Mike Donner is no stranger to controversy. He's dealt with sex & politics (Crossing the Line), sex & health issues (Positively Yours) and sex & religion (Our Trespasses). In A Lesson Learned he deals with sex & education. It is one of the most refreshing videos that I've seen in a long time. A great mix of sex, story, believable characters and situations that puts this film among Donner's best.
English Professor Dino Phillips is teaching "Hamlet" to his class. The bell rings, and the bored students file out. Only student Rod Barry remains. He asks whether Hamlet and Horatio were lovers, Phillips catches the subtlety in the question but chooses to ignore it.
Cutie Kristian Brooks stops by the lavatory and spies hunky Dean Phoenix in a stall, stroking away. Brooks gets Phoenix to slide his pecker through the glory hole and begins to give Phoenix a very sensuous blow job. Brandon Small enters and immediately joins the fun by sliding Brooks' pants down and nibbling on his hole. Just when you thought you couldn't handle any more, in walks bleached blond Chris O'Conner, and the foursome begins. Phoenix slips his dick into Brooks like a hot knife slipping into warm butter. Brooks stays nice and hard - so hard, in fact, that he tops O'Conner as Phoenix tops Small. Phoenix is a sexy guy, but the one to watch is pro Brooks, whom I have liked, yet never really noticed before. He sizzles in this scene, a voracious, versatile performer.
Phillips is having dinner with his ex-lover, fellow professor Jackson Phillips (to avoid confusion he'll be identified as Jackson). Jackson can't figure out why Phillips doesn't want to nail every single student he has. Phillips replies that he doesn't mix his business with his pleasure. Both men have a great rapport together. Barry, meanwhile, is walking home with fellow ex-Marine buddy Gino, discussing the exam that Barry just got a 'C' on. We discover that Gino is a homophobe, and he knows that Phillips is a fag. Barry just shrugs it off and says he doesn't care.
Cut to the bedroom where Jackson has his finger up Chip Hardy's sweet ass. Jackson overpowers Hardy the entire scene, taking complete control, devouring Hardy's butt, force feeding the boy his dick and ,finally, fucking the hell out of him. Jackson has the physique of a marble God, another guy I've totally overlooked, and he fucks Hardy until they both explode, Jackson loudly - those lessons from the Zak Spears School of Cumming have paid off well.
Barry asks Phillips out for a beer so they can discuss some extra credit that he could use toward his low exam grade. Phillips is shocked but doesn't say no. When Barry leaves, Phillips fantasizes about Barry performing Shakespeare nude. Phillips enters the scene, and the electricity just erupts from the screen. They never kiss, only touch, caress and stroke each others bodies. Very erotic and very sensual, one of the best mutual masturbation scenes I've seen in a long time. Both shoot healthy loads and practically leave you begging for more.
Back in the bathroom, Gino walks in on two guys about to go down on each other. He freaks out as Barry enters. Barry informs his buddy that he needs to readjust his attitude. He's not in the Marines anymore; this is the real world.
Later, Nicholas Carlisle is sucking adorable Tanner Hayes' uncut cock in the bathroom - this john gets a lot of action. Eventually, Jackson walks in and makes them ravage him before he fucks the bejesus out of Carlisle. Gino walks in and catches them after they're through and proceeds to pound on Jackson. Barry walks in on them and stops his friend. Then, alone, he tells Gino that he's gay. "You can't be gay! You're a Marine!" Gino cries. Barry just looks at him. He tells him that going around hating gay men is not a way to live. Since this is his friend, Gino vows to try.
Barry and Phillips end up in a limousine for their beer - Gino is a driver and he's lost a bet to Barry, so he's the chauffeur for the evening. Phillips has heard about what Barry said in the restroom and tells him how mature he is. Barry says age doesn't matter and charms his way right into Phillips' heart. The men begin some intense soul kissing and trade tender blow jobs. Barry has a beautiful, uncut dick with balls that have a mind of their own. Phillips' dick remains rock hard throughout. The professor slides into his student for a hot scene, and then Teach takes a ride on Barry's rod. After a rigorous pounding, he shoots a gusher, followed quickly by Barry. When they are through, Barry grins at Phillips and says, "Does this get me extra credit?" Phillips grins right back at him and says, "Nice try."
Donner has assembled some hot men and some good actors. Phillips is particularly good as the professor, a man torn by his love of teaching and his lifestyle. He has a natural delivery and a good sense of timing. Barry just exudes a natural chemistry that could melt the coldest of hearts. He is very charismatic, incredibly sexual and delivers some pretty rough Shakespeare - no minor feat for most porn stars. Jackson is a fantastic daddy, rough and tender at the same time. And Gino pulls off a difficult job of staying memorable as a non-sexual performer in a sexual film. Donner stays faithful to his characters, right down to the last line of the film. He's written a romantic, sexual story that is original, funny and inventive and directs it with a precision hand.
Bravo, Mr. Donner. We'll see you at awards time.
- Jeremy Spencer