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.

I love outrageous, gross-out humour - believe me. I am a Strangers With Candy fanatic. Borat - phenomenal. The ruder the better. Bring it on. With that sensibility in place, I looked forward to watching Another Gay Movie. It's about time that a film with gay characters was as crazy and rude and irreverent as the crazy teen comedies of the straight world. Well, Another Gay Movie is crazy and rude but it ain't funny. Oh lordy, it ain't funny. Everyone is trying way too hard in this film - from the writer and director to production designer to the hapless actors - all of whom look lost in this hyperactive, grindingly loud pseudo-comedy. One need look no further than the supposedly crazy and wild and loud butch lesbian character. It's actually kinda creepy to watch this actor throw herself around her scenes barking these inane lines desperately trying to be outrageously funny. The truly sad thing is - I can imagine the director and crew braying with hysterical laughter on set encouraging this poor girl to go bigger and bigger with her performance. I'm being bitchy here I know and let me say, I respect anyone with the will and determination to actually get a film made. Maybe the reason this movie bugged me so much is its crazed desperation to be funny. It reminded me of that drunk party guest who flits around the party being louder than anyone else thinking that a high volume somehow automatically makes him funnier than anyone else in the room. Or...maybe I'm just a bitch.

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.

Nor is it just "another one." It's an unabashed, silly comedy where being gay is strictly a non-issue.

It's also a non-stop string of sex jokes from beginning to end, rather like a queer "American Pie" or "Porky's." In the showing I attended, it looked like a 100% gay audience, so it was interesting to take a laugh-meter reading of their response. I'd say about a third belly-laughter, another third moderate chuckles, and the rest sort of just sat there.

Director-screenplay writer Todd Stephens attempts spoof every sex situation imaginable, with varying degrees of success. There's a dramatic scene from his own "Edge of Seventeen," along with other pop film and TV sitcom episodes. All become grist for Stephens' raunchy, horny mill.

It's a loud, insane, in-your-face frolic that at times assaults the senses. The result: a new low--or high--in bad taste, depending upon your point of view.

For sure, it's not just another gay movie; rather, a compendium of how far we've come and where we now are in colloquial film comedy.

Makes one wonder, what's next?

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.