Breakers

Known for hunky (close to bear, but not quite) guys and breathtaking outdoor locations, Titan Media ironically generated some of their most popular yet least characteristic titles with the claustrophobic, S&M-tinged FALLEN ANGEL movies. Most of their output – including the multi-award-winning likes of RIVER PATROL, ISLAND GUARDIAN and DESERT TRAIN – featured Tom of Finland type muscle men carnally communicating with nature, a company image firmly established by founding fathers Bruce Cam and Robert Kirsch at the gay industry giant's genesis way back in the mid-'90s. Kirsch was the first to go, with Brian Mills and Keith Webb eager to fill the void, and now Cam has declared BREAKERS his fornication film-making farewell. Even though he has vowed to stay on as a producer, his creative side will from now on be occupied with documentaries detailing the trials and tribulations that befall gay men in the contemporary US.

It would be nice if I could claim that he has gone out with a bang but, unfortunately, BREAKERS is not it. Exactly what is being broken is not quite clear, though a number of rules and perceived "taboos" get the glib treatment they rightfully deserve. More damagingly, the sex starts out at such a fever pitch – roughly the content of the first DVD in this two disc set – that it just can't help but subsequently go downhill. There's no plot to speak off, not necessarily a handicap, just hot hunks in stereotyped manly professions such as fishermen, road workers or the ever popular park ranger, inspiring hot flush flashbacks in yours truly to William Higgins' superlative SAILOR IN THE WILD, now played by Titan's latest addition to their constantly expanding stable of contract studs and this film's most impressive protagonist Tony Buff, also because he's the only performer trusted with anything resembling dialog. Good dirty dialog it is too, as he chides campers Dean Flynn and Rick Van Sant for their careless littering prior to an incredibly intense fist insertion and a more conventional if deeply satisfying in-door follow-up. That's scene two, preceded by surfer guys Damien Crosse and former internet performer Jackson Wild (who has since turned up in Falcon's aptly named ROUGH PLAY) getting frisky on the beach and in their trailer, with phenomenal chemistry cementing this encounter's place in keeper category. That's disc one and the good news over with.

Over-hyped French import François Sagat (formerly Azzedine in his native country's Citébeur efforts), he of the buzz cut tattoo, opens the second disc with a decidedly ho-hum hump with generic Darius Falke and the pair barely redeem themselves in this epic's supposed climax with Buff who's all too clearly left to fend for himself. An exterior shower threesome involving the always hot Eduardo with hairy Alex Baresi and furry deity Arpad Miklos (a Hungarian performer formerly known as François Kagylo, star of Kristen Bjorn's far superior COMRADES IN ARMS and HUNGARY FOR MEN) simply fails to ignite. An international forest frolic teams African American Diesel Washington with British Dillon Buck and petite Spanish Victor Banda and has its moments. The frequent cutting away from the action to Washington showing off his unusual bladder control do this sequence few favors. Maybe it's a metaphor, life as a never-ending peeing contest ! At least in that respect, BREAKERS delivers in spades, or should I make that gushes ? Urination is an integral part of every single sex scene, usually well-integrated if ultimately a tad nauseating, especially if you're a vanilla Nellie like myself. Thanks to Brian Mills' crystal clear, "you are there" front row camera work, you may even find yourself reaching for an umbrella !