If it’s true, as surveys say, that women prefer their porn served up with a spicy side of context, then Marriage 2.0 is adult entertainment that they will happily devour. Case in point: This reviewer sampled the sensual dish and found it deliciously rich with narrative and emotional context.

Produced by new company LionReach, a joint venture between Gamelink and Adam & Eve, Marriage 2.0 shares some attributes with another movie released a couple of years ago that was also heralded as a game changer in adult entertainment. An Open Invitation: A Real Swinger’s Party in San Francisco (Kink.com/Private/Pure Play) delved into the complications of polyamory, combining the look and feel of an independent film with San Francisco Bay Area cityscapes. It even shares two performers in centerpiece roles: India Summer and Mickey Mod.

Directed by Paul Deeb and written and produced by Magnus Sullivan, Marriage 2.0 follows the characters India and Eric (India Summer and Ryan Driller) as they try to open up their eight-year relationship. But India is struggling with her emotions, trying to not mind when Eric spends time with his lover, Kara (Dylan Ryan). A documentary filmmaker, India also is trying to make intellectual sense of polyamory and sexuality in her interviews with Sex at Dawn authors Chris Ryan and Cacilda Jetha (who play themselves). It’s all very civilized until the three are brought together at a salon run by a prominent polyamorous couple—Meghan and Edward (Sadie Lune and Mickey Mod)—and India has to confront the intensity of Eric’s sexual connection with Kara.

Of course, Sullivan’s plot ranks far above most adult scripts—but that’s not what really sets Marriage 2.0 apart and supports its producers’ demands for a seat at the indie filmmakers’ table. It’s also a rich sensual experience. India’s apartment is a riot of colors and sounds as Eric makes her dinner: bright Fiestaware on the shelves, boiling water on the stove, naturalistic lighting captured by director of photography Alex Ladd (who’s added visual richness to such adult features as Portrait of a Call Girl, Wasteland, Underworld and Aftermath). When the tip of Driller’s cock first pops out of his pants, it's both arousing and shocking—like when you get a glimpse of full nudity in a mainstream movie.

And the difference also comes from the way the sex is shot, especially in the opening scene. We experience the particularity of India and Eric’s bodies—the freckles on her shoulders, the tattoos on his arms, the hair on their flesh, the way her bush grinds slowly against his cock. And just as prominent are the curtains moving in the gentle wind. It all conspires to create a moment of naked intimacy.

Also refreshing is the way we’re allowed to break out of the bedroom and delight in the beauty of San Francisco, Berkeley, Sausalito and Tomales Bay and enjoy the sounds of waves, birds and wind. The sensory stimulation continues throughout, intensifying a large group meal at a restaurant as well as the sexual liaisons afterward: a threesome, an orgy and an intense bondage scene between Kara and a dom (roguishly handsome Christian Wilde). And throughout, Deeb’s musical score underlines emotions without overstatement.

On top of the gorgeous cinematography and the parade of sexual trysts in interesting configurations, Marriage 2.0 also offers its audience the fun of recognizing various well-known figures in the adult industry. Nina Hartley plays India’s randy mother, who’s getting a very deep tissue massage. (“Tony’s not a lover. He’s more of a self-guided dildo,” she says of her masseur.) And there are various sexperts on hand in non-sex roles, including Carol Queen, Emily Morse and Reid Mihalko. They all lend a hand in helping India and Eric along on their sexual journey. As Edward tells her, “The path to honesty is paved with lies—and forgiveness.” To the credit of all involved, there’s much more honesty here than in the vast majority of movies about adult relationships—both the R-rated and the X-rated variety.

At present the movie is available only on Gamelink.com and AdamandEveTV.com. It will be interesting to see what extras are available when it becomes available on DVD later this year. Some are hinted at in the BTS footage that runs over the credits, shot by veteran adult industry scribe and blogger extraordinaire Gram Ponante.