Fluffer

This film delves into the world of gay pornography in a similar (if inferior) way that "Boogie Nights" dissected straight porn. Cunio is a classic film lover, new to L.A., who inadvertently views a gay porno movie featuring Gurney. Soon, his obsession with Gurney reaches the point where he is willing to get a job in the industry merely to catch a glimpse of him. Eventually, he finds himself closer to him than he ever dreamed possible (hence the title.) Unfortunately, Gurney is ostensibly straight and does these films merely for the money. The film touches on, but doesn't explore fully, the fascinating aspect of this. Why, if Gurney is straight, is he able to (and willing to) be 'fluffed' by a male? Wouldn't a female do this job more efficiently? Why does Gurney allow Cunio to perform fellatio on him, but won't allow him to kiss on the lips? These questions are the ones that could provide more drama, insight and discussion than the rather obvious and tired explorations of drugs, crime and losing grip on popularity. The film might have had more impact if it had focused on the relationship between the two male leads and downplayed the more familiar aspects of the setting. The film has elements that are both clichéd and clever. The thing is that clichés are clichés because they have actually happened so many times that people begin to expect them. The clichés in this film are actualities in nearly every case. It just may not be necessary to dwell on them again (even thought they are ably presented here.) One particularly clever moment occurs when Cunio finally sets a date to go out with Gurney and when the day arrives, 'FRIDAY' flashes on the screen to the sound of an alarm. This was surprising and charming. The performances are excellent all around. Cunio is wonderful. He's gorgeous and affecting and is bound to go places if he can avoid type-casting after this. Gurney is excellent as well and totally 'gets' his character. His girlfriend is played by the striking Day who is a revelation in her portrayal. She excels at nearly every aspect of her character and is able to make the stale 'dancer with a heart of gold' role interesting and sympathetic. A palette of familiar faces rounds out the cast and all performers do well. "Lou Grant" fans should be stunned to see former cast member Walden practically begging to give oral sex to various men, but he does it convincingly. The faux video titles and covers are amusing and accurate (and the DVD presents a gallery of them.) One added note: a dash of frontal nudity may have given this film a bit more ring of truth. It's avoidance of it gives the movie a sometimes coy feel which is completely at odds with the gritty subject matter.

The Fluffer was a great story with some terrific performances. Roxanne Day as "Babylon" and Michael Cunio as "Sean" were both outstanding in their character portrayals of two people obsessed with something they couldn't have. What makes them even more impressive was the fact that the object of their passion was the one major flaw in the film. "Rebel" was as lifeless and uninteresting a character as I've ever seen on film.

So, while Cunio and Day were working so convincingly at wrestling with their pain, Scott Gurney's "Rebel" made their job nearly impossible. It also made it nearly impossible for the audience to care. But somehow, Cunio and Day did make us care, and that is the art of acting at its best. The supporting cast was very good, the script was very good, the direction just so-so.

What a fun romp behind the scenes of the porn industry..with a love story thrown in...Lots of laughs, lots of drama, selling out at the QUAD theatre in NY's Greenwich village. And for once, the lines for the ladies' room are SHORTER than those for the men's room. Let us hear it for long lost Robert Walden of "LOU GRANT" fame.. Where has he been? He really hams it up as a sleazy porn producer...What's a guy to do when the guy he loves is only gay for pay!!! Heartache is a definite!

I LOVE THIS MOVIE ~! i am not of gay nature, but me and my friend rented this last night as a joke... expecting to just see some gay porn. the story actually touched us... as did the pornographer. other people say the stories of pornographers do not matter... that they have nothing important to offer. this movie just proves them wrong... it shows that everybody has a story to tell... and this one was interesting. we loved the part where we saw his penis! for all the people who want what they can't have... this movie is for all you lustless lovers.

I just recently saw "the Fluffer" this weekend. I'd read many positive reviews of the film but came to gather a different feeling from watching it. Most movies with the words "coming of age story" on the back are usually hints that the lead character will go through many situations and we'll see them develope into their "new self" by the end. However, by the end of this movie i didn't feel like i knew anything more about the main character Sean. The movie starts off well, as we see Sean become more and more obsessed with gay-for-pay porn star Johnny Rebel, but somewhere in the near middle it begins to spiral into too many directions. I had a hard time figuring out who was the main character after a while, Johnny or Sean?

Writer Wash West(moreland), better known for adult titles, begins to lose track also. It's not a bad debut for an adult writer and those of us who have been through the same situation as Sean will see a good portrayal of how it feels to love someone who doesn't love you back. The main problem is that Sean is as ambiguous of a character as Rebel, and it soon seems that his whole problem is in him and not his situation with Johnny. If this film was about that, it would be great...but it's not. The character depth and film direction is lacking, just as how commonly it lacks in adult films,which is a kind of an ironic trait to the film.

Bottom line: performances are very good, the movie is entertaining but the writing lacks some direction. If it were an actual adult film, it would be the most dramatic one i've ever seen.