Uma Família Bem Diferente

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 haven't read the book so I only have to go on what I saw. The premise is great - fresh and funny. A masculine gay couple end up as guardians of their effeminate 11 year old nephew and try to make a man out of him. The story is less about changing the nephew and more about changing the gay couple, in particular the partner who is an ex-Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player. The movie was enjoyable, light hearted, and good natured but it lacked something -- it resembled an after-school special at times, especially towards the end. There are too many characters with bit parts that don't make enough of an impact in the film. There is a neighbourhood tough kid who inexplicably becomes a friend of the flamboyant nephew and co-workers who come in and out of the film but never really say anything meaningful. An awkward meeting with a school teacher results in her suggesting the boy watch TV to find other role models -- a very clumsy scene without cause or precedence. The writer and director needed to streamline the movie and identify scenes that needed to be pumped up to give the story some poignancy. I was never quite drawn in, brought to tears, laughed out loud or was worried that things might not work out. Its a sweet story but could have been better.

Great film. Good dialog - much better in English than french. I was really impressed with the opening shots of the movie in which the title Breakfast with Scot appears on the side boards of the hockey rink. Very inventive. Also the ending credits with the pictures on the fridge and matching names was very memorable too. I guess I would call it a chick flick for all types of chicks, male and female, gay and straight. Based on this movie, these Canadians are portrayed as bitchy, compassionate, unpredictable, charming and sensitive and hilariously funny people. Good ensemble cast. Tom Cavanaugh's performance was spot on. Noah Bennett was very expressive and showed real depth of acting range. Wonderful script also. Very refreshing take on parenting and what it means to be in a modern family. Relationships take work and this movie depicts the real life stress involved in keeping every member of a family content. Each character has to compromise. Great movie for the Holiday season. I wish more movies like this were made today.