blemishes, good colors and contrast, but fails to deliver any extras of any kind. Not a trailer, slideshow or even a bio. All in all, a must-see/have for fans of Brigitte Lahaie, one of the seven wonders of the 70's/80's world, and for soft-core fans of Eurotrash like me.
3 stars for the flick, 1 added for Brigitte and the (Thai) scenery...

Joy & Joan was, for me, the original late night cable movie that set the standard for all others to come. I saw it when I was about 13 in the late 80's, and for the longest time my memory of it was that of a dream. Did it really exist? Having now purchased a copy of the recently released DVD, and watched it a couple times, I can safely say that it both lives up to my memory of it and that it was more than just a dream.

And who knew it was a sequel? First time viewers should not let that trouble them. I've never seen the original, and probably never will. The story follows a French model by the name of Joy who goes to Thailand, of all places, in pursuit of an on-again/off-again boyfriend who's there as a journalist. Along the way, she finds herself getting caught up with all sorts of devious men who want to use her. And then she meets Joan, who officially works as a tour guide, but suggests she might be something of a bohemian outlaw. Joan is very taken with Joy, who, in turn, is fascinated by Joan's lifestyle. They develop a special bond and soon enough get physical with one another. The scene they have together on the train is worth the price of admission alone. It makes up for the first half of the movie, which is surprisingly tame.

The plot offers just enough to keep you intrigued. Some of the characters are truly wierd, like the mysterious "prince" who follows Joy through Thailand and finally reveals his intentions during a spectacular bathhouse orgy. The acting overall is good enough. If anything is lacking it's the dialogue. But who's watching this movie for dialogue? Brigitte Lahaie, who is, apparently, a famous French adult film star, and Isabelle Solar are the real attractions as Joy and Joan respectively. Watching them together, in whatever capacity, is what makes this movie watchable. Can Joan satisfy Joy's sexual appetite? Will an oppressive world of men tear these two lovers apart? You'll actually want to watch this movie till the end. Check it out!

My low rating is due to the fact that I received two copies, neither of which played properly. What I saw of the film was good, but could not see it in its entirety.