Although this is not the first "mainstream" R-rated movie to lampoon the porn industry, Blue Movies seems to respect its subject matter and affectionately satirizes the making of an X-rated film. Somebody involved in the production knew exactly what he was talking about, because as Russell ("Gilligan's Island") Johnson says late in the film, "If this bunch of clowns can make money with something they've slapped together, then every bunch of clowns in the country is going to try to do the same."

Somewhat slapstick and often hilarious, Blue Movies chronicles the exploits of two would-be businessmen in L.A. who decide that making a porn flick will bring them big bucks. They con a sleazy, voyeuristic doctor, wonderfully portrayed by Larry Linville (Frank Burns of "M*A*S*H" fame), into fronting the money and eventually hire their cast, director and scriptwriter. In fact, the film's funniest segments involve the audition, where every California sleazebag wants a shot at being in a porn film.

Unfortunately, an X-rated movie company (mob run, of course) tries to stop our heroes from exploiting their project, leading to a silly and typical chase ending that detracts from the film's wonderful first 75 minutes.

Blue Movies contains enough pretty women, nudity and simulated sexual situations to satisfy the voyeur. In fact, blonde Darian Mathias and sexy Lucinda Crosby, with their svelte bodies, are very striking in their scenes. Film buffs will be amused as the film, Rim Of Passion, is not only reviewed in The New Yorker, Village Voice and People Magazine, but also makes the Variety film grosses. And Blue Movies contains yet another Siskel and Ebert parody (the best one is still from Robert Townsend's Hollywood Shuffle).

Except for the organized crime references, Blue Movies is a near-perfect parody of the porn industry. It has sex and laughs and should provide a nice evening's entertainment in front of the tube. Besides, any film where a character uses the name Fishbein as a nom de plume can't be bad.