More Dangerous" (2006), the documentary, begins with talking heads deciding why "Dangerous Liaisons" (2005), the movie, was so important to gay porn, surmising that it moved the industry further through what it was. Actor Gerald McCullouch tries to couch it in terms many actors will understand. He notes that it asks, "why the penis?" I guess even a penis has motivation!
"Who is Michael Lucas?" That's the first question posed to the panel. A whole host of superlatives are flung. RuPaul finds him a hero and "Real World" star Dan Renzi would want to date him. With humor, even Michael Musto notes that they must compete for time talking about themselves. "He's a good old Hollywood mogul," Gus Mattox says with just the right amount of raised-eyebrow humor. However, Michael, pulling out some humility in noting that as director, producer, start, etc., says he gave a lousy acting performance (not necessarily true). He then definitively says he's not modest. Yeah, we got that by the fact that after he says this, the superlatives return fast and furious.
Gus Mattox is given his due next. Gus is one of my personal favorite porn stars, a man sexy as hell who can also act. He discusses his real life as a mainstream actor, while the movie interjects his flubs from the set. No matter the mistakes, he still managed to give the strongest performance in the movie, both as an actor and as a sexual performer.
"What Would Glenn Think?" The Glenn is Ms. Close of the original movie's fame. Naturally, Bruce Vilanch and Michael Musto have the most to say, with Bruce rattling off one-liners faster than humanly possible, brilliant wit that he is.
Strapping he-man Kent Larson is allowed some screen time while everyone notes what a great guy and performer he is. That segues into Wilfried Knight, a longtime Lucas stable boy who even Lucas finds to be the sexiest guy he's ever worked with. That accent alone might just prove that. He even had a dialogue coach! As for Bruce Beckham, Michael discovered him in the grocery store and signed him as an exclusive. Eternally youthful porn vet Owen Hawk gets his due, deservedly. During his scene, a table broke and cameraman Raymond Dragon came crashing down, but all were okay and the scene continued. Despite a need for first aid, "no one lost his hardon," Michael notes. As for Owen, he has no bigger fan than RuPaul, but Owen is whip-smart and looks at everything quite wryly.
Is Michael Lucas controversial? By addressing the "rumor" that he is, everyone is admitting. There is footage of Michael at an awards ceremony telling a camera, "if they didn't vote for me, fuck them!" Does he mean it? Who knows? But, it does get newsprint.
The non-sexual actors seemed to have had a blast filming the climactic party scene. Michael Musto, of course, was hoping that he could take off his clothes, but I guess all of the roles were cast by then. Amanda LePore gives us an interesting detail, that her hairdresser hooked up with a fan playing an extra. Lady Bunny has more fun than anyone, "entertaining the troops like Martha Raye," Michael Musto notes.
There is some hilarious footage from the GayVN awards ( http://GayVNawards.com ) that needs to be seen to be believed. The infamous ice throwing incident is rehashed for everyone's benefit, but all seem to be good sports about it by this point.
"There was nothing sleazy or cheap about it," Michael Stabile says. Well, that may be overstating the power of any porn flick, but "Dangerous Liaisons" did strive to make something far more artistic out of typical gay porn.
A DVD Review by Brent Blue