Get fit, feel sexy and “hit the strip” with Carmen Electra, on location at MGM Grande’s hot Studio 54 in Las Vegas. The routine will help to tone every muscle with hot moves and sultry stretches taken from burlesque and exotic dance.

It may disappoint that Carmen doesn’t appear nude despite the suggestive title, but right from the get-go, Carmen says, “Remember, it’s all in the hips, ladies.”  In her little pink cut-off shirt, heaving breasts, and low-riding exercise pants, I found myself mindlessly frozen as I watched her moves: feminine, strong, and seductive. Yet make no mistake; this is an aerobic instructive video.

Ms. Electra is sweetly eager to be a trainer to the target market of women; you get the sense that she’s not just showing off but genuinely wants the audience to learn these routines and move along with her; she wants everyone to feel included. The workout is broken down into about ten sections that she builds upon. Each section is explained once, gone through again with “counts,” then repeated with music, which is a bit faster. So there are a lot of repeated moves (without groin tearing splits or kicks) to help someone catch on; it’s a realistic structure for those new to aerobic exercise.

Despite her undeniable sex- appeal, this isn’t a cheesy stunt to bang out a little cash. This is an organized program that she seems to enjoy and appears very good at. I work out a lot. I was tempted to slap on some board shorts and try to do one of her routines in front of a camcorder, hairy legs struggling and my hips flying around, and then post it on youtube so brave souls, including myself, could get a good belly laugh. I’d get a workout, but guaranteed my visuals wouldn’t be sexy. My attempt would sure solidify that tragedy breeds comedy.

The Video: How Does The Disc Look?

The video’s aspect ratio of 1.33:1 is presented in non-anamorphic, full screen video.  Color is slightly oversaturated, but in the context of a sexy exercise video it looks great. The shimmery pink stage dressing is especially crisp and vibrant. Fleshtones look very natural. Grain is minimal, and no edge halos are noticeable. Clean whites do not bloom and blacks are very deep with a good array of shadow detail. The final scene, with the whole routine finally together is a separate production and some of the stylized shots can be a bit grainier. This is a nice presentation.

The Audio: How Does The Disc Sound?

The disc includes a Dolby Digital stereo track. The audio is a simple blend of Carmen speaking and music. With a wireless microphone transmitter hiding behind her back and a mic clipped somewhere to her top, Carmen’s dialogue is clearly recorded and well- rounded. The electronic club music exhibits some nice highs and, of course, some driving bass. It’s a motivating sound that fits the production well that includes a few sound effects shooting from one side to the other for fun. Listening to the track in the Dolby Pro- Logic IIx mode is fun and can make a home theater room sound like a disco; it might be more involving.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

The only extra is a collection of interviews (11 minutes). Carmen is absent. They include her back up dancer who fawns over Carmen’s kind behavior and talent, and who encourages others about the exercises. Next to be interviewed is the choreographer who talks about her own background. And last is the writer for the project, who seems to be excited about the whole thing. All interviewees are recorded in what looks like zoomed in digital video via digital interpolation rather than optical zooms, which means it doesn’t look that great. Oh well, I suppose it’s better than nothing.

Exclusive DVD-ROM Features: What happens when you pop the disc into your PC?

There are no DVD-ROM features on this DVD.

Final Thoughts

Ms. Electra delivers a straight-forward routine on this swift, 30-minute sexy exercise video. “It’s all in the hips, ladies,” and indeed it is. Carmen and the ladies are sexy to watch and she has a sweet, engaging attitude throughout. The moves don’t look extremely difficult, but they appear far from easy and might not be for everyone. The video and audio are fine, and the one supplement make this a good deal at a discount for anyone looking to improve their stamina and shed a few pounds.