Cheaters Retreat 1

Nica Noelle's pair of CHEATERS RETREAT videos, clocking in at over 3 3/4-th hours ruining time, represent a major achievement in her career. The "real lovemaking, real orgasms" mantra she created for Sweet Sinner Video is perfectly suited to the tale.

Resorts dedicated to sexual group therapy are an obvious source of material for porn, with Anthony Spinellli's 1971 film TOUCH ME the template for the subject. I also recall seeing an underrated documentary SANDSTONE at an Akron/Canton drive-in back in the '70s that dealt seriously (but sexually) with the subject.

Nick Manning is perfectly cast as Nick, the self-declared (and trademarked, as he is fond of reminding everyone) relationships guru, who expensively treats a motley group of troubled folks to his wisdom at his workshops in an idyllic country setting for the weekend.

Noelle departs from SS format by devoting the first 26 minutes of Vol. 1 to exposition before the inevitable four sex segments begin. Darla Crane is there because she feels inadequate and unsexy (that's a laugh) due to hubby Sean Michaels' repeated cheating on her, and he's along to try and make amends.

Comprising a Black couple, Nica's favorite non-sex performer deLUXE has brought her young husband Alexander St. Pierre (both in non-sex roles) and his best friend Wolf Hudson because she accuses them of having a bromance going together that is more significant than her hubby's emotional attachment to her. Wolf's casting is interesting because he was a "is he or isn't he?" potential mulatto a la Vin Diesel opposite deLUXE in Nica's FAMILY SECRETS, and has a career comprising many transsexual and bisexual videos with even a gay outing thrown in.

Lesbian duo (of two years duration) Magdalene St. Michaels and young star Chastity Lynn are on the verge of break-up due to Lynn's desire to open herself to new experiences, notably sex with men. Odd man out (so to speak) is Rayveness, the mysterious beauty whose presence seemingly violates the retreat's main premise for being, but is both Nick's and auteur Nica's dramatic element in the mix.

With a never-ending grin, Nick's pontificating and New Age pronouncements to the group are priceless, combining glibness, smarminess, swagger, ego-tripping and a genuine desire to help people in a way that wowed me (with his sexual prowess yet to be displayed). In a mainstream film on the subject Jon Hamm would be the perfect casting, but Manning is far better at seeming to exude this character without the calculated and precise acting performance we've seen Hamm concoct so well on MAD MEN.

Nick puts the guests through various tests, including the familiar Trust where one falls backward, leaving the partner to catch you before hitting the ground. Everyone passes except deLUXE, whose mistrust of Alexander is so great she refuses to participate, leaving the boy to fall significantly into the arms of Wolf.

First sex vignette has Darla wandering outside amidst trees and a pond, finding Nick there. It isn't long until the deeply-tanned stud seduces her and while obviously serving his own purposes succeeds via humping in elevating her sense of self-worth and attractiveness. It's this duality that makes Nick's character so appealing, in contrast to the 1-note cult-ogres we've seen on screen so many times as personified by fine actors like Powers Booth (Jim Jones) or Steve Railsback (Charles Manson).

Before sex segment #2 Nica dangles some other hook-up possibilities, with Rayveness lurking almost threateningly as onlooker, before settling on Chastity chatting with Sean in the lounge, leading to their mixed-combo sex scene which is probably the most torrid of the video. Though already a familiar star Lynn is convincingly virginal in this match-up and handles Sean's big dick with fervor.

Meanwhile, Magdalene dallies with Wolf for a solid May/December sex union, while Rayveness is peeping from outside their window.

Finale for Part 1 has Rayveness accosting Wolf as he leaves, demanding sex from him and blackmailing him to get it, claiming he took advantage of Maggie's vulnerability and she will tell the group about what he did (the video's least believable plot ploy). She's terrific in the sack, ending this first 2 hours satisfyingly, but leaving the viewer wanting more of the story (see my review of Vol. 2).