Preso No Gancho Da Vida

A great idea and positive message that lacked direction and intelligent dialogue.

I mean, I wasn't expecting much. Unintelligent dialogue and sloppy direction. Max Emerson is pretty but that's about all, sadly.

In this his big screen directorial debut, Director/Writer Max Emerson (who is also an actor " Glee," " The Real O'Neals") unfortunately relishes in presenting exaggerated gay character stereotypes, fights ongoing sound issues, and can't reign in his main characters dialogue. This is too bad, because the story of hustler Jake (played nicely by attractive newcomer Conor Donnally) and his on-the-run boyfriend Tom (the shy Sean Ormond "50K" 2018) has the makings of an intriguing gay storyline. Set against a New York/South Beach backdrop, Jake hooks up with married closeted man Ken (the handsome Terrance Murphy "Burn Notice" TV), who whisks him off to Florida for the weekend, while his wife Jess (the terrific Katie McClellan "The Ultimate Legacy" 2015) sits at home with their baby. Seeing the excursion as a chance for him and Tom to leave their crowded NY hostel, Jake goes all in. When things don't turn out as planned, he picks up his craft in South Beach, coming face to face with psycho client Date-Rape-Dan (played superbly by Jay Alan Christianson "Black-ish" TV). Emerson has all the makings a plausible story, however, wearing too many hats, he was unable to see the excessive dialogue, nor help his actors who needed a little directorial assistance. You won't be "hooked" on "Hooked," but you also won't be disappointed.

Sadly gay storylines appear to be very limited. Here is yet another about gay prostitution. I don't believe this movie did anything to convince us that Max Emerson is a writer or a director. Yes, he is cute but you can only ride that so far. The movie itself was, like I said, a story that has been done several times. Can gay writers create a story that that deals with something other than being gay? A great story with a gay lead character would give us both a story and the chance to see a gay character living a day to day normal life. Unfortunately some of the biggest contributors to gay stereotyping are gays themselves.

Beyond sleazy. The lead character is just putrid. Not even Casper Andreas' big nipples can save this film, although they tried. They really tried.