A safe wager is that the next film in this series will not be built around paramutual betting among females and their respective sex escapades. The concept is growing fungus across the board. However, Wager of Love rises above its thin premise with lush, erotic photography, and 8 by 10 glossy cast, and scenarios that don't unwind like a cheap Rolex.

A group of delectable (what else) babes are doing Chinese aboard a yacht (unfortunately, not enough is made of this locale) and put up one grand each to relate their most sensual fantasy. The waiter is the judge. Yeah, like he's going to be impartial.

Babe #1 goes to a private eye who's built like a full-figured Tom Byron. Something about threatening letters. Oh, did I mention they have perfume commercial-style sex? Of course there's a little twisteroo to the plot.

Babe #2 owns a hair salon, and a male client comes in for a massage -- on a Monday, yet. Massage. Did I miss something here? And show me a hair salon open on a Monday and I'll show you a poor Arab. well, bingo, the inevitable happens.

I won't tick off all the little plot intricacies, but it's pretty safe to say Wager of Love is one of the more ambitious of the current nitch market/cable TV efforts witnessed in ages. Alternative adult entertainment which generally gets the short shrift when the budgets are handed out, scores bonus points here. Lip smacking body photography, ample uncoverage and scintillating music makes this film a bona fide awards nominee -- like the stuff you used to see on the Playboy Channel.