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Paramount Studios presents

Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease (2003)

"Don't be afraid to touch yourself. It's sexy."- Carmen Electra

Stars: Carmen Electra
Other Stars: Staci Harper, Ashley Roberts
Director: Ed Lachman

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (nothing objectionable)
Run Time: 54m:40s
Release Date: 2004-12-21
Genre: educational

Style
Grade
Substance
Grade
Image Transfer
Grade
Audio Transfer
Grade
Extras
Grade
C+ C+B-B C+

 

DVD Review

Professional hot chick Carmen Electra has crossed the void into the celebrity fitness DVD realm by issuing a set of three separate striptease-as-exercise discs, of which Aerobic Striptease is the first. There are few things that will catch my attention quicker than the words "Carmen Electra" and "striptease," and even though I knew this would never truly live up to my seedy expectations, I was led along the primrose path like a drooling moth to a flame.

Electra's recent stint as a high-profile member of The Pussycat Dolls—a lingerie-clad bevy of attractive women who put on hip-grinding cabaret shows—showed what most of us lecherous types already know—she has the body, the moves and that necessary sex quotient needed to make the leap into pseudo-educational material like aerobic striptease. It might be passed off as a way to "strip your way to fitness," but we all know it's really just an excuse to scope out a beautiful woman performing stripper moves, over and over again. Strip your way to fitness? I like the concept.

In the space of 54 minutes, Electra (as well as backups Staci Harper and Ashley Roberts) wiggle through three separate routines (including the obligatory warmup) designed by Pussycat Dolls choreographer Robin Antin, and we are given what sound like stripper-worthy valuable tips on hip and head rolling, bending at the waist, butt smacking, double bumps, how to rub your legs properly, and also the correct technique for placing your finger in your mouth. Each segment culminates with a "run-through" that dispenses with Electra's instructions, and allows viewers to put all their grindhouse learning to good use. As an added plus, the disc features three separate audio instrumental tracks (Techno, Hip-Hop, Rock) for each runthrough, so the stripper-wannabe at home can set the music that fits her (or his, I suppose) mood.

For those not exercising at home, Electra has a different outfit for each section and she looks simply smashing the whole time. If you take away the implied health benefits of this series, this is really a chance for mopes like me to watch Carmen Electra dance all sexy like for nearly an hour, and in no way do I want to diminish that element of enjoyment at all. But unlike a strip club (where the clothes actually come off, or so I'm told), there's really no payoff here aside from staring at Electra as she bumps and jiggles.

I can't really address whether her methodology and lessons are helpful—because, well, I didn't try them. But I can say she looks darn good going through the motions, though some of the camera angles made me think this wasn't designed 100% as an instructional disc; I'm sure somehow it's important that we see a view from behind when Electra and her pals are bending over. Sure, it's supposed to be a low-impact workout for hips, thighs, buns and abs, but I have my doubts as to its real intent.

Rating for Style: C+
Rating for Substance: C+

 

Image Transfer

 One
Aspect Ratio1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratioyes
Anamorphicno


Image Transfer Review: Aerobic Striptease has been issued in 1.33:1 fullframe, though the "runthrough" segments are presented in nonanamorphic widescreen. Colors and ample fleshtones are warm, but this is a very soft image all the way around, with notable lack of sharpness in most sequences. There are some minor haloing issues, most evident during routine two, when Electra has some kind of fishnet top on, but otherwise, a moderately pleasing transfer that is decidedly soft.

Image Transfer Grade: B-
 

Audio Transfer

 LanguageRemote Access
DS 2.0Englishyes


Audio Transfer Review: Audio is provided in a stripped-down (but of course) and very basic front-centric 2.0 mix, and the blandly generic instrumental tracks (Techno, Hip-Hop, Rock) sound clean, though unremarkable. Likewise with Electra's instructional commands, which are properly clean and well-mixed, as well. I caught a bit of rear channel activity from the music tracks during the runthrough segments, but it was extremely minor.

Audio Transfer Grade:

Disc Extras

Animated menu with music
Scene Access with 8 cues and remote access
1 Featurette(s)
Packaging: Amaray
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extra Extras:
  1. Photo Gallery
Extras Review: The back-cover touts a Heads Up Display feature, something that Electra also mentions during her intro (something to do with an onscreen timer, I think), but for some reason or another I couldn't come across that function here. There is, however, a slightly misleading Interview (10m:43s) that starts off with a canned, slightly stiff read from Electra, touting her series of DVDs, before featuring fluffy comments from choreographer Robin Antin and fitness expert Michael Carson. Carson's comments make this seem like the greatest exercise invention in the last century, which may a bit of a stretch.

As expected, there's a Photo Gallery, broken down into two sections: B-Roll and Routines. Each features 10 images, the first a set of Electra, and the second taken from the exercise routines themselves. In case you were wondering how Carmen Electra looks bent over, this will help you greatly.

The disc is cut into 8 chapters.

Extras Grade: C+
 

Final Comments

It's voyeurism disguised as exercise, but I suppose there are worse things than ogling Carmen Electra.

Rich Rosell 2004-12-21