No matter how a man first dips his toe into the Olympic-sized swimming pool that is gay sex, the final splashdown is often losing his ass virginity. Still, there are those who eschew getting fucked just because they dislike the act, and some who withhold it in a sexual power game (making the rare acquiescence all the sweeter for the top). Director Chris Steele's "From Top to Bottom" cleverly explores the theme of tops who make the switch to bottom.
Revenge is the theme for the opener, putting Billy Brandt in the switcheroo position at the hands of a former conquest, he-man Erik Rhodes. As Billy leaves a club, bouncer Erik and abettor Mike Roberts seize him and drag him into an alley. Billy is all for his kidnapping while Erik is gobbling down his dick, and he even gladly bends over to suck Mike's cock, giving Erik access to his ass for a long tongue-fuck. Sitting on Erik's cock is another thing, though, a feat which Billy goes about with determination. Billy makes a go of it for awhile, although his cries and facial expressions seem to indicate it's not easy. Lucky for us, Erik is satisfied with getting his revenge on Billy, and he bottoms for the remainder of the scene, letting both Billy and Mike (who up to that point has served as a very attractive extra) have their turn. Cum-shots splat all over Erik's muscles in the finale, starting with Billy's spasmodic release, then Mike's load. Erik strokes out an explosive orgasm while Mike finger-fucks him.
Raven-haired cutie Jake Jameson is the quarry of an Internet cruise by Tyler Marks, and Jake's totally edible ass and huge uncut cock prove to be drool-worthy. Jake gives up his pucker because he loses a coin toss -- but really it seems that Jake's reluctance to get fucked is just a ploy, because when Tyler eats, fingers and eventually fucks Jake mercilessly, there's no doubt he's into it. Mutual blowjobs are excellent, but the scene shifts into high gear when Jake and Tyler swap positions, with Tyler on the receiving end of Jake's fat prong. Tyler blows a load while Jake is pounding him missionary, and then Jake straddles Tyler's hips and creams Tyler's abs in the high-energy climax.
With men like Matthew Rush, Matt Cole and Ethan Kage, who's going to say no (to anything)? Very few. And certainly not boyish Kevin Brown, as a playa bartender who schedules all three studs for an after-hours trio of trysts. When Kevin's subterfuge is uncovered by the studs, he becomes the object of a raucous gangbang, the main target of which is his sacrosanct ass. He doesn't have a chance with the three muscle studs he faces. Kevin's tighty-whities serve as a metaphor for what's to come, ripped open by three powerful pairs of greedy hands. Major attitude is served up by Matthew, whose dirty-talk helps propel the action throughout. Kevin gets a face full of hard dick as a prologue, and he takes turns sucking each of the other dudes as they stand in a sizzling he-man line-up. Oral action continues with dynamite blowjobs all around as each guy gets a big serving of cock. Kevin's gang-fucking takes place in a leather sling, his ass wide open as Matt notably does the initial fucking, pulling all the way out of Kevin's hole and then sliding right back in again, balls-deep. Ethan and Matthew follow suit in a thrilling fuck sequence that reaches its high point with a four-way chain fuck: Matthew in Ethan, Ethan in Matt, Matt in Kevin. Matt and Kevin deliver great cum-shots, and then Kevin cedes the sling to Ethan, who spreads his legs for Matthew's massive cock. As Matthew glides smoothly in and out of Ethan's hole, Ethan cums with loud, growling moans. Matthew creams last, and his load combines with Ethan's on Ethan's cock, balls and crotch.
In the finale, both guys really get into every aspect of the action (hedging on the theme a bit) with Derrick Vinyard taking it like a man from Jason Adonis, and Jason giving up his pristine hole to ass toys wielded by Derrick. Derrick begins by having a field day sucking Jason's huge cock, often choking on it as Jason forces it down his throat. Jason then gets an enviably attentive rimjob, and Derrick uses his pointy tongue to delve expertly between Jason's rock-hard asscheeks. Ass toy play follows, and Jason manages to take a couple of different Lucite buttplugs and dildos, with a bit of urging from Derrick. Derrick makes a bargain with Jason: if he can use one more toy on his ass, he will let Jason fuck him. The deal is struck, and Derrick does not go back on his word. Although Derrick's performance up until this point has been hot, it goes up a couple of notches when Jason begins to fuck him in earnest, and Derrick's guttural cries as the scene progresses (my favorite: "Fuck me, big boy!") add juice to the scene's power. Jason pulls out and shoots his load all over Derrick's ass, but that isn't the end: there's much more fucking to come (and Derrick's fervent exclamations as Jason sticks it to him). The camera here gets tight close-ups of everything, and watching Jason's cock pull all the way out of Derrick's tight hole and then back in again is spectacular. At last, Derrick cums noisily while Jason is fucking him missionary, and with a final cry of "Milk it dry!," he goads Jason to spill every drop of his load onto his already cum-soaked torso.
Excellent direction and writing by Chris Steele (including some welcome humorous moments) make this a refreshing dip into the versatile end of the pool.
DVD features: Chapters; anal chapter; interviews (Erik Rhodes, Derrick Vinyard, Ethan Kage and Matt Cole); gallery; trailers ("Spokes III," "Big Dick Club" and "Velvet Mafia"); and no regional coding (playable worldwide).
A DVD Review by Martin Cox