AVN close
Close Button
Countdown (Wicked Pictures)

Countdown (Wicked Pictures)

Released Aug 08th, 2012
Running Time 168 Min.
Director Brad Armstrong
Company Wicked Pictures
DVD Extras Bonus Scenes, Still Gallery(ies), Trailer(s), Widescreen
Cast Kaylani Lei, Alektra Blue, Derrick Pierce, Dana DeArmond, Lezley Zen, Brad Armstrong, Jessica Drake, Misty Stone, Jack Lawrence, Rocco Reed, India Summer, Seth Gamble, Bill Bailey, Michael Vegas, Xander Corvus
Non-Sex Roles Frank Bukkwyd, Crash (I), Randy Spears, Marcus London, Others, Eric Masterson, Tyler Knight, David Lord, Jack Vegas, Nikki Daniels
Critical Rating AAAA 1/2
Genre Feature

Rating

Synopsis

A group of fringe astronomers have discovered Vesta, an asteroid the size of Arizona, which has fallen out of its orbit. Vesta is rocketing toward Earth at 200,000 mph with a scheduled impact date of 12/21/12. Scientists say it will create the equivalent of a 15.2 earthquake, and that life as we know it will end. What would you do? This touching, passionate film is a must-see for those who like great story-based adult drama. A brilliant cast gives the performances of their careers, as they portray a diverse cross-section of ordinary people in extraordinary times. The Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012 and the countdown has begun. What will you do when the big bang comes?

Reviews

Brad Armstrong has officially become the Michael Bay of porn. He’s cornered the market on the other side of the hill from Hollywood in glitzy, large-scale action pics for the popcorn-and-lube set (we suppose). And with this latest megaproduction’s obvious similarities to Bay’s Armageddon, the parallel is now fully cemented.

Like Armageddon, Countdown zeroes in on a scattering of characters attempting to make the best of their final days as a large asteroid hurtles toward earth, spelling certain doom for mankind. Unlike Armageddon, however—or any other disaster movie we’ve ever seen, for that matter—everybody in this one exhibits an almost hilarious nonchalance about the coming apocalypse.

Newspeople spout off lines in blasé monotone such as, “Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas and surrounding areas will no doubt be in complete chaos … now we leave you to your regular programming,” while an Obama-esque Tyler Knight matter-of-factly offers the nation presidential advisories like, “We are facing an extinction-level event. In times like these we do not need mass hysteria or rioting. So go home, be with your families … enjoy the little things in life.”

Ridiculous as such a proclamation may seem on the eve of global annihilation, that’s exactly what the various seemingly unconcerned players here do, with a few surprisingly tender moments bubbling out of it.

There first of these involves Kaylani Lei and Xander Corvus nervously admitting their mutual crush on one another, which precipitates a warm embrace, a deep kiss, and then a sweet consummation of their puppy love on the hood of a convertible under the night sky.

Later, in probably his greatest performance ever, veteran non-sex actor Frank Bukkwyd delivers a touching monologue at the grave of his departed lady. It’s one of those ultra-rare instances of genuine poignancy in an adult feature.

It’s nice to see Lezley Zen back in front of Wicked cameras, looking very, very good in her role as an older waitress who makes busboy Seth Gamble’s end-of-days dream come true by taking his virginity right at the counter of the roadside diner where they work—definitely one of the movie’s hottest scenes.

If the Mayan prophecies turn out to have been spot-on and we’re all dust a couple months from now, this is probably not the movie for which Brad Armstrong will want to be remembered (by any beings left to remember Brad Armstrong’s movies), but it’s a reasonably impressive effort nonetheless, sure to pick up some nods this awards season.

What we really want to know, though, is if Brad plans to keep rolling with this Michael Bay thing, when are we getting our Transformers XXX?



More Movies