This film was BAD. Embarrasingly BAD

In all fairness, muscle men starting to do drugs in order to be even bigger isn't that far fetche'd, and is actually quite common.

I was extremely surprised at how good it was, especially for a first feature. Shafer has real talent as a director, and the casting was very effective. I was expecting a guilty pleasure -- not as bad as a David DeCoteau film, but not actually GOOD. I ended up identifying with the characters, caring about them, being touched and moved, and feeling that the scene was very well observed. Some of the actors are veterans, of course, but a couple who had important parts had VERY little experience, and did extremely effective work. I hope Shafer WILL make a second dramatic film -- not a mockumentary but one like this.

--------------
***Every troll is not a shill, but every shill is a troll.***

Agree 100%! I was embarrassed watching the DVD alone! How bad is that? Unrealistic view of even one aspect of gay culture! It wasn't any better playing in FF mode either. Zoomed through it and returned it to Block Buster.

One of the worst movies I've ever seen!

Bad acting, stupid story, bad music and
the men weren't hot at all!

I wondered a bit of the way into it whether it was made to enrage the homophobes with it's stereo-typical idea of gay culture. Maybe it was just made to be a poor-man's soft porn, before Xtube came along. The cliched plot, really, really bad acting, and low production values made the scene where circuit was called circus apt. What's happened to US gay cinema? The Europeans leave it for dead.

If you ever lived in West Hollywood you would understand it better. In a nutshell Mr Handsome "SMALL TOWN" Cop had to compete with other men for the first time.

It's actually so bad that it's good. The cheesy lines, the contrived delivery, shots like that bleached salamander in the window of Jim J. Bullock's home meant to be his new, hot twink.... There are so many from which to choose.

It's so bad, but so earnest, and the production is just expensive-ish enough to make it the "Showgirls" of the 2000s. A new cult classic!

"First you ask if you can be red, knowing that I'm always red."

Far be it from me to defend this film, but I found it entertaining if nothing else. I can't tell whether this film is glorifying the scene or condemning it, some of the dialogue was cheesy, and many of the confrontations felt forced, but the earnestness of this film was hard to deny. I think it's a good think that William Katt, Nancy Allen and Jim J. Bullock participated. I could always do with less Bruce Vilanch, though.

I think the bar is very low for gay film, but I was pleasantly surprised here. 7/10 stars from me.