Breakfast with Scot

"Breakfast with Scot", the lighthearted Canadian comedy is a pleasant, Christmas movie. The only twist is the presence of the gay male couple, who show as much affection to each other as two neighbors. I know, the intention is not the offend the easily offended crowd, and to make it more mainstream. Whatever... Those who hate gay people will not bother, and the rest of us would expect little more guts, and maybe a sincere emotion or two, if it is not too much to ask. All that aside, it is a warm and fuzzy and charming movie,albeit quite predictable.The predictability is what you expect from this genre and the viewer gets over it. I did too.

Having discovered this film as a result of viewing and later purchasing "The Blossoming of Maximo Olivares", and "A Very Serious Person", both excellent LGBT themed films, I had high hopes for "Breakfast..", especially after the many glowing reviews on this and other websites. The story has great potential, about a gay male couple who become caretakers to one's brother's girlfriend's 11 year old son after she dies of a drug overdose. One of the men is a former hockey player who has no interest in becoming a parent, even temporarily. But it is his eventual relationship with the boy, well played by Noah Bernett, which becomes the film's central theme. Much of the happenings are predictable, especially the climactic sequence. I feel the main problem with the film is that the director, in trying to keep the film from being too heavy, relies on sitcom like comedy and some broad characters, who seem more like types, used to make points, rather than fleshed out human beings. It isn't boring, and it is rather pleasant, but it could have been so much better if it had more depth and a less loud soundtrack trying to emphasize the comedy. Watch "A Very Serious Person", and then see if you agree with my review more than before.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Best LGBT genre movie in the past few years..., Sep 21 2008 By Joe E. Mcparland "cojoeman" (Windsor, Canada) - See all my reviews

As a long time collector of contemporary LGBT genre movies, I rate Breakfast With Scott at the top of my list. I have practically worn out my DVD copy! This movie was screened as a special selection in the 2007 Windsor International Film Festival. The sold out house gave the movie a deserving five minute standing ovation at its conclusion. Aside from the wonderful message of tolerance, acceptance and adaptability, this gem of a movie will have you - as it had me - in tears of laughter and tears of sorrow. Laurie Lynd's direction of Tom Cavanaugh, Ben Shenkman and,of course,show-stealer - Noah Bernett, is nothing less than magical. I could not agree more with the Globe and Mail's DVD cover endorsement of the movie,"Absolutely Fabulous!"

In Toronto, the Maple Leaf hockey player Eric McNally (Tom Cavanagh) breaks his shoulder in four pieces while training and is forced to end his career. Five years later, he is a sportscaster, working with his assistant Nula (Jeananne Goossen) that is the only person in the TV that knows that Eric is gay and lives with the lawyer Sam (Ben Shenkman).

When the drug addicted girlfriend Julie of Sam's brother Billy (Colin Cunningham) dies from an overdose, her son Scot (Noah Bernett) is sent to the social care. Sam contacts Billy that is in Brazil, and tells that Julie has assigned him with the custody of the boy and the insurance money. Billy is tempted by the money and promises to return to Toronto in the end of the year and Sam convinces Eric to lodge Scot at home.

Scot was raised by his mother and is a sissy. The lives of Eric and Sam turn upside down with the boy and Eric gives his best efforts to give a father's influence to Scot.

"Breakfast with Scot" is a funny and corny gay movie, with a predictable story. It is funny to see the gay Eric trying to educate Scot as a man since the boy is also gay. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Uma Família Bem Diferente" ("A Quite Different Family")

I just saw Breakfast With Scot last night at the Seattle Intl. Film Festival. I was fully prepared not to like it at all, as most gay themed films of the last several years have been so disappointing.

Yes, it is a little predictable, in the sense that you ultimately know how a story like this is going to turn out. Novelty for the sake of novelty doesn't help stories either, and this is a solid well told story. The small turns of the story were not predictable though. I particularly liked that this Canadian production did not reach for the obvious over the top emotional climax an American production would have. For example, it resolves Tom Cavanaugh's work conflict with far less drama then I would expect from a gay themed film. The script deflates the situation in an interesting and realistic way, recognizing that the film is foremost about the relationship between Eric and Scot, and not about Eric's closeted work situation.

The acting is really really solid. The cast feels like an ensemble, not a group of actors vying for screen attention. It takes awhile to realize that Tom Cavanaugh, with his usual non-showy performance, is the adult lead. Noah Bernett, as Scot, hits it exactly right. A very tough character for an actor of any age to get right. Some criticize the script, saying that the character is way too flamboyant for a boy this age. But that is exactly the center of the book, and the film, for this character to be so unapologetically out there and flamboyant that he challenges gays even more than straights. He's not supposed to be a typical gay kid. (In fact, part of that challenge is that he (and we) do not even know for sure what his ultimate sexuality might be.) As it is, he is sort of a child genius of fun fashion and cosmetics. His character is supposed to make us uncomfortable, and challenging to our assumptions.

Cinematography and production design are first rate. I heard that the overall budget was well under 4 million, if so, then bravo to the production crew, it looks like more.