Running Time: 114 min.

Production Date: 4 / 22, 23 / 2013

Director: Jim Powers /P>

Cast: Alyssa Branch, Emily Austin, Melody Jordan, Riley Reid, Zoey Monroe, Billy Hart, Cody Sky, Logan Pierce, Tyler Nixon, and Xander Corvus

Audio /Video Quality: The technical aspects are nicely done. The audio is clear and well balanced, and I didn't notice any background noises. The video is presented in anamorphic widescreen and looks very nice. There's a solid hand on the camera along with very nice lighting and a clear picture.

The Movie: Zoey Monroe has her eyes on bigger things, and she's promised by her boss Billy that she'll get a shot at them in New York if she can get headcase model Xander, who's put their firm at risk by being beyond unreliable as well as causing many other problems, back on track. Zoey doesn't want anything to do with him, especially as a babysitter, but agrees to do it to help reach her bigger goals and soon after finds a spark there with Xander.

Heavily tattooed Cody joins Riley in the shower, and after checking on her plans for the days starts to kiss her and play with her pussy. They relocate to a bed where they kiss and she slides down to suck and stroke his cock. Riley gets up to ride him cowgirl style and then lays back for him to lick and finger her pussy. Cody moves in to fuck her missionary style and spoon her before pulling out to pop on her bush.

Model Tyler gets busy with hot blonde makeup girl Emily after asking her out on a date. They kiss passionately on a couch after dinner and a little wine. He offers to call her a taxi knowing how late it is with both of them having to work the next day, but she lets him know she'd rather stick around to make out a bit more. He continues to kiss his way around her and mixes in a little attention for her nicely natural titties as he strips her down and moves south to eat her bald pussy. Emily teases him through his boxer briefs before eagerly sucking his cock and giving Tyler some great eyes. Tyler lays her back to fuck her missionary style and moves around to spoon her. He pulls out to pop a fairly small load around her smoothly shaven slit, and then gives her another pump as the camera fades out.

After inked brunette Alyssa models for Logan they share a little wine and chat and life and love. He agrees to let her stay the night, and she moves in to kiss him and let him strip off her top to suck her tits. They help each other strip down and Alyssa moves in to suck and stroke his cock as he plays with her pussy. Alyssa gets on top to ride Logan cowgirl style before he lays her back to eat her pussy and fuck it missionary style. They spoon before Alyssa gets back on top for a reverse cowgirl ride, and then roll around for a bit more spooning. Finally Logan lets Alyssa have a nice creamy pop over her bush.

Cute redhead Melody moves on coworker Billy when nobody's around, even though he doesn't want to make things weird with a work relationship. When she kisses him he can't resist and lets his hands wander around her to strip her down and grope her. He sucks her tits a little and eats her pussy through and around her panties with a little finger play mixed in. Melody eagerly sucks and strokes his cock in return before laying back for Billy to fuck her swollen pink pussy missionary style. She lays him back to ride him cowgirl style and gives him some very nice head as they move on to spoon. Billy also takes Melody doggie style before they return to missionary and bring things to a close with a solid pop over Melody's stomach and thigh along with a few last kisses.

Bottle blonde Zoey chats with Xander about relationships over a little wine before he moves in to kiss her. He continues to kiss his way around Zoey and they explore each other softly before she gives him some nice head and rides him cowgirl style. She turns around for the reverse cowgirl before Xander lays her back to eat her pussy and spoon her. Finally he gives Zoey a nice pop over her stomach and pussy as well as one last kiss.

Bitter Sweet is a nice little romantic couples movie. The story is quite possibly the lightest I've seen from Smash's couples features, and although this left me a little disappointed at the same time I really liked some of the style that was used around the photo shoot. This makes Bitter Sweet a very light feature, but one with plenty of style that should work for couples as well as a bit of substance. The sex is all very couples friendly, with romantic locations, plenty of oral attention for the ladies, and sex that wants to be about something more between the couples rather than just a quick romp before each person moves on to get busy with someone else. Bitter Sweet gives Smash Pictures' couples line a little more depth with some very nice style.

The thing that really struck me about Bitter Sweet is Smash's eye on the bigger picture. When I read a review on this title by the Great and Mighty Rog, he commented on Smash's couples line being a great move against internet piracy, and Bitter Sweet really made that hit home. Smash has always had a fantastic eye on talent, and there's a very good chance that if you pick your one of your favorite porn actresses and look back early in her career, she was in a Smash Pictures movie. I'll agree with Rog's statements about couples feature porn not being the major focus of internet piracy, and Smash strengthens the ?retail market? for their product by focusing their budget on up and coming girls with one well known draw in the fantastic Riley Reid. In addition to Riley, they also know that Xander Corvus is a major draw for many ladies as well as being a more than solid performer. I have to applaud them here by aiming the big bucks at one major draw on each side with Xander being a bigger part of the picture. I think this makes them all the stronger in a financial and business sense because they're banking their movies on a very known quantity with a definite draw, but being the male talent he's also one that's not going to be a major focus of the pirates. Better yet, they still have an eye for strong fresh male talent such as Logan and Tyler, who I think have the potential to be pretty major male players, as well as Billy, who's also showing nice potential. Bitter Sweet is a solid couples movie, but also one that shows a heck of a lot of business sense which should make Smash Pictures all the more solid as a company.

The Extras: Trailers are included for eight other Smash Pictures releases. The photo gallery lasts about six minutes. There's also a behind the scenes featurette and internet information.

The behind the scenes featurette lasts about twenty four and a half minutes. After a few shots working with Zoe and Riley, Zoey talks about her pre-porn life and getting into porn as well as rapping a bit. Riley talks about her role in the movie, sex, and just how crazy she is and was. Emily talks about getting in porn to please her hubby and how he loves to watch black guys fuck her. Alyssa talks about love in her life, how to get her attention in her bar, and guys as well as rapping a bit. Melody has a little fun chatting with Jim about one of the other crew members before talking about getting into porn, sex, and romance and even shows off some of her singing skills being the cultured porno girl. This is a very enjoyable behind the scenes featurette. You get some nice personality from the girls, but Jim's getting them to rap, sing, and have other fun really makes it a winner that needs to be seen.

Condom Usage: None

Final Thoughts: Those wanting a lot of substance in their porn might want to rent this one rather than putting out the big bucks, but those wanting some very nice style with a very couples friendly feel might want to put out the big bucks as this one should have some nice replay value.

Note to Smash Pictures: Although I think I liked some of your other features better than this one, I can't help but love how your broadening your scope0.

If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me.

Follow me on Twitter.

Other reviews by Astroknight