If judged on a pure level of Myra Breckenridge-like perversity, Tall Tails, the latest effort from Jeff Stryker Productions, would be receiving five stars. It is an awe-inspiring mélange of superstar ego, distracting film technique and an erotic version of campfire storytelling. It is thanks to the power of its star, Cameron Fox, with his strong sexual charisma and the connection between two of his costars in the film's final scene, that this potluck venture works as worthwhile and satisfying porn.
Tall Tails, I presume, filmed over a period of years -- in fact, I have been informed that some of the performers are no longer in the industry -- by the legendary Stryker, tells the story of a young man played by Fox who is offered shelter in an old friend's home. Of course, the friend's lover is less than thrilled. That is, until Fox graces him with his special talent -- the weaving of erotic tales. The lover is soon placated, and Fox, one assumes, lives to tell many more a yarn -- four of which are enacted in this production.
Fox's tales, though, despite being touted as such, are nothing out of the ordinary. This almost adds to the bizarre and misguided charm of this film, though. In reality, what totally kills this premise is the fact that Fox, an amazing and enthusiastic sex performer, has no speech skills to speak of, and I have a feeling that a pack of yipping canine robots would offer more eloquence than any of his stuttered and slurred attempts at storytelling.
That being said, there is no denying the power of Fox in full fuck mode, as two scenes attest to, and it is pure pud whacking pleasure to watch him go at it in a glorious frenzy. In the "Coming Out" sequence, where he deflowers a impossibly tall and incredibly willing blond farm boy, just the sight of him, with his jeans pulled down to his ass, simply wagging his thick and beautifully unerect dick, is enough to make one collapse in a puddle of fluid so deep that it could cause a weeklong case of dehydration. He truly goes full force in this segment, with a look of such joyful concentration that it would be a wonder if his happily moaning costar was able to walk for a while afterward. Fox is less focused in his first sex scene, in the tale entitled "Glory Holes," but he still gives his costar a vicious fucking -- one that has the highly fortuitous kid groaning, "Fuck. Fuck, yeah!" throughout its entirety. It is in this segment that Stryker makes his only physical appearance in the film. His huge dick pops through one of the titled holes, where, in voice-over, he urges the fuckee to suck his dick repeatedly. The only problem being, the kid is no where near the hole to be able to do this, so it gets annoying to hear this command over and over again. In a funny side note, the ring on Stryker's jerking hand is almost as huge as his penis and actually diminishes the size of his prized possession upon comparison.
Stryker's voice-over also proves distracting in the "Sex Therapy" segment. Trent Atkins, usually a power bottom, gives his least passionate performance here, and while the sex he has with the muscular Euro stud who plays his therapist is solid, Stryker's commands and exaltations, which seemingly come, godly like, out of nowhere, truly mar any interest that we might have in the two. There is simply too much going on. Stryker, it seems, needs to relax more gracefully into his status. We know that he is a deserved porn legend; he doesn't have to keep reminding us of that fact -- something he seems to do ad nauseum in this flick and in the special features section.
While the opening sex scene, "Two Twinks", features two lesser grade Bel Ami types in a piece of film that seems almost to have been purchased from another's stock, the closing scene between the two lovers housing Fox is much more satisfying. The two performers have a deep connection, and you truly believe that they are partners. They kiss, encourage and relate with passion and grace, and bring this scattered piece to a rollicking close. If Stryker would concentrate more on beautiful scenes such as this one, he could truly have a brilliant career as a director and producer ahead of him. The "star" in him will have to dull somewhat, though, I believe, before the artist in him can truly speak.
Tall Tails, ultimately, whether for unbelievable excess or for the three powerful sex scenes it contains, is worth a look. Actually, one of the bonus features, a minifilm featuring Stryker eventually impaling himself upon a dildo and bursting into orgasm is pretty powerful and could give this still-reigning porn deity a sense of where he could, ultimately, go in the future years of his career.
- Christian James
