The late John Christopher had no greater ambition than to supply fun 'n' fluff films for the average adult crowd with flicks like VELVET HIGH and PIGGIES exploring the frat and sorority themes so dear to fans and filmmakers like Jim Clark of DEBBIE DOES DALLAS fame. Departing from the norm, BABE stands as his stab at a more couples-oriented carnal concoction with adult characters trying to sort out their relationships albeit in a comedic fashion.
High class fashion model Babe (Tara Aire, the "echo girl" from Gerard Damiano's NEVER SO DEEP, billed as "Bobbi Jackson") learns of the death of her beloved grandfather via telegram mere moments after she has allowed photographer Ron Jeremy and if you don't know him by now, you've got no business watching this stuff to pleasure her in a very regal, queen bee way that should particularly amuse female viewers. As the old man was very worried about his granddaughter's well-being, he has stipulated in his will that she will only inherit his vast fortune if she gets married within a month after his death. Not looking forward to being tied down, but very eager to get her hands on the money, Babe starts searching for a man who'll agree to matrimony as some sort of business arrangement. Her employer Dory (Samantha Fox) is none too pleased to see her cash cow get away and plots to marry her off to an aspiring actor, Chad Collins (Roderic Pierce, who played one of the dragoons with Tiffany Clark in Shaun Costello's PANDORA'S MIRROR), with dreams of producing an all-singing, all nude rendition of Edipus Rex on Broadway ! Dory gets her way and the wedding may be the first in history where both bride and groom get laid, but not with each other ! While Babe consoles spurned suitor George Payne, a former gay porn star (in the gobsmackingly grandiose CENTURIANS OF ROME amongst many others) who crossed over courtesy of the late Chuck Vincent who cast him as Samantha Fox's slave boy in JACK 'N' JILL, Chad sneaks off with an ambitious young actress (notorious N.Y. swinger Patrice Trudeau, who copped a sex scene award for her throating of Ron Jeremy's massive member in Cecil Howard's FIRESTORM 2). Married life gets underway with Chad busting his buns at the theater with the talent including Tiffany Clark and little-seen Tamara West (perhaps best remembered for TWILIGHT PINK 2) as Babe descends towards alcohol-fueled leisure with studs like Ron Hudd and Jim Davey (a minor performer who wound up switch-hitting in BI-BI American STYLE a couple of years down the line) or experienced Sapphic artistes like Lisa Be, who played the scandalous aunt in Bill Milling's SCENT OF HEATHER.
Plot doesn't hold too many surprises. If you've guessed that Babe grows to realize that she loves Chad just as the latter's overblown show becomes a surprise audience and critical hit, then you've guessed quite correctly. Getting to this foregone conclusion however is half the fun. Production is very solid, with glossy "Sven Nuvo" a/k/a Steve Kaman cinematography, as are most of the thespian performances. Aire has a convincing bitchiness about her that still doesn't antagonize her vis à vis the audience and Fox proves her ever engaging self even while mischievously plotting for Babe to squander her fortune so she'll have to keep working for her. Under the circumstances, it would've been a severe let-down if Babe whilst filthy rich hadn't decided to alleviate the boredom that comes with her status by going back to Dory's agency as her little family there proves such an engaging lot. Pierce, who made maybe five movies altogether, strikes just the right balance between swaggering macho arrogance and an underlying sensitivity. It's too bad he never got cast in another part that required this kind of acting ability.
The sex works well enough within the parameters of couples carnality with Fox coming closest to raunch in her desktop three-way with flunkies John Milner and Matt West, the latter also in Milling's BLONDE GODDESS. There are some odd digressions like Babe ordering her studs to strip and stroke off for her benefit that seem to gear the film more towards female viewers, as well as gay men !
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