Battle Creek Breakdown: The Review
We love the work of many directors working in gay porn but really no one compares with the master Joe Gage. The beauty of his work is that he makes it all look effortless even when it obviously isn't. Battle Creek Breakdown from Titan Men is another prime example of his seemingly endless talent and definitely is one of the best movies of 2009. Written & directed by Joe Gage this movie is simple & straightforward sexy fun without being either simplistic or predictable. Gage also obtains some wonderful acting & performances from the cast, several of whom are given more to do than they have before--and they do it great.
The premise of Battle Creek Breakdown is actually its setting. It takes place at (and nearby) the Battle Creek Ridge Lodge (a mouthful to be sure), a gay nudist retreat where all manner of hookups take place---thanks to its motto "Feel Free". Here you'll find a proprietor who joyfully lives that motto and his clientèle, a cable TV home makeover operation, and a couple of plumbers whose truck breaks down (hence the title) on their way to the lodge. As we said, it's all done with great fun and wit, contrasted with hot sex scenes that transpire as smoothly and naturally as the plot.
Battle Creek Breakdown opens up with the two plumbers Eddie (David Dakota) & Trip (Will Parker) examining their broken pick-up, lamenting the fact that they have to hike to their first job (at the lodge). Of course you just know that their moment together is going to happen but until then the characters are there to set up the rest of the movie on the road to their destination.
First we see uptight & stressed out businessman Brett (JR Matthews) checking in and finding the nude proprietor/desk clerk Slade (Tony Buff). Brett apparently booked his stay not knowing anything about the place or it's "clothing forbidden" rule (except for a costume party which you'll see later). Brett is ready to leave but Slade talks him into staying. What follows is perfectly paced half-hour scene of intense seduction and foreplay and very heated sex--and if this isn't nominated in some way come awards time then something is seriously wrong.
Brett attempts to loosen up by walking around the wooded grounds wearing nothing but his boots. JR Matthews is a site to behold, all perfectly sculpted muscle, broad shoulders, delicious butt, and a beautiful long hard-on bobbing in the open air. He reaches a clearing when Slade is doing maintenance work thanks to the tardiness of the aforementioned plumbers. Of course you just know that Slade & Brett are going to have sex but the scene unfolds in a totally realistic manner, almost agonizingly so. The two characters are a study in contrasts---Slade, the free-spirited, uninhibited sexual being and Brett, who needs help to finally cut loose. First, Slade gets Brett to jack off with him by the side of the shack. Then he takes the ginger-headed stud giving him a very deep and ultimately liberating, cum-soaked fuck. Tony Buff has already shown he has screen presence but you see more depth here in his performance as a dominating but non-brutish force. JR Matthews really shines here in his first extensive speaking role. He's so convincing as a timid & horned up muscle boy who eventually gives in to his desires that you'd think he actually was a virgin.
The only drawback to this is that Matthews has such an amazing body that you can't imagine him ever trying to cover it up. As we noted, this is as perfect a scene as you'll see.
The next scene is set up again by the hiking plumbers who have another job pending with a home makeover show. We see the show in production with hosts Connor (Christopher Saint) & Dennis (Patrick O'Connor) talking over the changes with the hunky carpenter Clyde (Gio Forte). If you're one of those who watches such shows and imagine what goes on when the camera stops rolling Joe Gage offers his sexual fantasy version. Boss man Connor is all business talking to Clyde, but after some time together alone the alpha male carpenter has the preppy producer on his knees. This blue collar/white collar scene plays out very well, helped along by Saint's UK accent and Forte's rough & muscular looks. As you might expect the carpenter tops the host but the scene plays out with a couple surprises. As with Tony Buff, Gio Forte is a natural--there's nothing forced about his manliness, it simply is. Christopher Saint manages to hold back from looking too much like an uncontrollable satyr (as he has been in previous movies) but there's no keeping in check his wickedly seductive smile.
When we return to those hapless plumbers the heat's starting to get to them so they decide to strip down (they figure they were going to have to do it anyway once they reached the lodge). Once again you know where this is headed but once again the fun is watching how Joe Gage gets you there. The two studs engage in some cock "sword play" and then go for the sucking, j/o, and fucking. Will Parker & David Dakota prove to be very versatile here and they both seem to be having a lot of fun together. Since the two characters have had sex before (it's mentioned) off camera there's no need for "will they or won't they" seduction.
That night the lodge holds a costume ball and two of the party-goers Rennie (Bryan Slater) & Dylan (Dean Flynn) meet up on the veranda. Rennie is dressed as Zorro, while Dylan wears a generic caped comic book super-hero outfit. Their initial meeting is extremely awkward and they seem to have zero chemistry, all seemingly attributed to their wearing clothes. Once they are free of their costumes they're all boners and sexual heat. This dramatically darkly lit scene has hot sucking & cumming followed by even hotter flip-flop sex. It's a pleasure to see two performers work so well together and Slater & Flynn accentuate their sex with some interesting moves and positions. Here again you'll see how well Joe Gage films a sex scene--- nothing seems mechanical or boring even though you've probably seen many of these guys before. And then there's a cute twist at the end of the scene---it comes out of nowhere and is a great punchline for a hot movie.
In the special edition of Battle Creek Breakdown each scene features a pissing scene ---not exactly watersports and not exactly essential to the various scenes. However, in each scene this special sequence provides an alternative catalyst for some of the action. There are also plenty of extras including behind the scenes footage & a cumshot compilation. These are all fine extras but honestly the movie doesn't need them--it's great, simply on its own.
Posted by JackManly at 1/3/2010 7:58 PM 
Categories: gay porn, video reviews
Tags: Titan Men Tony Buff Joe Gage JR Matthews
Categories: gay porn, video reviews
Tags: Titan Men Tony Buff Joe Gage JR Matthews
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