Film Reviews

The Fluffer

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Michael Cunio
• Details: US / 94 mins / (No Cert).

After moving to Los Angeles to try and break into the film industry, Sean McGinnis (Michael Cunio) stumbles upon a hardcore gay porn tape (as you do), and falls in love with the star of the piece, Johnny Rebel (Scott Gurney). Although Johnny's a big star of the gay hardcore scene, he's not actually homosexual and is in a relationship (albeit an emotionally damaging one) with a stripper. This slight detail doesn't deter Sean as he pursues the object of his affection, and eventually wins the role of Johnny's 'fluffer' (a job which entails making sure the star is always ready for action on set). The premise might suggest otherwise, but for the most part, The Fluffer is actually an effective enough comedy drama, with three fine and credible central performances. Cunio echoes a very real sense of naivety and eagerness as Sean, and Gurney's sneering arrogance is almost palpable. However, problems arise as the tone of the film moves somewhat awkwardly into overblown melodrama, and the central narrative can't sustain the number of plot shifts that the directors are intent on developing.

Review by Garreth Murphy