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Grad Nite Spunk Buddies
International Media Distributors/High Drive Productions. A Spunkstar.com Production. © 2004. Shot and edited by Brady Mayo. Soundtrack by Tony Amherst. Starring: Cooper, Josh, Lee Cox, D.J., Menace, Ouija, Joey, Dusty, Dakota, Christian, James and Brenden. (Condoms used for all penetration.) As Reviewed by: Issue #18 - May 5, 2005 |
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In spite of (and sometimes because of) their free-wheeling, slipshod nature, amateur videos possess certain charms not found in more professional fare, and Grad Nite Spunk Buddies is a case in point. A collection of eight loops (five couplings and three solos), the production is bedeviled by bland color, frequently incomprehensible sound, occasionally unsteady camera work, intermittent loss of focus and patchwork editing that is all too often distracting. Despite these liabilities, however, the dozen unpolished, camera-clumsy youths who make up the cast display an infectious enthusiasm only to be found in video virgins -- and few viewers will not be charmed by their novitiate efforts. Grad Nite Spunk Buddies begins at a raucous pool party -- you know the sort, where at least one smartass throws himself into the drink fully clothed. The grainy black-and-white footage is brief, and in due time, the action turns to color and moves to other settings where one couple after another continues the post-baccalaureate revelries in more explicit ways. Each of the cast members is introduced by an overlaid banner identifying him (by his Christian name only), his age (all but one are purportedly 18), and his "Most Likely" moniker as it might be found in the yearbook. First up are Dakota, "Best Athlete," and Christian, "Most Popular." Dakota, whose naturally muscular body, ingenuous smile and uninhibited sexuality make him one of the most enticing performers in the film, is first seen at a punching bag, demonstrating his pugilistic skills. He is soon joined by Christian, a lithe, mischievous brunet with a tit-ring and tattoos. (Virtually everyone in the film has at least one tattoo.) Of course, the punching bag is soon abandoned in favor of making out. Both kiss quite ardently, trade energetic blow jobs and soon, amid a flurry of self-conscious giggles, end up in a 69 on the patio floor. The flip-flop fuck that follows is equally charming. (Watch each's gauche grin of triumph when he manages the achievement of penetrating his pal and each's relief that he himself is able to take cock so painlessly.) Their ongoing vanilla raunch rap is giddy and silly. (We especially liked Dakota's declaration, "That's what I want -- ass pussy!") Both are occasionally plagued by erection maintenance problems, but when they are hard, the action surges along nicely. Finally, the tension of going for the money shots is palpable, but both deliver, and Dakota's is especially copious. The second loop finds a glib strawberry blond named Josh ("Most Likely to Succeed") entering the bedroom of a tall, dark-eyed brunet named Cooper ("Most Likely to Bottom"). A straight porn tape is playing on the TV set, and even though Josh announces, "I want to see her take her panties off -- that's the best part!," he has soon removed his glasses, stripped naked and flopped on the bed to trade blow-jobs with his buddy. Even though they give token attention to the smut tape, both are first-rate cocksuckers, spit-swabbing each other in individual turns as well as in a cozy 69. It's not long before Josh finds the lube and rubbers, though, and begins to go after Cooper's unshaved ass. He slides in effortlessly -- clearly not the first guy ever to drop in there -- and fucks him in two positions before dropping a load of thick drool on his fellow graduate's ass. Then Cooper puddles his load on Josh's chest, and they head for the showers for a bit of goofy adolescent horseplay. Next, on the back yard lawn, a pair of playful puppies, the blond-streaked Brenden and the lean brunet James ("The Cutest Guys in the Class") are discovered kissing and groping each other. Both are indeed delectable pieces of eye candy, reminiscent of Bel Ami boys, and both have towering, rock-hard, plum-headed hard-ons. Brenden, in particular, is a voracious cocksucker, and their verbal give-and-take between slurps is refreshing. In time, they adjourn to a fold-out bed indoors -- and in the heat of the moment soon fall off it onto the floor, prompting one to snicker, "Oh! A blooper for this video!" They provide the best anal action of the entire film -- in spite of the distraction provided by the careless use of two different condoms, one clear, one bright blue. James is a precociously masterful top, and Brenden is clearly, even for one so young, a veteran bottom. They run the anal gamut of missionary, doggie and sitting positions, but unfortunately, the camera is not in optimal position to capture either money shot well. The fourth coupling features a thin, dirty blond billed as Ouija (so-named because the replica of an entire Ouija board is tattooed across his back) and Joey, the stocky, tradey brunet who threw himself into the pool. They are respectively categorized as "Most Oral in Class" and "Most Bi-Cuious." Joey is busy at his computer when Ouija drops by but soon inquires, "Want to give me a backrub?," and flops face down, ass in the air, on the bed. He is more than willing to kiss, grope, be sucked and rimmed, and even slide into a 69 position but never gets around to taking a mouthful of his friend. Despite the fact that Ouija is obviously a veteran homosexual (who has not seen 18 in many a moon), this is the most awkwardly self-conscious scene in the film. Each tries to fuck the other to no avail, and ultimately ,they opt to lie side-by-side on the bed, where each brings himself off, though again the camera is not well-placed to record the money shots. This scene is followed by the first solo of the film, in which a cute, crewcut brunet, D.J., enters his bedroom bitching about one of his girlfriends. (He is categorized as "Most Likely to Swallow," but we never see him within slurping distance of another man in this manual sequence.) He pounds himself vigorously, fucks the mattress awhile, bounces all over the bed and fires off an arrow of jizz into the air before dressing and leaving. The fifth duet features strawberry blond Josh again (the only performer with two scenes in the film, and he deserves them; he is a consummate sexualist). This time his prey is Dusty, an acne-scarred mesomorph with a Caesar cut, who is categorized as "Most Vulnerable" -- and there is indeed a captivating vulnerability about the kid. The scene unfolds as Josh, a masterful seducer, lures him into sexual territory. (When Josh discovers Dusty's tube of lube, he plays dumb and suggests, "Show me how it works." When he later begins to undress, he softly inquires, "You still hung like you were in the seventh grade?") Hand jobs and kisses soon give way to reciprocal blow jobs before Josh deftly rubbers up and heads for Dusty's unshaved hole. Josh again proves himself a hard-driving top and urges Dusty to bring himself off while being drilled, but that does not happen. What's more, the anal action is further undercut by the scattershot editing that diminishes the heat they do generate, and again the scene ends with them firing off side-by-side on the bed with the camera failing to capture their pop shots from a good angle. Grad Nite Spunk Buddies concludes with a pair of solos, one by a heavily tattooed, weathered brunet named Lee Cox, which is too brief, and another by Menace, a worn "19-year-old" -- yeah, 19 going on 30 -- which goes on way too long, giving the film a soft ending by ignoring that oldest of axioms: put your best scene last. Still, there are momentary pleasures in watching this sophomoric exercise, zits and all. |
- Jerry Douglas |
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| Video courtesy of IMD, International Media Distributors; P.O. Box2515; Laguna Hills, CA 92653; 800-733-3393; www.IMDvideo.com/ IMDdvd.com. |
