Superwoman

Ms. Magnificent (1979)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Originally this film was meant to be a porn spoof of SUPERMAN and it features Desiree Cousteau playing a reporter by day but a superhero by night who uses her sexual knowledge to set things right. Cousteau was put in a red cape but it didn't take long for Marvel to sue so the producers of this film changed the title, silenced the soundtrack whenever "Superwoman" was said and they blurred out the "S" on the costume.

For the most part this here was a poorly made but mildly entertaining porn film that has a few campy moments but, to be honest, if it wasn't for the lawsuit then it's doubtfilm the film would have been remembered today. For the most part the film plays it rather simple with the story as Superwoman must try and get her lover back from the villain of the film (played by Jesie St. James).

If you're expecting any ground-breaking effects or anything like that then you're obviously in the wrong movie. The opening scenes in space are horrendously embarrassing as is pretty much everything dealing with any sort of effect. Even worse are the performances by most of the cast but this does add some humor into the mix. The sex scenes are at least entertaining and for the most part they were good enough to please the porn crowd.

It seems not too many people were happy with Cousteau here and I can understand why. She's pretty bland in the role and she certainly doesn't bring any energy to the part. I loved her so much in PRETTY PEACHES and other films that this one here doesn't come off nearly as great. With that said, she's still quite beautiful so watching her was no problem.

Desiree is her usual bored self, cute but uninterested in the sex or acting. The stand out scene here is holly Macall. She a chunky redhead. She's got meat on her bones and fire in her eyes. It's too bad she never made it to leading lady status and only did a few movies.

I finally caught up with this '70s artifact, famous back then and forgotten today, and was surprised at the misinformation from prior reviewers in IMDb. They must have vivid imaginations, because the actual film is a pedestrian effort that fails to lift off the ground.

Alpha Blue Archives print bears the retitling: Ms. Magnificent, evidently the result of being sued by those pesky DC folks. Apparently pornographers in the Golden Age had not discovered the legal loophole which allows their current descendants to crank out an endless (and pointless) series of crappy ripoffs under the rubric of Parody. I guess what's good for Alex Braun was not good for papa Lasse.

Censorship is interesting in this case: whenever anyone says Superwoman on the soundtrack it is not bleeped but replaced with a silent pause; similarly the S on Supewoman's superhero costume is blacked out by fuzzy squiggling drawn directly on the celluloid. The hardcore porn content, however, seems fairly intact. Go figure.

Film is easily stolen by Jese St. James as the megalomaniac villainess Kreeta Borgia, heading back to Earth with her crew of sexy outer space folk (Jesse Adams, Sharon Kane, Starr Wood and the forgettable (I know I did) Vernon von Bergdorfe, in a cheap spaceship powered by two Chrysler hemis.

In something of a casting switch, our super-heroine Desiree Cousteau has alter ego Linda, the editor of the L.A. Times (!) while Lois is played by delectable Holly McCall. Clark is inevitably Mike Horner, then as now one of the few porn actors who can act. Jesie at one point makes fun of their names presciently for TV fans: "Lois & Clark, are you in the expedition business?". Horner has a dumb line later, going whew and saying "Wow, was that a close encounter", and then apologizing for the bad line, when the real blame rests upon screenwriter John Finegold, who made a career of penning poor porn comedies before entering the U.S. Senate (just kidding).

Sci-fi content is negligible, but star Cousteau generates one honest laugh when she awkwardly almost keels over on landing in an apartment -her clumsiness left in the final print. Jese uses a special 14-inch dildo on her supposedly modeled after Linda's kidnapped boyfriend John (nondescript and hardly that well-endowed Larry Davis, who one IMDb klutz confused with John Holmes no less).

Sort of highlight is Jese fisting Sharon Kane, which is shown only in medium shot with the expected closeups of the since taboo act missing, either censored or never shot.

Film's premise, decent cast and potential huge sci-fi fan-base make hack Joe Sherman's inability to run with the material all the more disappointing.

Ha Ha you gotta admit the scene where Ms. Magnificent(Superwoman)yanks Holly Mcall's macho,horny aggressor's crankshaft is pretty funny.He sure got his.

I think this film had a lot of laughs and the acting was tolerable and some witty lines in the dialogue.I know know who wants a porn film with acting and a plot? I do and this porn film actually entertained me.Deep Throat? Debbie Does Dallas? Ugh.I think Jessie St. James was a delight and had some real comic talent too.Look for the uncut unedited Superwoman, http://www.vsom.com/ has it and it's a decent print too considering the rarity .I'll take this over the crap porn they're putting out today.

Superwoman follows the exploits of a sexy young heroine, played by Cousteau, who takes to the skies to save mankind from the perils of sexual boredom. She battles the evil Kreeta Borgia, a villainess determined to rid the world of sexual encounters.

The story is a straightforward spoof of the superhero genre, with a heavy emphasis on humor and sexuality. While the premise is intriguing, the execution is often clumsy and amateurish, with many of the jokes falling flat.

Cousteau is the undeniable standout of the film. She embodies the titular Superwoman with a captivating blend of charisma, humor, and sensuality. Her performance elevates the film, adding a layer of charm and depth to an otherwise forgettable parody.

The supporting cast, including Jesie St. James and Sharon Kane, deliver mixed performances. Some embrace the campy nature of the film, while others struggle to find the right tone, resulting in an uneven overall performance.

The film's production values are indicative of its low-budget origins. The special effects are notably poor, with a noticeably scratched-out "S" logo on Superwoman's costume, a result of legal issues with DC Comics. While this adds to the film's campy appeal, it also highlights its technical shortcomings.

The set design is equally unremarkable, with the notable exception of a distracting blue shag carpet in the spaceship, which becomes a character in its own right.

Superwoman is a curious artifact of 1970s porn parodies. While it struggles to find its footing, it is redeemed by Cousteau's stellar performance and the film's tongue-in-cheek embrace of its own absurdity.

For fans of campy superhero spoofs and adult entertainment from this era, Superwoman may be worth a watch, but it's unlikely to satisfy those seeking a more polished or sophisticated cinematic experience.