The Servant, with its plethora of staircase scenes, makes you think you're watching Upstairs - Downstairs - with cock sucking. Like PBS, it features praiseworthy acting, notably by Dean Phoenix, artfully composed scenes, and the promise of an interesting story. You know it's good if it holds your attention while the actors are clothed. The Servant presents a plausible story instead of situations that could only happen in West Hollywood or on Pluto. Sadly, a laudable attempt to merge story and sex was marred by technical lapses. Often, the plot had more gaping holes than the Ram on a Saturday night. However, complaining about porn aiming high is like saying, "Only 10 inches?"
In a film noir opening, Dean Phoenix - muscles with bedroom eyes - slips his large Mickey in and out of lover Steve Cassidy's muscle butt. Phoenix fucks his face before Cassidy chows down on Phoenix's delectable ass, leading both to blow large loads. Later, Cassidy blows smoke rings while they discuss Phoenix's pending interview as servant to a large Savannah estate. The men and dialogue are taut. It recalls classic images from Body Heat, except the guys have nicer chests than Kathleen Turner.
At the mansion, Phoenix is interviewed by pompous "master" Blake Harper. One of the gardeners is Phoenix's lover, Cassidy. Harper introduces his own lover, a petulant Derek Cameron. Their relationship is strained, but it's never clear why. This doesn't prevent an immediate transition to the hairy, hung, muscular Harper having his way with the smooth, buff Cameron on the grand staircase. Faster than he can say, "This is all of Tara you'll ever get!!" Harper seizes Cameron and rims, blows and fucks him. Scarlett should have been so lucky. If Atlanta had surrendered as easily as Cameron raised his legs, it might never have burned. As the men collapse in cum-drenched sweat, we hear Cameron's innermost thoughts about Harper,"Mxible love incasta." Next time you record a voice-over, take the cock out of your mouth. Cameron either loves Harper, his money or playing canasta.
Phoenix has plenty in his pants and something up his sleeve. Too bad it's not a better script. Clandestine meetings in the park reveal he took the job to be near Cassidy. What's not clear is why they hide their relationship from an employer who probably supports ENDA. Equally frustrating is dialogue garbled by noise. When Phoenix speaks, you hear traffic; with Cassidy, it's trickling water. It sounds like he is taking a leak - since he's a gardener, maybe he travels with his hose.
In the master suite, Phoenix prepares a bath for Harper. This scene crackles with sexual tension and alone is worth a video rental. The proper Phoenix steals glances at Harper undressing. Phoenix insists on taking the robe from a reluctant Harper and watches him ease into the water. Phoenix's subtle smirks, Harper's reluctant smiles, mild innuendo and exchanged glances are better than foreplay. This scene would have been ruined by untimely sex or flatulence.
Later, Harper sneaks down the servant's stairs and watches Phoenix beat off. A picture of Harper and flashbacks to images of Harper's cock push Phoenix to climax. Harper strokes himself into a frenzy watching Phoenix. Amidst moody lightening, thunder and rain you expect someone to scream, "Stella."
Now, hard-body Latin hunk Alex Martinez and buff blond Drew Peters hump on the formal staircase. For a mansion, the lack of beds is startling. There is plenty of cocksucking, and Martinez's fat, beefy schlong is properly serviced before he fucks Peters and both cum. The sex smolders, but the scene is as unnecessary as an escort ad in a church bulletin.
It seems Phoenix's character is modeled after Eve from All About Eve. He's smoothly manipulative, erotically conniving and soon indispensable. True intent becomes clearer when he convinces Harper to fire Cassidy. Harper confides his horniness and his insecurity about Cameron's fidelity. Phoenix's insincere defense of Cameron only fuels Harper's doubts.
A horny Harper daydreams about a past orgy involving his lawyer, gardener, personal trainer and a few friends. This takes employee benefits to new heights. Lean, hairy Brock Mickford makes out with Peters and Martinez. Harper exchanges blow jobs with bodybuilder Rob Steele and angelic Ben Damon. All end up fucking, sucking and cumming. Mickford and Harper torridly take turns fucking Peters, who whimpers with each thrust. Steele pumps lots of iron, but he has the enthusiasm of a lead weight.
Harper is roused by Phoenix who's procured entertainment - a fuckfest starring Ricky Shore and Yuri Breshnev. Apparently, Blockbuster was out of Erin Brockovitch. This coupling is riveting because the guys are enthusiastic opposites. Breshnev is a quiet, beefy, bear top, and Shore is a trash-talking, smooth bottom. Phoenix's growing control over Harper is also arousing.
In a thicket, Cassidy joins fellow gardener Damon and plants his dick in his mouth. Cassidy realizes that Phoenix betrayed him and after two seconds of dialogue gets over it. Talk about moving on! Channeling his anger and horticultural roots, Cassidy plows Damon. A precision cloudburst, courtesy of a garden hose, sprinkles one actor and then the other.
Cameron confronts Harper and Phoenix on the stairs - and is sent packing. Who knows why? On yet another staircase, Harper confronts Phoenix about reading his diary. At this point, you expect to see a baby carriage come bouncing down the stairs, ala The Untouchables. The story has unraveled like the hem in a hooker's dress. Interest is sustained by the actors' chemistry and ability to transcend limp dialogue. Fortunately, limpness doesn't apply to the bedroom, where Phoenix and Harper consummate their attraction with lots of sweaty sucking, rimming and fucking. The transition to this scene was so abrupt that the pent-up payoff was less than expected. However, the sight of Harper clad only in a necktie serving Phoenix breakfast in bed helped make up for it. It's probably only a matter of time until he learns how to vacuum.
- Anthony Peters