The long-awaited sequel to "The Apprentice" is a completely different piece of work than the masterpiece that preceded it. That doesn't mean it's not a worthy successor -- indeed, it certainly is in one respect: We now have a brand-new star on our hands -- the beautiful, exquisitely sculptured, and incredibly deep-holed Danny Rhymes, who plays the role of apprentice which Joe Landon played to Chris Rock's pimp in the original. This time around, though, Joe is the pimp and Danny is one of three apprentices who fill out the rest of the scenes -- as a matter of fact, he is in three scenes, and he makes an astonishing debut with the growth he shows from scene to scene.
The main difference in this production is a lack of storyline exposition. The original was script-heavy by comparison, but the sex was so exciting that the storyline worked. In this flick, one has to assume things along the way, so I'll start off this review by simply giving you a roadmap to the plot: Joe comes back from walking his dog to find a note from the man who pays the rent -- either his pimp, or his best boy. We never know. He is mopey and devastated and tells his housemate (and, one supposes, business partner) Desmond Monclair to help him figure out how they're going to eat. Desmond is interesting -- a natural brunet who is bleached just blond enough to let us know what's under those locks, he has a wide, deceptively innocent face which reminds me a bit of the late George Harrison. In any case, Joe quickly decides that he's going to do what he was trained to do -- set up a call-boy service, and the two set about to interview the candidates.
Three show up for an interview -- the compact Latino pup Caesar Mancini, the exotically jock-type Anthony Holloway, and Danny Rhymes, who has the small-eyed features of actor Steven Weber, and a body which cannot be faulted on any score -- combination of swimmer and wrestler with exceptionally nice abs, a hot round ass and a cock which can't be less than eight solid inches. Caesar and Anthony are looking to step up to a better clientele, and have brought along Danny, who is described by his pals metaphorically as "just off the bus" when it comes to renting out his body. "In a sense," Danny says, and Joe says, "Innocent? Not any more," and takes him into the bedroom for a lesson.
What follows is a truly outstanding scene with foreplay that is exciting as the two undress and explore each other, and Joe Landon goes to new heights in displaying his oral talents. He worships Danny's cock, taking it down to the pubes on virtually every try with astonishing ease -- it is a long pole, and Joe shows a desire for cock he has rarely exhibited before. In a scene in which Danny is supposed to appear somewhat hesitant (and he is), Joe takes complete charge and sends his partner into wide-eyed amazement. Danny is skilled orally as well, but Joe's cock is much wider, and besides, Danny is being broken in as a bottom -- and bottom he does in a missionary tour-de-force as Joe shoves his fat dick repeatedly up Danny's chute as the two of them talk sweet dirt ("Oh, they're going to like this ass," Joe sighs) until they cum side-by-side, with Danny not quite sure how he should end it -- with a kiss, or just a hug. Joe solves it by getting up, turning around and announcing:
"You've got a sweet ass. You're going to be my No. 1 boy."
A couple of months after "training," Joe is ready to send Anthony Holloway out on his first job -- to race SUVs with Cameron Sage, who plays a rich blond Valley Boy hunk with an astonishing comfort which makes you believe he is not role-playing. He adds a new dimension to his ex-Marine, big bear persona here. Cameron wins the race, and when they get back to his estate, he claims his prize -- the honey-toned Anthony whose smaller, gym-built body is a perfect contrast to the larger, hulkier fuzz-adorned Cameron's. The scene plays out on an expansive lawn overlooking a huge valley where Cameron nestles Anthony in his arms from behind, exploring and then dropping to his knees to give a surprisingly enthusiastic blowjob to the younger guy. Anthony returns the favor while Cameron relaxes in a lounge chair, and then the two proceed to a divan where Cameron, the ever-dependable top, sit-fucks his prize fore and aft. The cum-shots are genuinely hot, and the closing to this scene -- a fading into the sunset thing with Cameron looking over his shoulder to the camera and winking -- is absolutely priceless.
Back at Joe's, it's time for Danny to be introduced to a three-way experience -- "he mostly wants you to watch" Joe says, adding that the client may also request that Danny join in. But Danny tells Joe that he's not sure he's cut out for the business -- a thought that Joe rudely brushes aside by basically ordering him to get ready. The client is a shock -- the very twinkish powder-keg Trent Atkins, a blond-flecked sweet-assed pup who looks like they should be paying him rather than the other way around. Yet the scene works -- in fact, it rocks. Joe takes Trent into the bedroom, and once again we are treated to the Joe Landon foreplay action -- pay attention, you can see his cock swelling beneath his walking shorts as he kisses and nudges the somewhat nervous Trent. They strip and Trent goes to work on Joe’s massive cock, showing far more ability to deep-throat this monster than you'd expect from a guy this young and new to the scene. Meanwhile, Danny watches through an open window, and soon Joe invites him to come in and strip for the client. After that, all hell breaks loose -- in a naturally paced, extremely erotic way. Joe fucks Trent over the bed doggy-style as Trent sucks Danny, then both Trent and Joe suck Danny -- Joe really loves this guy's dick. Then the two call-boys throw Trent on his back and first Joe, then Danny, plow the kid's beautiful tan-lined ass.
It's Caesar Mancini's turn to please a client, and this young pup has drawn an amazing card -- Michael Brandon, he of the sequoia-sized cock and insatiable (and kinky) sexual appetite, who has a particular fantasy in mind. Sporting a Fu Manchu-style mustache, superstar Michael plays the Lone Ranger, mask and all, rescuing his bound bouncing boy on a bed while covering his neck and face and lips with kisses. I know we all have a tendency to fast-forward some foreplay scenes, but take my advice, let this play out -- the dialogue is absolutely priceless, and the passion is unquestionable. Michael, who does some of his best work with pups, is all over Caesar in this scene, undressing him, licking his butt, sucking his cock, kissing him, and Caesar does a spectacular job of trying to keep up with the older guy -- few men, let alone pups, have taken Michael Brandon's pole down further in their throats than this frenzied cocksucker. Michael even takes his time getting that pole into Caesar's delicious ass -- squeezing, cajoling, pushing, easing and then finally moving slowly and rhythmically in tune with the love juices flowing through each of them. He fucks Caesar sidesaddle missionary, then pure sidesaddle, then heels-over-head missionary and finally in a wild sit-fuck, the two of them starkly contrasted against a black room and black sheets on a bed. Finally, Michael cradles Caesar in his arms and helps him cum a ton over his abs and chest and face, and then kneels above the kid to splatter him with his monster load as well. Much kissing and nudging end the scene, one that delivers far more than it promised from both performers.
The surprise ending of the story comes when Danny tells Desmond that this is not the life for him, and the two go in to announce to Joe that not only are they leaving, they are also in love. The bitchy dialogue which follows makes you scratch your head a bit, but it leads to a nice ending in which the two lovers pad off through the garden to a bedroom to fuck. There is very little foreplay in this scene -- in fact, there is no kissing -- and some of the little foreplay that exists is performed hesitantly. There might be a good reason, however -- Desmond unveils a cock that rivals that of Michael Brandon -- long and so fat that it almost appears that it is as wide as his waist (which it isn't, but he is so thin that the illusion is fantastic). Once again, as has occurred throughout, one man is almost pale white (Desmond) and the other either darker skinned or, in this case, fully tanned (Danny). There is some cocksucking -- truly, Danny does his best in trying to tackle Desmond's monster, but by now it is clear that his major talent is offering up what is truly one of the most receptive assholes on the screen (Desmond does a splendid job of deep-throating Danny's very long cock, however). In a slowly drawn sequence of obviously testing and probing, Desmond eases, then inches, then slips, then slides, his pole up Danny's ass, trying it sidesaddle before achieving success doggy and then going on to a wide variety of other positions. Once again, don't fast-forward, listen to the dialogue, all from Danny, which builds from scripted words to obvious splendid monologue of pleasure, as Desmond just plows away before fucking the cum out of Danny missionary (a monster load, indeed), then pulling out and spraying his boyfriend. They melt into an embrace, Desmond lights a cigarette, and the scene fades into Joe marching through the garden with a gift box addressed to both of them, which he leaves on their porch table.
In some respects, this is a hotter flick than its predecessor -- the sex is so intense between couples whom you would never really imagine would be cast together, especially the older-younger combos of Cameron Sage and Anthony Holloway, and then Michael Brandon and Caesar Mancini. The continuity is more stilted, the plot is more cryptic, but the sex -- and a pulsating background score by Rock Hard -- make all that moot. "The Apprentice 2: Dark Heart" is a triumph for the producers and director because they have elicited defining sexual performances from so many of their actors, especially from Joe Landon, Michael Brandon and Cameron Sage, whose careers are so much more defined than the rest of the cast. I am impressed by the others (especially Trent Atkins), and though he does need some help in the love-making department, and a bit more confidence and animation in front of a camera, Danny Rhymes looks like the one who could go on to a sensational career -- he is one of the most beautiful and surprisingly adept new bottoms in years, and certainly, that is worth more than a kiss.
A Video Review by Bo Champion
