The Fluffer Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)July 1st, 2002
"The Fluffer"
Sean McGinnis (Michael Cunio) is fresh from film school and has moved to LA to break into the movie business as a cameraman. But, legit film is a tough nut to crack and Sean takes a job with Hollywood's stepchild - the porno industry. He starts work at the Men of Janus production company, specializing in gay porn, because of his obsession with one of the stars, Johnny Rebel (Scott Gurney), and soon agrees to regularly help "prepare" the actor before the camera rolls in "The Fluffer."
Writer Wash West (and co-helmer with Richard Glatzer) starts things off with a bang, so to speak, when Sean comes home from the video store with a copy of "Citizen Kane" as part of his program to view all the classic flicks he can. The bisexual McGinnis is surprised that, instead of the Orson Wells masterpiece, he is watching "Citizen Cum," a movie that is decidedly not about Charles Foster Kane. The star of the movie is Johnny Rebel, a handsome hunk of a guy that becomes the object of Sean's obsession, even after the star-struck cameraman learns that Johnny is only "gay for pay." In fact, the porno star has a long-term relationship with a pretty exotic dancer named Babylon (Roxanne Day).
The title refers, in gay pornography terms, to the person on a set whose function is to prepare or "fluff" the male performers so as to be fully aroused when they go before the camera. It's a labor of love (or lust?) for Sean when it involves fluffing Johnny, but soon becomes part of his job description. If "The Fluffer" stuck with its insight into the gay porno industry it may have been a solid film all around. But, the story takes on too many causes as it moves away from the "business" and examines many story threads: the impact of Johnny and Babylon's chosen professions have on their relationship; the rivalry between Sean and Babylon for Johnny's attention; an unexpected pregnancy; Johnny's ongoing drug abuse (probably triggered by his conflict over his gay-oriented career and his hetero relationship with Julie (Babylon's real name)); and, there is a murder mystery thrown into the mix, just to add a bit of spice.
For the first hour, as "The Fluffer" opens us up to the machinations of making gay porno, things are interesting and exposes us to the workings of an industry that we never see. When it turns away from the seedy though interesting porn business and delves into the personal relationships of the principles the film loses steam. The thing that made the first part so captivating is due mainly to the efforts of an array of veteran character actors that make up the producers of the Men of Janus - Robert Walden, Taylor Negron, Richard Riehle and Tim Bagley. Their faces are familiar (even if you don't recognize the names) and their experience helps elevate things above where one would expect on a modestly budgeted film. Deborah Harry, in a small role as Babylon's boss, gives a nicely layered performance as a tough business woman (she does, after all, manage a strip joint) with a compassionate heart. Adina Porter, as the Men of Janus secretary Silver, is a wry pragmatist - a lesbian, she has a fondness for looking at penises, and took the job to satisfy her likings.
Unfortunately, the main characters don't come up to the same level as the character actors around them. As the action moves away from the business and to the personal triangle of Sean, Johnny and Julie, the film loses its edge and wanders to a conclusion, but not one I cared about. An attempt is made to stir things up when one of the Janus men is murdered but it is merely a diversion.
There is too much of the lives of the stars of "The Fluffer" and not enough of the examination of the porn business. I give it a C+.
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