The release of a new Girlvert video has become an event in Pornoland, with this perhaps the most hotly anticipated one yet, arriving as it is on the heels of star Ashley Blue's christening as AVN's brand new Performer of the Year. Add to the equation that this is Ashley's signature series, the one that undoubtedly played the largest part in earning her that title, and what you have is pretty much a surefire blockbuster, regardless of how well it stacks up to the first four.

So how does it stack up? That's a tricky question. On one hand, it's neither as outrageous nor as blackly tragicomic as its immediate predecessor, which set the bar dizzyingly high not only for this series, but for pornographic farce in general. Then again, here we get deeper insight into Ashley's character, and what turned her into the demented wrathful imp she is.

In flashback, we see Ashley as a sweet, naïve teen madly in love with boyfriend Billy Glide (replacing Trent Tesoro), for whom she's willing to do anything, including letting him and football buddy Alex Sanders d.p. her ... only to get dumped immediately afterward. That will tend to leave a mark.

The sole laugh-out-loud funny segment here, sorry to report, is the cheerleader one, with Gia Paloma, Steve Holmes and Mr. Pete - and we're not gonna ruin it. But we will offer these pre-noms: Best Continuing Series, Best Anal Scene to Paloma, Holmes and Pete, and once again, Ashley Blue for Performer of the Year.