“Marriage 2.0 A Modern Love Story” -Lionreach/Adam &Eve – Director – Paul Deeb – Cast – India Summer, Ryan Driller, Nina Hartley, Dylan Ryan, Mickey Mod, Sadie Lune, Andre Shakti, Devi, Christian Wilde, Carol Queen and many others
This film may only be seven years old, but truly deserves its place as a classic. It won six awards from AVN and X BIZ combined at the 2016 awards and had numerous other nominations. Here is my original review of this extraordinary film.
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This may be one of the most different reviews I have ever written. The reason is very simple. It is artistic, it is compelling, it is natural, it is real and it is the kind of film that has so much going on that it would take forever to do it justice by dissecting every scene, every nuance, every line that is spoken. It is the kind of movie that I, as a critic, have been waiting to see come to life for many years. It is truly a mainstream film, with some sex added that plays in perfect harmony to the story. It is not a stroke film that guys will want to pleasure themselves with. It is not a porn movie with some dialogue tossed in the give it that “feel” of mainstream. Thank you to Adam & Eve for getting behind this stellar production and bringing it to life.
The film follows the lives of a couple, India Summer and Ryan Driller in their quest of a committed relationship and finding total freedom on a personal level as well as sexual and emotional happiness and contentment. It raises questions and thoughts that everyone might well be able to relate too in their own relationship. As it says in one of the promo lines, our relationships, romantic and other wise, are in many ways beginning to reflect these new realities. The new realities are that relationships are much different than they were years ago.
Right from the start of the film when India is taking her morning jog and then a quick cut to her work as an interviewer. We see her talking with real life best selling authors of Sex At Dawn (Christopher Ryan PhD and Dr. Cacilda Jetha) in regards non monogamous nature of human sexuality and its implications. Then it’s another quick cut where India comes home and Ryan is cooking up a dinner. But soon the heat of their need for one ano0ther takes over in the kitchen. As they really get into each other they are interrupted by a nosy neighbor. This leads to more romance and trying to come to terms with the relationship, but jealousy rears it’s ugly head. India needs some sage advice and in a terrific turn in her role as India’s mother, Nina Hartley shines bright and is the perfect choice. There is the scene where Eric gets kicked out by India and he goes to his “other” girl Kara (Dylan Ryan) who is not comfortable with the relationship in many ways. Eric needs answers and to find out just where his heart and mind are in his relationships.
There is more, much more to this exquisitely written script and story that we won’t divulge because this is a film you MUST see for yourself. The fact that it uses San Francisco as a backdrop scores very high from a visual standpoint. Then add the fact that the cast is not made up of just some porn stars, but an entire large cast of real life people who are authors, sex experts in various areas, lifestyle people and a lot more. The direction by Paul Deeb, who comes from mainstream is very pointed, direct and lends to the overall pace and exploration of the characters. When it comes to the lead roles, this is without question probably the very best role the talented India Summer has done and should be a career defining role that will get her noticed by much more than the porn world. The same can be said for Ryan Driller as Eric who turns in yet another superb performance that is sensitive and understated, yet powerful. The rest of the casting, actors and non actors alike, add so much realism to this production you almost feel as though you are sitting in on the conversations that take place.
Yes, there is sex in this film, but it is not the pornographic type sex you might expect. These are the kind of sexual scenes that draw you into more of what the movies is really about rather than watching people have sex. In truth, it is not a main focus, but just a part of the film and it is presented in a very stylish way. If someone has never seen a porn film, then this one is a good first step because it is a “real” movie, with real characters, a real story and a very compelling subject matter that makes you think.
The film has received critical acclaim from many quarters, was the most viewed ever on the Adam & Eve website when it premiered there first, was just voted “Best Narrative” at the Cinekink Film Festival and there will surely be many more awards coming this film’s way. My one hope is that there will be regular movie theaters throughout the country that will have the guts to show this film, uncut, so that an even broader audience can be entertained by this well written, directed and acted piece of film making. Unfortunately this is not the 70’s any longer when regular movie theaters did show hardcore porn to packed houses. So don’t wait and get hold of this week’s “5 Star Feature”, “Marriage 2.0 A Modern Love Story”.
Art Koch National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN