Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Babe Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 26, 2023

1981’s “Babe” is a little more than the average adult entertainment title. There’s some creative ambition to the work, with screenwriter Rick Marx striving to bring a classic comedy structure to the ‘80s endeavor, merging a semi-broad take on wild happenings involving money, sex, and scheming. Working with a little extra budgetary power and a game cast who seem to understand the spirit of the movie, director John Christopher does a capable job bringing most of his ideas to life, cooking up devious plans and prickly personalities in the heart of New York City. “Babe” largely connects as an offering of semi-screwball happenings and heated encounters, held together with a tight pace and amusing turns of plot, rising above usual production efforts associated with X-rated features.

Babe (Tara Aire) is a top fashion model in New York City, and modeling agency owner Dori (Samantha Fox) knows it, trying to please her best client, catering to her needs. Babe is constantly lusted after by all men, with French photographer Roger (Ron Jeremy) most determined to seduce the beautiful woman, unable to make her fall in love with him. When Babe’s grandfather dies, he leaves a massive fortune to the young woman, but it comes with a legal demand, with the beneficiary forced to marry a man to collect the money, given 30 days to complete the task. Turning to the auditioning process, Babe has trouble finding a sexless partner, while Dori has her plans for the estate. Realizing she can keep Babe as a client if the model burns through her cash, Dori turns to Chad (Rod Pierce), an aspiring Shakespearean actor, to play the part of Babe’s husband, knowing his lofty Broadway dreams will surely bankrupt his new wife in no time.

Babe is not a dewy character unprepared for a world of constant attention. Marx’s writing delivers a more impatient human being, and one with a touch of bitterness to go with her physical attractiveness. She’s introduced as a major player on the modeling scene, helping to prop up Dori’s business with her camera presence, with Babe pursued by Roger, a photographer who’s not great with professional boundaries, enjoying his time capturing her image while attempting to capture her body as well. Babe is open to the pleasures of the flesh, but she has no interest in a partner, with the feature detailing her sharp attitude toward suitors, giving the character an unusually difficult demeanor.

“Babe” finds a plot with the arrival of the inheritance, which promises a cushy life for the model if she can find someone to marry her in a month. She’s disturbed by the condition, but Babe is ready to make marriage happen, and we see the audition process, where she interviews strange men, drawing the line at religious conversion. She’s looking for a “business relationship,” but the hunt is difficult. Dori evolves into the villain of “Babe,” coming up with a plan to ruin her top client, forcing the model to crawl back to an agency that desperately needs her. This subplot generates some entertaining scheming and silliness, as Dori finds Chad, an arrogant but air-headed actor sniffing around for his big break on Broadway. Shenanigans arrive with the character, who’s happy to sign up for the marital assignment, giving Babe what she needs while putting Dori’s plan into action.

“Babe” gets some comedic mileage out of the pairing, including an extended sequence at their wedding reception, with the couple claiming separate sexual adventures in different rooms while a crowd celebrates their nuptials. It’s a dream scenario for the bride and groom, but such good times are short-lived in the story, which quickly explores this atypical living situation. Babe swiftly descends into “housewife syndrome,” turning to alcohol and cheap sexual encounters to pass the time, including the hiring of a prostitute to help explore her bisexuality. Chad takes the money and runs, all the way to Broadway, cooking up plans to bring “Oedipus Rex” to the stage, somehow creating one of the most expensive shows of all time (Christopher doesn’t have the money to really showcase such lavishness, but the idea is sold with zeal). A road to ruin is created, and Marx has some fun dreaming up difficulties and antagonisms with the collection of corrupt people. And, for Broadway fans, imagery from the state of the Great White Way in 1981 is presented, highlighting the big shows of the day, adding a time capsule element to the picture.

Babe Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Babe" is sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm negative. Wear and tear is noticeable during the viewing experience, with some scratches and mild damage, and some discoloration is found on the left and right edges of the frame at times. Clarity reaches as far as possible with the softly shot endeavor, capturing ample skin particulars on the cast, along with fine hairs. Costuming is fibrous. Interiors are open for inspection, including decorative additions during theater visits. Exteriors are limited but dimensional, giving Broadway fans a clear look at glowing marquees. Colors are alert, with natural skin tones throughout. Clothing brings out brighter primaries, and street lighting is distinct. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy and film-like.

Babe Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers a straightforward listening experience, finding dialogue exchanges clear, with performance differences appreciable. Scoring favors a warmer orchestral sound at times, but funkier rock music dominates, and instrumentation is acceptable.

Babe Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Interview (21:36) is discussion of screenwriter Rick Marx's career in adult entertainment. Early professional efforts are recalled, working in the literary industry, but time spent with adult professionals brought the writer to a different employment future, turning to the creation of movies. Talk of "Babe" is provided, which was intended to be a large budget endeavor prepped for sale to adult cable channels, and the interviewee offers his occasionally hazy memories of the producers and actors. Marx is game to return to his days on "Babe," doing his best to provide some tales of production when the shoot bled into many others in the era.

• A Trailer has not been included.

Babe Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Babe" doesn't escalate into a romp, but Christopher preserves Marx's humor for most of the feature. The cast is also prepared to deliver, with Fox especially active as Dori, seemingly enjoying a chance to play such a schemer, which she does well. Bedroom encounters are common, keeping up with viewer demands, but the production does an excellent job balancing the needs of X-rated entertainment and general moviemaking speed with colorful characters. "Babe" delivers a slight "Brewster's Millions" vibe, mixing silliness with sexuality, and the action carries mild suspense (for this type of distraction) as the Broadway experience makes its way to opening night. It's nice to find everyone here engaged with the material and trying to overcome budget and genre limitations, creating an engaging showdown between conniving types, with a little potential Broadway disaster to go with all the body heat.