Butch Camp

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.

Although "Butch Camp" was a weak film, it did have it's redeeming qualities. It gave light wings to a hard and over looked metal shell. When you open up that shell you find laughter and some good acting.

Paul Denniston is pretty funny as the sorry Matt who needs and learns to stand up for himself. His Michael J. Foxish performance is second to none along with his timing.

Judy Tenuda is classic Judy. What more can you say. It's her stand up on the big screen.

Jason Teresi is the "Serious and Straight" (forgive the pun), in an over the top movie. He provides a much needed "realism" that adds drama, love, tenderness, and heart to the film. He pulls the movie together from all of the crazy directions it's going and brings them into a well rounded ball with no jagged edges. His performance is outstanding, which simply means that he stands out. If you focus the plot more on Matt and Rod, This could have been a whole different story and film.

i really dont know why everyone is slamming this moive. i thought it was a rather funny romantic gay comedy. i saw this movie in a theater in chicago at a Tromathon and had to pick it up. it has a good plot and good actors. this movie is for both gay and straight people so everyone pick this movie up.

If you choose to watch a movie called "Butch Camp" about a lesbian (pictured on the poster or DVD cover wearing leather and brandishing a whip) who runs a training course meant to toughen up wimpy gays, it might be a tad ingenuous to complain about it leaning heavily on stereotypes, as at least one reviewer did. It's a bit like watching a Marx Brothers movie entitled "A Day at the Races" and complaining that Dr. Hackenbush wasn't really a qualified physician… what did you expect? I hasten to add that I'm not implying this movie is on a par with a Marx Brothers production.

Assuming you're in the mood for a farce that employs slapstick, ridiculous characters, improbable situations and, yes, exaggerated stereotypes, this was reasonably well done. Paul Denniston, who played the lead, may have slightly overdone the clueless nature & reactions of his character, and somewhat disturbingly wore the same clothes 24/7, but he and the other central actors were likable and their performances were actually quite good given the context in which they were working.

It's a bit hard to give the movie a rating. The premise and the story development are both absurd, but the actors manage to save it from being a disaster. It's not rolling-on-the-floor funny, but it is amusing. If you enjoy this sort of thing, it's definitely watchable, but not exactly memorable.

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.