Another Gay Movie

Come on...just by the title, anyone who watches this is going to know what this is about. It's a ridiculous take-off on all the 80's/90's teen sex movies, yet set in a setting of gay teens (well, one actor was in his 30's, but we have to suspend our disbelief going into this thing, don't we?). I found it interesting enough to watch all the way through, but I can honestly say I didn't actually laugh once. The humor gets very base and scatological, so, you have to prepare for that. All in all it's brain-candy for...well, not sure who this is for.

This movie is totally lighthearted and non-stop funny with adorable guys, silly satire and music. A take-off on the teen genre but totally wink-wink and sweet. I wasn't crazy about the Nambla joke but this movie totally has its heart in the right place. After all, don't gay teens deserve the same coming-of-age movie that straight teens do? Sure, it's not for the weak of heart or the religious fundamentalist, but who cares? It's good, dirty fun about love, sex, desire and friendship. Sure, it's a fantasy world with understanding parents, hot teachers, no homophobia and true love but that was my favorite thing about the movie. Also loved the cameos from Graham Norton, Richard Hatch, Scott Thompson, and many others. I shall never look at Graham Norton the same way. See this movie, it's totally great...

I was leery of the gay 'American Pie' references. I just didn't think it would make the cut. Man, was I wrong! I attended with two straight friends who are very open-minded. We laughed non-stop throughout the film. And we were not alone. The consistently tough-to-entertain West Hollywood crowd was guffawing along with us. Sure, much can be said about the raunchiness and some of the more contrived humor, but hey, it was funny. This is the kind of film that entertains. If one is mainly concerned with social relevance in a film, skip this. It's likely not for you. But if you are looking to laugh and just be entertained for the evening and a few days later, you gotta see this one!!! I am usually a pretty generous voter, tougher on comedies. And I swear I could not give this less than an 8.

AGM could easily have been a flop, as many movies in its genre have been. But plenty of comic ideas, a refreshing sense of fun, hilarious sets, good acting and direction, and less attitude kept this film from the midpoint decay and low sustain that can hurt such films.

The director went for some hot action scenes which can be hard to pull off in a comedy. But the director made them work enjoyably without losing the comic energy. Eat your heart out, QAF!

I saw AGM as a part of Seattle's International Film Festival. The big audience very thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not Rocky Horror, but it might be a sleeper classic of a whole new thang.

I mean - I'm a fairly harsh critic and I hate most every gay movie that comes out (I'm gay BTW) and I was poised for this one to annoy the crap out of me. But it started and I'll tell you - I was wiping away the tears (from laughter) from pretty much the opening sequence. The four men they found for the four leads were astoundingly, shamelessly gleeful in their complicated renderings of these boys - they didn't phone anything in - even the gratuitous (I'm a littly prudish, I guess) flatulation sequence was imbued with a sincerity and a sweetness that was welcome and unexpectedly necessary and it made it actually, genuinely funny. That doesn't happen often with flatulation jokes for me. And I think that description defines the entire film for me - it was unexpectedly inspired and made me laugh when I wouldn't have typically. And I cried, too - for the sweetness of one story line. I usually feel manipulated and ridiculous after a romantic comedy but something happens in this film that brings it home - I wasn't angry and I wanted it to go on and on and on. As a gay film buff I guess it was hugely satisfying to see the same stupid movie I've seen seven thousand times about straight people remade - and reconsidered - and turned into something that I could claim as my own. I got it - and I don't usually get to get it. It's a special hour and a half - I hope everyone gets to see it.