Daydream Obsession 2: Infidelities (2004 Video) User Reviews

Let-down sequel for fans of the guilty pleasure original

[mnpollio · 4/10 · 2 June 2010]

While I chastised reviewers in my post for the original Daydream Obsession about approaching a film that obviously advertised itself as little more than a softcore gay-interest skin spectacle as though they were reviewing Hamlet, I must say that I find the sequel to the guilty pleasure original to be a letdown. Again, the film makes no bones about its primary interest in denuding as many hot guys as possible, and that honesty is more than a bit refreshing. Yet unlike its predecessor which maintained a lightness and actually had a degree of sympathy for its frustrated closet case lead character Clayton, this sequel wants to go dark and off the deep end, while centering its action around a guy who one must admit is just nuts. Clayton, once again played by the talented Joe Dain (who needs to be given a good role already), may now be out, but he is not exactly proud. In what appears to be a stable relationship with Luke (Jeremy Gordon), Clayton rather quickly goes off the deep end over nothing and imagines that his beloved is cheating on him with pretty much anything that moves. This allows Clayton the opportunity to terrorize one of Luke's straight business colleagues, harass a woman Luke made the mistake of speaking to, and be surly to a bunch of guys in the park that he had only moments before imagined naked playing frisbee. Clayton spends his time when not harassing people by imagining various guys naked - a habit that gets old quickly. The film also needs a good editor. When Clayton goes red over Luke giving his business card to a colleague, he then imagines the colleague naked rubbing the card all over his body for what seems an eternity. Any scene can lose its potential when allowed to drag on too long, but if the scene missed the mark from the start it becomes excruciating. In fact, it is amazing how nearly devoid of eroticism and titillation that this sequel is. Part of the problem is that the quality of the guys suffers in comparison to the first film. Another problem is the seriousness with which the film takes itself. Clayton's forays are not titillating so much as stupid, mean-spirited and dangerous. While Dain is fairly effective at playing Clayton, there is nothing he can do to make this nut appealing this time around. The supporting guys as stated are no where in the league of the cast from the original. Although a late-act voyeuristic bath scene with a blond who slightly resembles Matt Damon is worth a peek, that is the exception to the rule here. Another major problem is that one has to believe that Luke would be found appealing to a variety of guys in order to illicit Clayton's uncontrolled jealousy. Whereas eye-popping Christopher Michael's nice guy best friend from the original made a credible object of obsession for Clayton, one cannot believe that the unappealing, smarmy Gordon would win his affection much less be deemed a "catch" for all of these other suspects. That in itself would put the nail in the coffin of this film, with the extra issues just adding the icing on the cake. The filmmakers have truly got a good idea and certainly enjoy getting guys naked, and their films definitely fill a niche that needs more choices, but a little lighter next time guys.