Title: The Lovers' Guide 3D - Igniting Desire
Director: Kenny Rye
Classification: 18
Release Date: 7 Feb 2011
Run Time: 66 minutes
Twenty years after the original The Lovers' Guide was released the Lover’s Guide is back and this time it’s in 3D, with what they suggest is another “no-holds-barred exploration of the pleasures of love-making”. Is it? Well, frankly you’re likely to see raunchier, more sexually explicit material on late night Channel Five. So if naked flesh and anything in the region of hardcore sex is what you are after perhaps something along the lines of Sex And How To Do Everything would be more to your liking or else some sort of paid for sites on the internet!
However what the Lover’s Guide 3D does offer is a more intimate look at love and relationships as well as sex.
The original guide sold 1.5 million copies and was distributed in 22 countries and in 13 languages over its 20-year history. The Lovers' Guide 3D - Igniting Desire debuted in UK cinemas in January 2011 and although it probably didn’t set cinemas alight. Who would watch this sort of thing at the cinema? Can you imagine how embarrassing that would be? Regardless of your sexual appetite. Or would it lead to orgies?!
Anyway for the slightly less adventurous that might still want to enjoy watching and learning from this guide can now do so at home on DVD and Blu-ray from February 7th, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Featuring narration from Gemma Bissix (Eastenders, Hollyoaks, Dancing on Ice) and Jeremy Edwards (Hollyoaks, Holby City) The Guide has obviously tried to bring itself up to date but as someone who doesn’t watch much TV these TV star voices were totally wasted on me!
The chapters are split into the following topics Sex, Flirt, Desire, Kiss, Caress, Touch, Lick, Spice, Play, Penetrate, Climax and Share. The Guide is fairly tastefully ‘performed’ and is probably intended purely for monogamous, heterosexual couples – which rules out much interest for homosexual couples, which would seem rather discriminatory. There’s not even a small segment on homosexuality.
There are explanations of arousal and the chemical reactions of the body which are interesting. Discussions of masturbation, oral stimulation and even, dare I say it anal sex, but to be honest in today’s society a lot of the content seems quite tame.
The Guide is explicit, but could be more so, but is also honest and clear. It’s probably less cheesy than most guides and it’s a fairly candid representation of sex. The Guide does discuss various sexual positions, demonstrated by three or four heterosexual couples, but honestly there are not enough variations or positions mentioned as anyone watching The Guide will probably know a few positions at least and The Guide doesn’t really go into more detail than four or five. In fact it’s a disappointment that The Guide in general didn’t go into more detail throughout as at 66 minutes is not exactly fully explanatory of everything to do with sex. How could it be in such a short space of time. Another small concern is that if younger couples are watching this they might be put off by most of the ‘performers’ being much older than them, there are very few younger ‘performers’ here, even much younger than their thirties, which is a real shame and a missed opportunity.
Consequently, despite what I’ve just said, The Guide would seem to be best aimed at young lovers or inexperienced lovers. That said it could be enjoyed by many couples just as a little something to spice things up!
You might think that the 3D is purely a high-tech gimmick that isn’t really required, or that it is just an excuse to release a new version of The Guide but it really does add an extra dimension if you’ll forgive the pun.
