James Avalon is undeniably a great adult director, having most recently picked up AVN's Best Director - Film award in January for Les Vampyres.

Tropic of Desire, unfortunately, is not one of his better efforts.

A stylistic departure for the usually dark, moody, heavily produced Avalon, the New Age music-scored Desire, shot largely outdoors at a tropical resort, is serviceable only for couples with extremely mild sexual tastes. Rather than the deliberate, carefully thought out porn one normally associates with Avalon, this tape has a quickie, fly-by-night feel to it.

Most of the carnality is of the multiple variety, with the emphasis on couples-friendly g/g gash gnawing and b/g beach boinking, with hardly any anal play. The video is long on the artsy, gauzy type of videography that screams couples-friendly - lots of gauzy shots of girls guzzling the goo and reverse cowgirls into the sunset.

James Avalon is even able to shoot Mark Davis' balcony bang with Dominica Leoni as more sensual and soft than the piledriving pussy delivery Davis is known for. Even the video's lone d.p. between Brian Surewood, Jade Marcela and Tyce Buné is shot in a way to avoid watchers who like it vanilla from wincing.

But the approach also works against the video at times, and add to that the soundtrack that overpowers the natural oohs and ahhs that come along with good sex and makes for images where the performers seem sexually detached. Not crediting Cherry Mirage's appearance in the final fourway also does not add any points to the video.

While not enough to satisfy the solo stroker, Desire has its moments for couples looking for non-intimidating intercourse.