The Art of Being Straight

If there were an actual a story tying the scenes together. If there weren't such heavy reliance on cliches. If the audience were given some idea of what motivated the central characters.

One is tempted to believe that the screenwriter doesn't have much social interaction with anyone other than gay men, since the straight and lesbian characters are so peculiarly drawn. The straight men are obsessed with homosexuality, the straight women are talking set decoration, and the lesbians are just obsessed (or perhaps possessed, depending on which scene you're watching).

There's something about this movie that makes it watchable, perhaps the actors doing a creditable job without much to work with; but I would only choose it if you've run out of other things to do.

Jesse Rosen not only directed this Cali-venued monstrosity, but also wrote it. It deals with overgrown men who are LA misfits, trying to navigate the waters of sexuality and gender affiliation. I'm not sure where Rosen received his training as a writer, but for the sake of that institution, it's best he not reveal it. Once again, we're thrown into the boring world of LaLa land with a cast of characters lacking any depth, consistency or interest for that matter. The acting is also awful. Nobody really cares about these pampered, spoiled brats but themselves as well as some over enabling parents. The guys aren't anywhere as good looking as they think they are. The women do nothing to help the women's cause whatsoever. Overall, this film should never have happened. Jesse Rosen should return to Freehold NJ and start all over again.

The Art Of Being Straight

Set in the late 1990's this movie attempted to examine two rather absurd assumptions

Firstly when young people are exploring their sexuality it swings backwards and forwards between gay and straight eventually landing on a determined sexuality for life, quite ridiculous.

Secondly that even in the 1990's people were conflicted over their sexuality, an even more ridiculous assertion. Exploration is not confliction.

The only shred of sense lay in that it is up to any individual to decide the moment when they decide to come out to their friends

The script was bland, the situations contrived, the liaisons unbelievable and the acting had more ham than the supermarket.

What I really hated was the portrayal that being gay was linked to guilt, deceit and around something bad.....how crass!

Bad movie with no ending. I knew I was in trouble when the main guy was the least good-looking with receding hairline (the comb over is terrible, especially after the gay sex scene). It was obvious this guy wrote and directed it; the main character would not be the least attractive if he was cast on his acting talents. The story begins with no realism-the least attractive guy is a ladies' man? Not believable. And then he has a gay eperience as a bottom? Guys in the closet do not immediately jump into anal sex-it just doesn't happen. And then the movie just ends after less than 70 minutes. I don't even want to go into the parallel story involving a teacher and some girl...not connected to the main story at all! Nothing new here-its all been done before and much better. Next time, don't cast yourself. Very few experienced film makers can star as well as direct a movie-this guy is NOT one of them.

This film is a real surprise sleeper. It starts out so slow and casual that it lulls you into the story and before you know it you are zapped as though hit on the head with a two by four and it just takes you for the ride which has you gnawing your knuckles. The cast is as perfect as can be and beautifully written in terms of character and motivation. In fact the script is a real gem written with not only a great deal of heart but real understanding of human nature. The ending was a shock, however, and my buddy and I sat there in silence trying to grasp the idea that the film was actually over. Then it hit us both almost at the same time that the story really had gone as far as it could and that the title of the film said it all.