Nostalgia for the 50s —America's age of innocence— may never be the same again. With devilish glee, patrick Dennis kicks down the closet door of Wildroot Cream-Oil Charlie to reveal a world where "straight" is the appearance, "gay" is the reality, and innocence becomes a childish naivete that confuses the two. Comedy as bold as this remains a rarity in gay video, primarily because most directors are afraid to take the risk; but Dennis combines it with five sexcapades so steamy that every laugh is followed by erection.

Each successive viewing of the tape reveals a new delight in characterization, theme, or plot. In fact, I viewed it five times in as many days —a record equalled this year only by John Travis' Undercover, Jim West's From Maui with Love and Mark Reynolds' Best Friends II. David Rockmore's change from knock-kneed dud to swaggering stud warms the heart as well as the groin, and Ryan Yeager rips up the screen with two duos and a solo that make him the hottest newcomer since Bill Henson in A Matter of Size (1984). Aaron Travis found the same superstar qualities when he reviewed Yeager's debut in The Buddy System: unlimited sex appeal, personal charisma, and a genuine acting ability. Come on, guys, what else do you want?

The inclusion of three drag queens in non-sexual roles scores another bull's eye, for they contribute to the 50s nostalgia, lubricate the plot, and add belly laughs to the confusion of appearance with reality. LaRue is a her best as Buffy, a cross between Divine and Judy Canova, while The Rock's hand-wrestling match with Lon Flexxe and Ava's unabashed sluttiness turn outdated camp into updated comedy. Together the three "ladies" —in high heels and body sock— give a whole new meaning to the theme song, "Chick City," composed in 50s style specifically for the video.

And if it's romance you want, just wait for the last scene, in which Davey (Rockmore) and Slick (Yeager) finally get together. They don't have sex —they make love in front of the camera. "You're new at this, aren't you, Davey?" Yeager asks with his all-American grin. "Let me show you how it's supposed to be done." And that's exactly what he does, giving all a classic lesson in what gay romance and adult videos are all about.

A note on maximizing viewer interest: request from the company a copy of the full-color 8 1/2 x 11 flyer, turn it over, and post it near the new releases. The text on the back of the flyer does a far better job than the box cover of capturing the tape's unique appeal. Although the same text appears on the back of the box, the larger format allows greater visibility and easier reading.