Boobs: An American Obsession

It will come as news to absolutely no one that men like women's breasts—or that women are aware of this. So there are no earthshaking revelations in Nina Brownfield-Berry's documentary about the body parts variously known as boulders, bongos, knockers, jugs, headlights, or “the ultimate feminine advertisement,” as one man puts it here. But by combining wit, insight, and information (and almost never resorting to mere, um, titillation), Brownfield-Berry has made a very entertaining film. All sorts of folks are interviewed here: a guy who runs a website featuring naked women doing jumping jacks; celebs like actress Mamie Van Doren (who fully realizes that she fit the dumb-blonde-with-big-breasts pigeonhole and capitalized on it); strippers and porn stars; and even a few scholarly types. Breast enhancement is a major topic—viewers are right in the operating room for several procedures—and while it's extraordinary to see how many women believe that implants will enhance not only their self-image but also their personal and professional life, it is perhaps even more notable that they're often right (on the flip side, a patient who undergoes a breast-reduction operation is thrilled with the results, while another who chose a double mastectomy following a cancer diagnosis seems perfectly satisfied with her decision). Speaking of professional life, actress Julie Strain likens her frequent enlargements to “changing tires on a car” (what a turn-on!). DVD extras include audio commentary with the director and producer Genevieve Thomas Colvin, deleted scenes, and a stills gallery. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Graham)