I Want to Get Married

The thing is that I do (usually) quite like Matthew Montgomery but whatever the hell he thought he was achieving with the lip thing, and whoever allowed him to continue with it ...it just looks really really stupid and kind of insulting to the audiences' intelligence. That's not to say that the movie would be good otherwise; it's a pile of steaming horses**t and it's movies like this that give gay cinema a bad reputation .There are a lot of great gay themed movies being well made on important issues and even some good comedies..this doesn't belong to either category. Really, even if you can watch it free on YouTube....don't bother, life's too short to waste on garbage like this...in case you were wondering...I didn't like it.

....Cause this just ain't what you think it's gonna be.

So, let me be honest with you right up front here. I have NEVER been a great fan of Matthew Montgomery. And despite 15 film roles, for me he has never improved past the point of being an "average" actor. That, and his appearance, as much as anything. There has always been something a little bit "Ratso Rizzo" (for want of a kinder description) about his facial characteristics. So there....now you know how shallow I am.

At last, let's briefly get to the movie, itself (which I tried to watch twice before coming here). ...And by the way, it is a film story of several subplots; in no way does it particularly concentrate on Matthew's character and his idiotic attempts to land the cute man of the cover. Playing an extremely unattractive Super-Geek, the best that Montgomery can bring to the role is a clinching...compressing...contortion of his lips and mouth (and, of course, the supposed-to-be nerdish, black frame glasses). The aforementioned mouth exercising QUICKLY gets very old....while at the same time making it quite difficult to understand our lead's utterances. Worse, this is compounded by one of the most terribly recorded soundtracks I have heard in years. I cannot say enough bad about the original sound-man's work on this film....BUT, Breaking Glass features should be especially ashamed to have their name attached to such a poor sound release.

Finally, it may interest you that, out of the film's near 120 minute running time, Matthew and his bride-to-be (or is it the other way around) are TOGETHER for no more than an amazing 20 minutes of screen time. Leaves a lot to be gotten done in those oh-so-interesting subplots.

My very best advice for you: SAVE YOUR MONEY.

****

Without a doubt, this is the worst LGBTQ movie I've ever seen, which is a shame because it really had some premise at the time it was released. Matthew Montgomery was cast as the lead, and at the time he was starring as as the gay male lead in a lot of movies. He wasn't ever undeniably "great" but he was decent and I actually enjoyed a lot of his movies. In this role, however, William Clift directs his performance abysmally. He doesn't come across as cute, or endearing, or even likeable; he's socially inept to the point of autism, unable to communicate with others either vocally or physically outside of his professional arena (which makes no sense), and his face twitches and contorts more often than a hamster's nose.

All of this being said, there were three bright spots (unfortunately, even they weren't enough to raise the bar on this used litter box). They were: 1) Peter Stickles (been crushing on this man for almost 15 years now) but who is sorely underused; 2) Emrhys Cooper, who is also so striking to look at that it makes it embarassing to overlook his completely underdeveloped character; and 3) Dylan Vox, who uses his unflappable sense of self-deprecating humor (his scene was the only true laugh this movie brought out of me) in a very funny, albeit completely over-the-top scene between he and Montgomery.

I think this is long enough so I'm not even going to get too in-depth about the inane subplot with Montgomery's parents, who are so profoundly inept that they should be confined to a facility providing Lvl III Elderly Care. Nor will I speak to the GOP-level of caricature of the only non-white characters throughout this movie.

It's not merely that this movie is dated (which it is, despite only being 7 years old) but more importantly that it's THAT BAD. Tremendously, horribly, cringe-inducingly bad. I try to have patience with some of the LGBTQ movies that paved the way for the more modern approach but even I can't bring myself to find a reason that this movie should ever be viewed again. BY ANYONE.

I have read many reviews here after seeing this film, and I am saddened by the word autistic used and derogatory language about the lead actor's performance. I admit that I found it halted the flow of the film initially, but as the scenario progressed I saw a community of friends surrounding him, supporting him and it showed a gay community in a very good light. I found it heartening to see in a comedy ( which has serious undertones ) both Lesbian and Gay men joining together and becoming close friends. Despite my willingness to seeing explicit sexuality on film there was none here, and that too was refreshing after seeing too many shower scenes, gym muscles and inauthentic sex in a lot of independent LGBT films. The plot is about an unsure man who wants to get married, and coming from a repressive family he has misgivings about this but sees a man who is his ideal. No spoilers but the ending takes place at the end of the USA's 2008 election. There is rejoicing in the gay Californian community, but it comes with an unexpected shock to many Lesbian and gay men. No spoilers but the effect struck a real nerve in me, and I knew the film made on a shoestring was very valid indeed. I would give this a ten if the soundtrack had been better, and the camera movements and lack in many places of good editing. Overlaid music also prevented what characters were saying, and the copy I saw looked as if it was shot in the Sahara desert, too bright, too garish especially in exterior scenes. The acting I thought good, and the song towards the end moving with its hints of Kurt Weill. If you are simply after hunks and sexual sensation go elsewhere as the content of this scenario needed neither.

First the good news: This period comedy set around the time of the passage of the anti-gay Prop 8 legislation has a largely fine ensemble of actors, especially the always interesting "Shortbus" veteran Peter Stickles, but they're saddled with a meandering script that, at just under two hours, is easily 30-45 minutes too long.

Far more damaging is the casting of Matthew Montgomery in the leading comic role of a hapless nerd. I've never understood how this low-energy, charisma-free actor keeps getting work in gay indies, and here it's equally obvious that he couldn't find the joke in a scene if his life depended on it. He's the character we're supposed to be pulling for, yet Montgomery's clumsy, clueless performance is an unfunny disaster that renders the main love story nonsensical. Why do so many interesting, engaging, funny people in this movie like this guy who just sucks the joy out of a scene every time he enters it? It's a puzzlement. I'm going to be giving a pass to any future Montgomery vehicles, that's for sure.