Comendo Pelas Bordas

At a current tally of 12 reviewers on the 1 - 10 scale above, and with a score close to 9.5 on that scale, I had to come in and give my review, which would place it at a 5.

I caught Eating Out at the London Lesbian Gay Film Festival 2004. The film was OK, it was pretty funny, but it's definitely not up there with the "greatest gay films on the planet". It's predictable, a little offensive in its insular vision of young gay life ("oh, he is so totally hot!") but overall it's an enjoyable if slightly brainless movie to catch when you need to unwind or destress. The audience generally enjoyed the comedy of the film, and 90% of the audience seemed to be laughing in the right places.

I do tend to think a lot of the hoopla over this film comes from the two model-quality leads in Caleb and Marc. However, I think this movie has a modicum of opportunity as a successful small-scale commercial release.

I'd say it's an OK movie, and Q. Allan Brocka may be one to watch, but I much preferred the infamous Legomen sketch of his, and I think that will be far more remembered than this.

It's so bad that I destroyed the DVDs after watching it ! And yes, I forced myself to watch and listen to it until the end, because I never would condemn something without seeing it. No acting to speak of, no script, nothing ! After this, not only will I avoid this director and actors (or so called !)like the pest at any time, but I won't rely on IMDb ratings because this is really in the top 5 worst things I have seen in my life ! I would not even call it a film. If you want a good gay film, watch Queer as Folks (UK or US), beautiful things, Maurice, my beautiful launderette... (there is no shortage of them !).... but not this kind of c...p !!!

EATING OUT is a good looking film. It's young stars are hunky, sexy guys who look great on camera and turn in credible performances. The gal pals are a gay man's fantasia, however - as one character says "a reality show without the camera crew". The film manages to neatly hide it's low budget roots. After a few establishing shots of Tuscon, we forget the rest of the film is basically house-bound. The centerpiece of EATING OUT (the title has nothing to do with finding a good restaurant) is a phone sex scene that manages to be quite sexy despite it's extended length. The film's biggest disappointment (and disservice) is it's idiotic dialogue. Characters speak in a "Clueless" slang that is both annoying and unreal. The fatuous dialogue turns the likable cast superficial. It might be cute to occasionally say 'parfait' for 'perfect' and 'Fabio' for 'fabulous' but when every line contains something like this, it gets annoying. There are also a lot of 'jokes' and 'one liners' (a truly appalling one about being HIV positive) that don't contribute much. If this is Oscar Wilde, he's slumming. Turn off the volume and just watch EATING OUT - then it'll be nearly parfait - maybe even downright Fabio.

I don't know why I keep watching gay-themed movies when I hardly ever enjoy them - because they're mostly cheaply made with inexperienced actors, and corny or predictable.

'Eating Out' is a no brain cells required movie with a plot as simple as can be, which is maybe a good thing. It's sole purpose is to be sexy - or at least, trying to be. The film revolves around Caleb (Scott Lunsford) who gets dumped by his girlfriend, Tiffani. (By the way, all attempts to make Caleb appear straight, fails). Caleb then falls for Gwen (Emily Brooke Hands), but the only way to get close to her, is to pretend he is gay (!!!). Gwen believes him, and sets him up with her best (gay) friend, Marc (Ryan Carnes). Meantime Caleb's roommate, Kyle (Jim Verraros) - who is gay - is madly in love with Marc.

We once again have a gay-themed movie with a confused straight guy... oh, enough already, they're all so similar! The girls in the movie are overbearing and annoying - so much so that I wouldn't blame guys for turning gay!! The female actors over-acted to the point where it became cringe worthy. The male actors, thankfully, were much better and more believable. The dialogue had some funny moments, but were mostly forced and rather crude instead of actually funny.

The film's draw card is the hunky guys with their great bodies - especially well endowed Scott Lunsford who gives us a full frontal peek. This is the type of movie where you have to go in expecting very little, and might find it entertaining. I must admit it wasn't all that bad.

This little film plays more like a French farce than a Hollywood film and if watched with that in mind it is sure to entertain. So many writers have mined this vein of boy playing girl playing boy in the web of catching the designated lover that it must be one of the more durable lines for comedy success through the years. Adding the contemporary slant of gay proposing straight posing as gay so that straight can get girl and gay can get lover works...but you have to stay with this one to catch all the double entendres that make it fun.

Classical music student Marc (a new 'Brad Pitt' like Ryan Carnes!) is a popular gay hunk who lives with Gwen (Emily Brooke Hands) who thinks she is the one responsible for making straight boys turn gay (!), so convinced is she that all the good men are gaily unavailable to her. Caleb (Scott Lunsford) is a straight guy who lives with jazz music student gay Kyle (Jim Verraros) in a purely roommate situation. Caleb, after an hilarious opening physical setup encounter with Tiffani (Rebekah Kochan), is convinced that gay men have an easier time of getting partnered than straight men. At a party Caleb meets Gwen who thinks Caleb is with Kyle, Caleb wants Gwen, and Kyle wants the apparently aloof Marc. Kyle convinces Caleb that if Caleb poses as gay he will gain entry into the Gwen/Marc abode and have access to Gwen while Kyle will have access to Marc. A spur of the moment telephone sex call (Gwen is attempting to turn on Caleb in front of Marc) results in Caleb and Marc 'hitting it off' much to the confusion of everyone. Add a dinner party for the four people involved which Caleb's ever-so-accepting family also attends and the whole situation explodes. How this whole schema plays out is the punch line of the film and all's well that end's well! The cast is young and inexperienced and in need of a heavier directorial hand, but they are unanimously lovable and the men are certainly eye candy. As written and directed by Q. Allan Brocka EATNG OUT sails along breezily and provides enough fun for all audiences. Grady Harp