Butch Camp

Having been a big fan of the Giver-Goddess (Judy) for over a decade, I rented this flick the other day. True, the acting and the direction of the actors could've been a lot better. The film is loaded, purposefully, with innuendo, cliché and stereotype humor. I knew that when it all started! The characters are likeable and the writing is ripe with gay sarcasm and campiness. What I loved most of all is my being pleasantly surprised that this is actually, in the end, an adorable romantic comedy! Well worth viewing. A thoroughly enjoyable film. Some queens just want everything to be all wrapped up in one perfect movie: Get real.

Despite the fact that this film was inexplicably trying to tell about five stories at once, it still had about 10-15 hysterically funny moments. It could have been so much better if the stories had connected, but because whoever wrote this had an agenda or joke to make or stereotype to capture, it just went boomeranging inside a crazy box.

Judy Tenuta, who played the Butch Camp leader (and the Butch Camp was only one of the story lines in this crazy quilt of insanity), was initially funny, but ultimately, she was a one-note joke and she never got beyond screaming and yelling. I never got a sense of character. Paul Denniston, who is frequently compared to Michael J. Fox in reviews, was, on the other hand, consistently funny and although he wasn't given a deep character to portray, his comic timing, his commitment to what the character was and his great personal appeal made me an instant fan.

Again, some gut-busting lines and I might watch it again if I were in the mood to laugh, but unfortunately the disparate story lines, which the screenwriter tried (unsuccessfully) to weave together, were so distracting and unsatisfactory that the movie just doesn't cut it.

For a one-time viewing, it works... but only if you're gay and/or are familiar with enough 90s trivia to recognize the too frequent attempts to be "contemporary."

I wonder if the film ever got to the point where the characters realized they did not need to get "butched up," if they ever realized that they were fine the way they were. I wonder if the insipid main character, portrayed by an actor doing a horrible Michael J. Fox impression, ever came out at work thus ending what was unfunny workplace discrimination based on sexual identity. I have to wonder because I could not stomach watching this film to the end. I literally watched an hour thinking there would be something funny or that it would start to become redeeming. It did not.

What was the target audience here? Who would find any of these pathetic situations funny? I can only surmise that it was made for quasi-self-hating gay men who are not out in most areas of their lives and can relate to the ridiculous gyrations of the main character's attempt to become more butch. (Was there ever worst casting involved? The actors portrayal of nelly was simply not nelly, he was just nervous. An obvious straight actor portraying nervousness, prudishness, and self-righteousness but missing the nelly mark altogether.)

I give this movie half a star for being able to find funding at all.

I don´t know what other ppl were expecting, a gay revolution maybe, but I don´t think movies must have that role, they must just entertain and be simple, as Butch Camp is. A light romantic comedy, and the actors they were not bad. I really liked Judy Tenuta, after seeing the film I became a fan of her style and Jason Teresi had that "thing" you know? Even if he wasn´t so beautiful I think he would still be standing tall in his acting. And of course Paul Denniston was very funny as the fragile and always temerous Matt. Those ppl bashing this movie are used to gay porn, so I guess they were frustrated not to see any - and terrified to find out gay people can actually love and desire a steady relationship, with love and everything. That´s it!

I watched this film before I checked the rating here on iMDb. For that small bit of luck I am most happy.... The existing rating of 4.7 (when I checked) grossly underrates the enjoyment I got watching this film. It is a terribly cute comedy with good acting and a funny story line. It may not be the most believable story line, I will grant you, but for entertainment it certainly is just fine. As far as "gay themed" movies, I certainly rank it among the most watchable comedies that I have managed to view.