The key to "Ryan's Life" is newcomer Alex Pakzad. His comedic timing is impeccable, his vocal skills are superb, his acting is Disney Channel perfect and he's cute to boot.
This short film, which is being developed into a series for the gay cable channel here! TV, follows Ryan as he makes a video diary about his struggle to learn whether or not he's gay. It's a trite little device, but it's sincerely done and used fairly rarely throughout the film.
Ryan's life is filled with easy-going characters: His cool best (heterosexual) friend whom he lusts after, his cool older jock brother, his cool older sister who manages bands full of hot guys, his cool interior-decorator mom and cool psychologist father. And he has the cool requisite hip grandmother (who seems to know more about Ryan's sexuality than she should). There's even the super-hunky boy Ryan likes (who is also gay).
Ryan's life is free of any real homophobia. He lives in Los Angeles on the border of West Hollywood, a pretty accepting place for a teenager who's not sure if he's gay or not.
In some regards, "Ryan's Life" is more like a Nickelodeon version of "Queer As Folk." It has the same vibes as "Saved By the Bell," "Drake & Josh," "Ned's Declassified Guide..." and others. There's just a touch of adult (but non-sexual) humor, the kind that will make knowing gay adults roar with laughter.
The film has numerous nice touches. For example, Ryan's "gaydar screen" (which looks like a rocket targeting system) is sure to get laughs.
But the key to the film is the luminous and talented Alex Pakzad. He's the heart of the film, on screen for nearly every single minute. He has comic timing and grace while never quite spilling over into that too-knowing cynicism and worldliness that can taint a short like this and turn it into a sordid attempt to sexualize children.
"Ryan's Life" is simply superb.
