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Released by: Scorpion Releasing
Released on: 7/23/2013
Director: Jag Mundra
Cast: Steven Bauer, Lee Anne Beaman, Tahnee Welch, John Laughlin, Nia Peebles, Adrian Zmed
Year: 1994
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The Movie:
When a movie starts out with a mysterious murder committed by a leather-gloved assailant that takes place over the opening credits, you know it has potential. Whether or not the flick reaches that potential is a whole different story. Improper Conduct is the tale of an office worker at an advertising agency by the name of Ashley (Tahnee Welch, Raquel's girl), a lady with the reputation of being an easy lay. And what's wrong with that? If you have a penis that makes you a stud. Why should it be different for women? At least that's her viewpoint on it and if her sister Kay (Lee Anne Beaman) should disagree then tough shit for Kay.
The annual Christmas party introduces the new boss, Michael (John Laughlin), who just so happens to be the son-in-law of the big cheese of the place (Stuart Whitman). Ashley got the wood put to her by Doug (Adrian Zmed) in the copy room, which perked up the ears (and the prick…dirty fucker watched them doing it) of Michael. No sooner than Ashley's hoo-hoo has cooled down, Michael starts putting the moves on her. She's not into it (not drunk enough) and won't put up with his harassment. Enter sister Kay, who gets her some help. Help in the form of Manny Ribera (not really, but it's veteran actor Steven Bauer) and his partner-in-law Nia Peeples (sadly in a non-nude capacity), who try to help Ashley build her case. The result of the trial isn't in favor Ashley and in a drunken stupor she gets in her car and BAM, dead. Pervo Michael gets out of his pickle he got into with his pickle, but Kay isn't done yet with that pig.
Going undercover she lands a job as Michael's assistant, against the advice of her stud-fly lawyer, and also lands Michael's private parts inside of her private parts. But she doesn't crawl into the bed of the man she holds responsible for her sister's death to get off. She does it to exact her revenge. And exact it she does, but using her nether regions only. She's out for non-violent revenge, but heck she'd be okay with Michael maybe chewing on some hot lead at his own hand.
Long steady cam takes, interesting scene transitions, and some unconventional camera angles point to signs that the director was at least trying to make the best of the job. It certainly isn't riveting drama by any stretch and the sex really isn't anything worthy of mention. All in all it's really a boring movie. But there is some merit. One item is Lee Anne Beaman with no clothes on. Another is Playboy Playmate Kathy Shower with no clothes on. And the gay black guy in his Corey Glover biking outfit who keeps his clothes on but wants everyone to see his exposed chest at work. And another item of merit is the Love Boat-style ensemble cast. Lots of familiar faces grace the screen in this one, which helps to keep the movie from really being a drag. But they still don't make it a very good movie. Then again it's not a piece of crap either. It's one of those movies that if you caught it on late night cable as a kid looking to bust a nut, you just may have actually watched the non-fun parts in between the skin.
Video/Audio/Extras:
The movie comes to DVD via Scorpion Releasing with a 4:3 full screen aspect ratio. And it looks like it came from a tape source. A decent one but still looks like a tape. The colors are dull, the detail isn't there. The audio is on the same par. It all does the job, but it didn't get the attention Scorpion tends to give their releases. Understandable, given the limited consumer base for low grade cheesy softcore made-for-cable romps. The disc lacks any extras, other than the trailer which sells the feature well and makes it look better than it is. And the disc lacks chapter stops, which stinks if you get fidgety and accidentally turn off the player. With an unremarkable transfer and no extras, it raises the question of why this was released as a single title, rather than as a double feature with another film of its ilk.
The Final Word:
It's tough to recommend it for anything more than some nostalgia to put you back into the mid-90s, but it's also a lie to say it was a struggle to watch. It was inexplicably entertaining enough to not regret spending the time watching it, but life could continue for another 100 years and the urge to re-watch Improper Conduct would never surface.
