Wicked's <i>Coming Home</i> Arrives With Fanfare

CHATSWORTH, Calif. - Director Brad Armstrong's war drama Coming Home, out yesterday, is already receiving rave reviews from adult critics and other industry notables alike.

Adult DVD Empire's Spooky, for one — a member of the esteemed X-Rated Critic's Organization (XRCO) — gave it the site's highest rating, five out of five stars.

"Coming Home will probably be Wicked Pictures' most nominated movie when the AVN nods come out later this year," Spooky said in the review, "and if there's any justice in the world it will also be their most awarded one. This is Wicked's strongest feature in years, and one of those rarities in the adult industry: a movie actually about something."

Wicked sales manager Bonnie Kail reported to AVN that even internally, the studio's personnel are stunned with the quality of the production. "When I got to see the rough cut of Coming Home, I walked out and said, 'Best drama Wicked's ever put out,'" Kail said.

"Now mind you, I've only worked here two years, so I haven't seen everything that Wicked's put out," she continued. "Walked into Brad Armstrong's office and said, 'I have to tell you, based on everything I've seen that you've done, that is the best drama I've ever seen.' He said, 'That's my favorite movie, too. I'm glad that's your reaction to it.' And then [I] proceeded to go to [VP of special projects] Joy King, who’s been with Wicked forever and has seen everything, and said, 'I don't have as much to compare to as you do, but I think this is the best drama we've ever put out.' And she said, 'I agree.'

"It's just a really tight, believable story," Kail summed up, "something that really hits home, probably, because of the Iraq war going on. Ten sex scenes that just fit, they make sense ... just a really tight, great movie."

The official, invite-only release party for Coming Home has been moved back a week to Sept. 30. The movie comes in a two-disc set rife with extras, and can be purchased from adult retail shops and online vendors now.