Dealing with the issue of HIV in an erotic sex video is a bold move for director Mike Donner. Most viewers looking for hot sexplay may pass this one up, but that would be a mistake. Donner successfully combines a serious subject with erotic sex. The main character, Tony Valenzuela, is struggling to be responsible while satisfying his hunger for sex. The sex, all practiced safely, is presented in a hot sensual way that is truly erotic - if only more videos could be so successful.
We get a glimpse into Valenzuela's mind as he pours his thoughts into a letter. He struggles with three sides of his personality: his rational self, cynical self and sexual self. He is trying to express his frustration at being HIV positive and horny as hell. Does he tell potential partners that he is positive and risk rejection, or does he keep quiet? He feels his whole life has changed and it has. What was important before no longer is. There are a lot of guys out there who have had to deal with this issue.
In the first scene Valenzuela meets Sam Crockett, playing Valenzuela's rationale self, who tells and shows him that sex with someone positive can be both safe and sensual. They start with long, mouthy kisses leading to soft caressing of each other's bodies. Crockett is amazingly gentle. They eventually move to licking each other's dicks before they end pounding off cummers. This scene is a scorcher. The sheer sensuality will knock you over.
Back to the letter, Valenzuela ponders why people find promiscuity is bad. He believes HIV-positive guys are blamed unfairly for other people's choices. After all, you have to be negative before you can become positive. Doug Jeffries, who is Valenzuela's cynical self, makes his appearance in Valenzuela's thoughts and commands him to quit feeling guilty about being positive and to get on with his sex life.
Valenzuela then fantasizes about Marco Antonio and Jean Rivera getting hot and heavy in bed. Rivera is someone you could easily lose your resolve for safe sex in the heat of passion. Damn, does he look good! And Antonio is no slouch either. They both have lean bodies sporting beautiful uncut cocks. They taste each other's meat before Antonio dons a condom so he can fuck Rivera's juicy, hairy ass. The camera gets you right into the action. They both shoot their seed after engaging in truly erotic sexplay.
Valenzuela leaves his fantasy and is back with Jeffries who decides to jump-start his lust for sex. There is no sensuality in this coupling. Gone is the kissing, caressing or dick play. Jeffries goes straight to fucking and practically rapes Valezuela's asshole. He spits on him, slaps his ass and pounds his hole wide open. Jeffries rockets his cum all over Valenzuela' s back as he pounds out his own load. He then tells Valenzuela to be honest with your partner and never be afraid of intimacy.
In the final scene Valenzuela meets his sexuality in Nik Angelo and Matthew Easton. It is a three-way session that returns to sensuous lovemaking. Angelo fucks Valenzuela while Easton gets his dick licked. The camera gets right in on the penetration shots. This scene is the least erotic because Easton seems out of it. He never gets hard. However, Angelo and Valenzuela seem to be having some fun. Overall, though, the three-way lacks sexual spark.
Valenzuela ends his letter by signing it positively yours. It appears he has come to terms with his HIV status.
This video, like others in the last year, strives to inject a meaningful plot into an erotic video. The acting, set and music keep the story on track. Donner has done a good job of handling a subject few want to see in a sex video. Yet, as this video amply shows, plot and sex can be paired - it just takes more thought. Positively Yours won for Best Depiction of Safer Sex at the 1997 Gay Video Guide Awards. Well done!.
- Adam Morris