plumbweiss

I saw the trailer for this film on another DVD and ordered it on the strength of that. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed throughout, save for the enjoyable camping by Patrick Stewart and an all-too-brief appearance by the always deft Nathan Lane.

I think the film is best enjoyed by a female audience, the whole thing plays to camp stereotypes and I think many gay guys will find it insulting. (At least if they're sober..) Certainly Patrick Stewart seems to be enjoying the role, in his pink beret and flouncing neckerchiefs, but generally I'm left thinking it's the woeful product of a straight person's impression of the gay world. Its self-indulgent, self-conscious, smug and embarrassing. Sorry.

I first saw this film on DVD I borrowed from a friend, I enjoyed it so much I had to buy it myself the very next day.

Essentially a love-story with twists and turns, it's set in a Frat-house.(so I believe its called....I'm British and we don't have those..) A sort of student household I suppose we'd call it.

The main lead is Griff, he's got a secret boyfriend, the other guys in the house don't realise he's gay, and then something happens which threatens his little secret...

I admit I shed a few tears during the film especially towards the conclusion, it's quite moving for a romantic like me. Griff, played by dishy Daniel Chilson, and his sweet co-star Pete (Don Handfield) are very easy on the eye and make a nice couple. Some of the Frat Brothers' acting skills lean towards the naive, even clunky, but it all adds to the charm in the end.

My DVD copy is PAL and appears to be digitally converted from an NTSC film scan, this gives slightly disappointing quality in the same vein as a UK 'Friends' disc, eg slightly blurred movement and soft focus.

Filmed in 1988, this film will be a trip down memory lane for those guys who 'came out' in the 1980's, a time when gay clubs played stock-aitken-waterman, were all neon and mirror-balls and a knock-to-enter door policy.

It's a sort of road-movie, as two gay best friends end up on the run after witnessing a murder at their local liverpool gay club, one of them spends his time with his head in the clouds, the other has to secretly hustle men (and women) to earn them money to survive.

If you're a romantic, the film will hit the spot, the two leads are played with a charming naiveté and the villains are pure evil camp. Good music, Robbie Coltrane in a frock, good acting, atmosphere and direction. My only gripe is that my VHS copy combined with what appears to be 16mm cine gives a rather grainy picture.