My arousal peaked with lustful anticipation when I heard that my first Adult Video News review would be Kirdy Stevens' new product. The reason this director's Taboo movies are so powerful is that the viewer could actually believe that the actors in those movies were a real family getting it on with each other. After seeing Taboo II, several alterations were needed on the inseam of my trousers.

But, as Bruce Springsteen says, "you can't start a fire without a spark." And Playing With Fire may have been struck with a wet match. The pacing is a bit off and the sex scenes were spread out too much. One minute, I wanted to join in with the actors and the next, I didn't feel satisfied enough to reach for a cigarette.

The plot concerns itself with a frigid, turned horny widow (Cynthia Taylor) with two teenage daughters (Brooke West, Karen Summers), who married a divorced man (Randy West) with a virgin teenage son (Tom Byron). It's the old incest theme here, only this time it's with step-mommies and daddies.

Ron Jeremy makes a cameo as Randy West's sidekick and, as always, Ron gets the best lines. The two actors were obviously enjoying themselves and their scenes are quite believable. Sexually, the group scene between brother and sisters is very erotic, with all three actors seeming comfortable while the excitement steadily burns to an intense climax.

But Playing For Fire is a disappointment, since it doesn't quite measure up to Kirdy Stevens other excellent work.