GENRE: Couples

DIRECTOR: Nicholas Steele

CAST: Evan Stone, Star E. Knight, Colt Steele, Julian, Dillion Day, Ian Daniels, Joel Lawrence, Kylie Ireland, Monica Mayhem, Nina Ferrari, Phoenix Ray

EXTRAS: Moving chapters, moving slideshow,
hot shot chapter, hot shot button, three bonus scenes, action advance, previews, bios, behind the scenes (you must see Evan Stone's impromptu commercial for 'Adam and Eve Coffee' -- classic!)

BODY:
As the leader of the Playgirl Posse, people often assume I know a lot about hot hunks and. . .well, more hot hunks. Folks, there are worse areas of expertise; they should make 'studology' a collegiate major.

Given the western motif of the group's logo, and my collection of 'hot but tough cowboys meet strong but doe-eyed heroines" romance novels, I looked forward to seeing "Whispering Hearts," especially as it was directed by the couples-friendly Nicholas Steele.

Any romance fan will appreciate the sprawling shots of a barechested Evan Stone riding across the backdrop of a beautiful rural countryside atop a chestnut-coated horse. And her heart will melt as he stops to pet and coo over the horse (I tell ya', Ladies, I've never wanted to be a horse so much in my life!)

It turns out this horse holds special meaning for Evan's character, a no-nonsense ranch owner named Troy. "Wild Whisper," in fact, was intended as an equine engagement gift for his onetime fiancee (played in a flashback by Dee). Yet now this lady has left Troy, prompting the audience to question her sanity and Troy to sell the horse.

Yet he has set up a selective screening process for potential buyers; one he is not sure Nicole Campbell, an uncompromising businesswoman from the big city, will pass. For starters, Nicole (played by classy beauty Star E. Knight) wants to change the name of Troy's prized horse. And she's not pleased at the prospect of travelling to Troy's ranch and explaining her suitability for the purchase.

Things don't immediately improve upon her arrival, as the couple spars and squabbles about the horse. Yet as with most romantic films, this initial tension sparks the flames of a red-hot love affair. The love scenes are both hot and tender in "Whispering Hearts," as they take place between Troy and Nicole, Troy and 'flashback fiancee,' and various supporting players. The emphasis is on style and intimacy as opposed to gonzo technique.

Having said that, I wish that the filmmakers had taken "Whispering Hearts" fully into the realm of femme porn, daring to make a true couples classic.

For while the film had a great storyline, it didn't answer all of the questions it posed. At the end I was left wondering, why (oh why) did Troy's fiancee leave him? What happened to Nicole's big city boyfriend, who appears at the film's beginning but just seems to fade away before its culmination -- without the benefit of a breakup scene. And how is it that Nicole transforms so quickly from a hardnosed city cynic to a sweet-natured country gal?

If I had been the director (scary thought, I know), I would have omitted the obviously dude-driven sex scene involving three ranch hands (two females, one male, no point) and devoted its run time to the sound resolution of these quandries. On the other hand, the threesome scene that showed Julian and Colt Steele pleasuring a lucky female was very important and totally relevant to the plot (wink).

CONCLUDING WORDS: While I was left with a lot of questions at the end of "Whispering Hearts," I was also left with a warmly romantic feeling. And especially when one considers the fact that this is a hardcore production, that's definitely saying something.