Review by moonspinner55

Writer-director Tony Piccirillo adapted his own play about a straight man, recently widowed, learning in the last three weeks he is HIV-positive; he tracks down the one homosexual partner he's ever had, brings him to an apartment and ties him up, forcing a blood test on the guy and promising revenge if the results come back positive. Intriguing idea sounds better than it plays. James Marsden's captive is realistically cynical and snotty, but the actor's own artificial mannerisms are disconcerting--it's like watching a roadshow version of Tom Cruise. Scott Speedman has to work harder with the more challenging role, but his personality-turn from shy guy to kidnapper isn't convincing, and neither are the conversations the two men have. Marsden's gay party boy isn't apathetic, of course--he's momentarily sympathetic to Speedman's plight--but he doesn't react or behave the way any homosexual man would in this circumstance. The movie isn't a cop-out, exactly, though it is a fraud. Piccirillo and his editor should've eliminated the poorly-conceived flashbacks and reworked the big finale, which smacks of silly, pretentious melodrama. *1/2 from ****