Review: Vrooom, vom, vom! (1995)

Directed by: Melvin Van Peebles | 29 minutes | short film, fantasy | Actors: Richard Barboza, Dewar Zazee, Laura Lane, Kim Smith, William “Spaceman” Patterson, Ted Hayes, Asha Jenkins, Reggie Osse

Leroy is a somewhat wacky teenager, played by an actor who is older than his character must present. Dressed in dungarees with a band hanging untidily, he is clearly out of place in the group of hip, attractive young people who are having a great time at a garden party. There is dancing and laughter and Leroy watches it all from a distance, amused. Nowhere does it appear that he would like to participate, Richard Barboza, who takes on the role of Leroy, lacks talent for that. He still begs to be allowed to go to the lake, where the group is going to “skinny dip”, but they show him in no uncertain way that his company is not wanted.

A little later Leroy is home and is reprimanded by his father. “What pimples you have, boy! It’s time you got a girlfriend because at least they’ll go away. And learn to dress yourself better! ” The latter is comical, because his father wears exactly the same as his son. When Leroy pushes an old lady off the road just before she is run over by his “friends”, his life changes. The female appears to have magical powers and Leroy can make a wish (due to cutbacks the number has been reduced from three to one). He does not have to say what his dearest wish is, because “I was young myself, I know very well what you want,” said the female.

And indeed, that evening when Leroy arrives at the agreed place, a shiny brand new bike is waiting there. Leroy takes the thing for a ride and what is his surprise when halfway through the journey the bike starts to change into a woman! Leroy is lucky, the two wishes he had have merged into one! It’s just a shame he can’t talk to anyone about it …

Disappointing episode from the “Tales of Erotica” collection. The beginning is still very promising in the scene with the cheerful and sensually dancing young people. Unfortunately Leroy is not a likeable character, he does not even know how to arouse pity. The scenes in which he rides the woman / motorcycle are so obviously fake that they do not generate any stimulation, at most irritation. In addition, the audio track does not seem to have been recorded simultaneously, creating an unnatural whole. The cries of pleasure uttered by Leroy and his partner are only laughable.