'Variety' Favorably Reviews 3D Satire of Japanese Porn Industry

LOS ANGELES—3D Naked Ambition, a "spoof of [Japanese adult video] conventions spiced with smutty schoolboy humor and film/pop-culture references," was reviewed favorably yesterday by Variety's Maggie Lee, who nonetheless noted that the "sex farce is more of a flamboyant floorshow for comedian Chapman To (pictured) to hone his simpatico-sleazebag persona than anything hardcore or even erotic." 3D Naked Ambition, a "sequel of sorts" to 2003's Naked Ambition, was directed by Lee Kung-lok and scripted by Chan Hing-ka, who also co-directed the original with Dante Lam. With an international cast conversant in Cantonese, Japanese and Mandarin dialogue, the movie also reportedly featured "a crew of bona fide porn actresses strutting around." The plot, according to Variety, is "the stuff of male fantasy: A wussy Hong Kong man stumbles into Japan’s adult video (AV) industry and becomes a superstar." Going into greater depth, Lee elaborates, "Wyman Chan (To, incorrigibly smartass) has just lost his job writing bodice-rippers for a seamy magazine. Seeking relief from his nagging g.f., Cecilia (Candy Yuen, memorably spiteful), a successful author of slushy romances, he joins his buddies on a trip to Japan. They’ve decided to “invest” in an AV production to enjoy all-you-can-ogle privileges, and seek the middleman services of expat Shidaiko Hatoyama (Josie Ho, who made her screen debut in Naked Ambition). However, when the male lead walks out rather than perform such positions as the “human helicopter” and “carnal pile-driver,” actress Yui Tatsumi suggests one of the investors take his place. The lucky guy is Wyman, but despite all his macho posturing, he wilts in Tatsumi’s professional but predatory embrace." Regarding its use of 3D, Lee adds, "With only a smattering of location scenes in Tokyo, the film plunges viewers into an erotic La La Land. The 3D effects are not as protuberant as in other Category III pics like 3D Sex and Zen, but they do enhance certain physical attributes. Andrew Wong’s production design and Tam’s lensing are colorfully kitschy. The Chinese title roughly translates as 'Manly Feelings.'" The movie was reviewed at the AMC Pacific Place in Hong Kong. Variety adds, "Local B.O. continues to firm up after the pic raked in $1.5 million in 11 days, despite being rated Category III (for audiences over 18). Festivals and Asian fanboys may be aroused by this curio, notwithstanding some sexist, racist undertones."