'Playoffs 1998' is another reminder of Penthouse's up & down quality year to year, changing format as five ladies vie to become PotY 1999. Honestly very hit or miss visuals keep it feeling solely average. Explicit shots, solid camera work and no needless jumping around - each Pet's scenes back to back - are nice, but a slow pace on top of disappointing segments really seal the deal here.
Standard intro (1 min) takes us to "Samantha" Michaels - Pet Nov 1996 - outside in a bright red dress. She looks great, but first two minutes go by with only topless shots. However when the panties came off, Sam spreads wide and focus stays below until the end (4 mins). On a couch getting out of lingerie follows same pattern, but a juicy spread, closeups compliment this scene (3.5 mins). A milk bath has fine visuals, concept but goes on too long (3.5 mins). Lastly Sam gets naked, wet in a shower that has a few likable shots (3.5 mins).
"Jessica" James - Pet Jan 1997 - is up next with strobe lights on a dark set and fluorescent paint on her body. It might score points for style, but it's hard to be turned on (3 mins). Follow-up on a bed in a white nightie is more standard, but hardly memorable. Will mention she does get into an upside down pose and spreads her kitty though (4 mins). "Heather" St. James - Pet Dec 1996 - has the same issue as Jess. Poor leadoff scene that has her in a silver wig, costume as a cheap sci-fi element plays out that goes from solo to lite girl/girl when Jessica, Nikie St. Gilles join (7.5 mins). Japanese flavored scene with her in a kimono, dark wig eating sushi is much better. Really liked her look, easy going vibe that features plenty of spreads (4 mins). A lite bondage scene with her natural blonde hair is next and quick cuts, a metal track try to pump up the energy but meh (2.5 mins).
"Nikki" St. Gilles is next - Mar 1997, PotY 1999 - yet they can't even spell her name right in the title card. Geesh. However her in a black dress stripping on a house's staircase is on point. She knows how to pose, there's some nice closeups. Lovely shots of her vajayjay and more than one yummy spread (4 mins). In a field in a leopard print onesie doesn't reach the same level though there is a very nice shot of her butt. Like earlier the scene goes for lite girl/girl with Sam in the last minute, but is extremely tame / pointless (4 mins). Waking up in bed and getting naked doesn't leave much to talk about (3.5 mins).
"Tania" Russof - Pet Sept 1996 - a Russian beauty wraps things up and I was momentarily excited. However those hopes got largely dashed as she strips in the usual assortment of scenes. First it's getting out a white bra, bottom in the bedroom with low energy, terminally slow pace. Rubs a strawberry over her shaved, pierced kitty but nothing crazy (4 mins). Now with red hair in a see thru blank dress it starts out with promise only to end in anticlimactic fashion (4 mins).
Not one of their finest years 'Playoffs 1998' to my knowledge is an OOP VHS title that never got a DVD digital re-release. Interestingly my first viewing of this was a censored Asian cut. So if I sound unimpressed with the American version you can imagine what I thought of them removing any shot that went below the belly button. What a tame piece of work that is. Anyhow that aside there's nothing to really get excited or bent out of shape over here. One or two solid scenes, but overall below average.
