Hidden Hills

I just saw this movie at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and it was dreadfully boring. It was not funny, relevant, nor entertaining. The acting was atrocious and it made LGBT people look like buffoons. I heard little laughing during the movie, which was played to a packed theater. The applause at the end was polite at best. To compare this to a Doris Day & Rock Hudson movie is wrong. Has anyone connected to this movie ever watched a Doris Day & Rock Hudson movie? Doris & Rock were a match made in heaven on screen, despite their off screen differences. Sorry, I usually give gay movies 10 stars. But this was not worth my time nor money. If the above reviews weren't fake, what did I miss? Seriously.

The world is beautiful, strange, and upside down. Nowhere is this more evident than in Dan Steadman's retro-postmodern-screwball counter-factual comedy: the 1960s spun on the axis of an alternate universe in which things are decidedly "straightforward" but not always clear. As an exploration of the often-puzzling rules informing sexual politics and racial identity, this film is both a wildly-inventive, Topsy-Turvy critique of our culture and a sweetly resonant argument for personal freedom. Steadman's writing, like his cinematic vision, is stylized, smart, and deeply humane. With its witty direction, splendid cast, and knowing score, we discover something extraordinary hidden in the hills: the limitless possibilities for human grace and the transformative power of love. These are indeed ideas that everyone can come out and embrace!

My 17 year old daughter and I saw this film together. We both loved it--especially the plot concept, the costumes, the music and the sets. The plot is clever and creative. It is carried out well--through both the writing and the acting. The characters are real. I felt empathy for the situation of the two main characters. I found myself really caring at how or if their situation would resolve. I loved all the sets and period furnishings and costumes. They were so authentic and colorful. They added to the upbeat mood of the film. At times, it was quite funny. We found ourselves laughing out loud several times. It is an eye opening, feel good, fun film. Very clever!!!

Imaginatively conceived, cleverly written, competently acted, well directed, funny, colorful, and -- true to the era -- no bad language. Also no violence. A simple "boy-gets-boy" plot with a complicating "girls wants boy but that's a 'no-no'" twist. Excellent score evokes Henry Mancini. Deliberately makes fun of early 60's film characteristics such as bad rear screen, flat lighting, and split-screen phone chats. All in all, some good laughs and a message that's as important and relevant in this day of same-sex marriage as it would have been in the Sixties for mixed race relationships. Reminds one of the excellent early 60's Ossie Davis/Ruby Dee race relations comedy "Purlie Victorious" (aka "Gone are the Days.") Kudos to Executive Producer Ted Trent for the idea and the funding; and to Director/Writer Dan Steadman for bringing the idea to life. I understand this team is working on more films. Good.

Hidden Hills is the best comedy that I've seen all year. Its set in the 1960's and is reminiscent of Doris Day/Rock Hudson films. Great writing and direction. Every scene moves the story ahead so there is no filler. A story about marriage, acceptance and love. Jane Wiedlin from the Go-Go's appears in the film singing a song she wrote called, "Men". Its also used in the Title sequence.

The Cinematography is lush and is "Filmed in Glorious Color" as the titles in the beginning of the film announce. Its just great to look at. The acting is spot-on throughout. There are so many jokes that you have to see this movie several times to catch all of them. I saw this at my local theater and the crowd was laughing non-stop. The Set Decoration and Costumes were actual vintage from the 1960's and were extremely well thought-out. Great film for everyone. A must see!