I used to say that director/producer/performer Karen Dior only needed a decent budget and s/he could turn out a decent flick. I was wrong. Classify Genderella as a could-have-been video. Drew Andrews and his dependable cock are always welcome. Newcomer Lilienne Li is quite beautiful and passes remarkably well for a woman. Lana Luster, as expected, ravenously chomps every stitch of available scenery and royally fucks James Perry for "her" first sexual performance in many a moon. But despite a number of enjoyable individual moments, Genderella simply doesn't hold together.
However, it is by far the best trannie video to come down the pike in ages. Genderella could have been simply atrocious and it would have been better than most of the crap that fills the trannie shelves these days. I'm glad Vivid Video, through their Vivid Raw line, decided to put some decent money into this genre, but unfortunately, the entire line was canceled this summer, effectively quashing prospective efforts by Chi Chi LaRue and Anthony Rose, who produced four solid bisexual videos for Vivid Raw.
A trannie take on the Cinderella myth is inspired, and it's a wonder it hasn't been done before. Li plays Genderella, in thrall to Luster's Wicked Stepmother, and her two Wicked Stepsisters, played by trannie twins Gina and Geneva. The first scene has the twins trash-talking poor Genderella then hauling their adorable boy toy Chris Ramone (one of several stage names this model has adopted) into the bedroom for a rousing three way. The very young, slender and pretty Ramone was built to be fucked, and he's hard as a rock throughout. Both twins remain erect as well, which is admirable. On the down side, the scene is confusingly edited and marked by annoying cricket sound effects. Ramone is covered in tattoos, and the twins boast purple bruises and implant scars, all of which is covered with a light layer of body makeup that is quickly rubbed off. Was Dior even present to direct the scene? At one point, Wash West can be heard whispering direction from behind his camera.
Ms. Luster dominates the follow-up scene, featuring a lusty James Perry. He really seems to enjoy himself, and it's a hoot to watch the veteran drag performer pork Perry while s/he's tarted up like a neo-Marie Antoinette. A nice ballroom sequence follows, in which one of the twins blows the always-game Leo Masters. The Handsome Prince (Drew Andrews) spots Li, who has been properly outfitted by her fairy godmother (played inevitably by Karen Dior, and no jokes about fairies, please).
The final two scenes feature Andrews and Li. In the first, he beds her while she is enchanted, meaning she has female genitalia instead of a cock. A body double and clever editing sustain the illusion, and Wash West's stylish flourishes are evident. (We've all heard of stunt dicks, but a stunt cunt? Sorry, I couldn't resist.) Inevitably, Genderella's enchantment wears off, and she is returned to her former glory. Li and Andrews go at it again, but obviously this time "she" has a dick. Of course, Prince Drew is equally facile with cock as he is with a vagina. That's why we love him so.
Money was obviously spent on costumes and sets, but I wish Dior had spent more time planning out the rest of the video. Andrews/Li should not have been featured in two scenes back-to-back, and you don't cast the always humpy Leo Masters in a scene without taking full advantage of his talents. Finally, the opening threesome was difficult to watch because the twins were bruised and obviously had some problems with their breast implants. Nevertheless, Dior's eye for talent is sharp as ever, because Li is a real beauty. For individual moments, Genderella is watchable. But fans of trannie videos will have to wait a little bit longer for the great, hot film they deserve.
P.S. In the end credits, Dior takes a nasty swipe at her former friend and manager, Allan Gassman, with whom she split with much acrimony. Proving that Dior is thoroughly incapable of irony, the dig at Gassman is then followed by a credit honoring Dior's spiritual guru. Only in Hollywood.
- J.C. Adams