Another Gay Movie

AGM could easily have been a flop, as many movies in its genre have been. But plenty of comic ideas, a refreshing sense of fun, hilarious sets, good acting and direction, and less attitude kept this film from the midpoint decay and low sustain that can hurt such films.

The director went for some hot action scenes which can be hard to pull off in a comedy. But the director made them work enjoyably without losing the comic energy. Eat your heart out, QAF!

I saw AGM as a part of Seattle's International Film Festival. The big audience very thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not Rocky Horror, but it might be a sleeper classic of a whole new thang.

Now I'm no PC Nazi but I think it's time that gay theme movies elevate themselves to aspire to at the least sub intelligent. This is basically the gay version of American Pie...without the laughs.There are a few but not enough to justify the plethora of negative stereotypes.I understand thats it's nice to see familiar characters when your watching a movies but the character in this film are completely stripped down to the basest level.The main Lesbian thespian is the worst and most annoying.this is also a world where everyone is gay or bi and everyone gets along have you been in a gay bar lately.Unlike Queer as folk the one good thing about this film is that straight people wont see it and get the impression that all gays are like this or are as shallow as these people.....

Nor is it just "another one." It's an unabashed, silly comedy where being gay is strictly a non-issue.

It's also a non-stop string of sex jokes from beginning to end, rather like a queer "American Pie" or "Porky's." In the showing I attended, it looked like a 100% gay audience, so it was interesting to take a laugh-meter reading of their response. I'd say about a third belly-laughter, another third moderate chuckles, and the rest sort of just sat there.

Director-screenplay writer Todd Stephens attempts spoof every sex situation imaginable, with varying degrees of success. There's a dramatic scene from his own "Edge of Seventeen," along with other pop film and TV sitcom episodes. All become grist for Stephens' raunchy, horny mill.

It's a loud, insane, in-your-face frolic that at times assaults the senses. The result: a new low--or high--in bad taste, depending upon your point of view.

For sure, it's not just another gay movie; rather, a compendium of how far we've come and where we now are in colloquial film comedy.

Makes one wonder, what's next?

I mean - I'm a fairly harsh critic and I hate most every gay movie that comes out (I'm gay BTW) and I was poised for this one to annoy the crap out of me. But it started and I'll tell you - I was wiping away the tears (from laughter) from pretty much the opening sequence. The four men they found for the four leads were astoundingly, shamelessly gleeful in their complicated renderings of these boys - they didn't phone anything in - even the gratuitous (I'm a littly prudish, I guess) flatulation sequence was imbued with a sincerity and a sweetness that was welcome and unexpectedly necessary and it made it actually, genuinely funny. That doesn't happen often with flatulation jokes for me. And I think that description defines the entire film for me - it was unexpectedly inspired and made me laugh when I wouldn't have typically. And I cried, too - for the sweetness of one story line. I usually feel manipulated and ridiculous after a romantic comedy but something happens in this film that brings it home - I wasn't angry and I wanted it to go on and on and on. As a gay film buff I guess it was hugely satisfying to see the same stupid movie I've seen seven thousand times about straight people remade - and reconsidered - and turned into something that I could claim as my own. I got it - and I don't usually get to get it. It's a special hour and a half - I hope everyone gets to see it.

I was leery of the gay 'American Pie' references. I just didn't think it would make the cut. Man, was I wrong! I attended with two straight friends who are very open-minded. We laughed non-stop throughout the film. And we were not alone. The consistently tough-to-entertain West Hollywood crowd was guffawing along with us. Sure, much can be said about the raunchiness and some of the more contrived humor, but hey, it was funny. This is the kind of film that entertains. If one is mainly concerned with social relevance in a film, skip this. It's likely not for you. But if you are looking to laugh and just be entertained for the evening and a few days later, you gotta see this one!!! I am usually a pretty generous voter, tougher on comedies. And I swear I could not give this less than an 8.