Gayby

In the clichéd world of comedies nothing seems unconventional these days. That the audiences can't compliant about the number of rom-coms coming out on the big screen is a fact. Still, it's excruciating to observe how most of them cut corners and follow a well known, often indescribably boring and tiring, path. Fortunately, for the sake of the genre, once in a while there is a comedy that really aspires to contradict trends. And Gayby is one of those films. It is as vivacious as it is entertaining. The film shows a strictly unromantic yet undeniably laughable story about two best friends – a gay guy named Matt and a straight woman named Jenn – planning on having a 'gayby' together (although, as Matt clearly explains, this is a proper word only when two gay people two strictly gay people want to be parents). Without any second thoughts they decide that the best, the most adequate way to get Jenn pregnant is through the traditional act of sex. Their daily routine consists of working – Matt sells comic books at a nearby store and Jenn teaches hot yoga – going on dates in the evenings, and making love (in this situation it sound kind of weird) during the nights. Unfortunately, after a couple of trials they realize that trying to conceive is harder than one might think. In the meantime, their sex- lives start to flourish, causing problems both for the couple's casual relationship and for their baby-making ordeal.

Gayby shows that low-budget, amateurish indie comedies can be really amusing sometimes. The dialogues are witty, kinky and perfectly humorous. While the story isn't really that innovative and rather predictable, the atmosphere is sentimental and heartfelt, just as the characters are genuinely likable. What's more, Gayby depicts – in an utterly exaggerated yet comical manner – a world, where gay guys swarm the streets and it's actually them who convince us of their enormous desire to raise those not-so-typical families.

Gayby (2012) was written and directed by Jonathan Lisecki. The movie stars Jenn Harris as Jenn, a thirties-something straight woman, and Matthew Wilkas as Matt, a gay man who has been Jenn's best friend since college.

Jenn has been hoping to meet the right man, get married, and conceive a child. Unfortunately, the plan isn't working. Matt has broken up with his long-time partner, and isn't over the pain yet.

Jenn suggests a biologically and psychologically reasonable plan. Rather than waiting for Mr. Right, she'll conceive a child with Matt as the father. However, Jenn is into natural healing and natural methods, so she tells Matt she wants to conceive the child the "old-fashioned" way. Not an appealing option for Matt--he's definitely gay, not bisexual. Still, he agrees to the plan.

The plot of the movie is developed from this premise. The ensuing complications are very funny, sometimes in a bittersweet way. While Jenn and Matt are working on the conception plan, new lovers come and go, friendships are formed and broken, promises are made and kept or not kept.

Director Lisecki has taken the bold step of using an actor--Jenn Harris--who isn't an incredibly gorgeous woman. (Jennifer Aniston could play the role perfectly, but then the movie wouldn't work.) Jenn Harris looks like a person who could be your friend, or, for that matter, your yoga instructor. (She may teach yoga in real life, but, even if she doesn't she's obviously had experience with it.) Harris is an excellent actor, and so is Matthew Wilkas. The supporting cast--including Lisecki himself-- is highly competent. The dialog is witty, the characters are endearing, and the movie is very enjoyable.

This is a film worth seeking out and seeing. We saw it at the Dryden Theatre as part of the extraordinary ImageOut--the Rochester LGBT Film & Video Festival.

I'm as open minded as the next guy, but I was just not the target audience for "Gayby." The film takes place in a world that might as well have been a foreign country as far as I'm concerned. This world in which straight men apparently don't even exist, and where friends see more of each other's bodies than their own doctors do, resembles nothing I've ever experienced myself. It's diverting at best, and I appreciate a film about the different forms a family can take. But I can't say I was overwhelmed with joy to see the two main characters in this film, a gay man and a single woman, succeed in their goal to have a baby together when neither can seem to get their own lives together, let alone display the ability to take care of a third.

I felt like a guest at a party listening to a toast given in a language that I don't speak.

Grade: B-

This film is about a straight woman trying to have a baby, the only problem is that she is single. Her gay best friend saves the day by agreeing to help her procreate.

I find "Gayby" a hilarious film. It's light hearted and funny throughout the story. The scene where they first attempt to procreate is very well made, as the awkwardness and embarrassment in the air is shown with a hilarious touch. The story is quite positive as well, even though the lead characters are not super successful people, they are portrayed to be good people that are down to earth and easy to relate to. The film was shot with a comfortable budget, which is a welcomed change for gay films. The sets and settings are nice, and the film appears professionally made. I enjoyed watching "Gayby" a lot, and I found it entertaining.

While the theme of "gay guy and straight woman decide to make a baby" has been done MANY times (The "Wedding Banquet" is probably the Gold Standard) even back in 2012, this rendition absolutely comes off as believable, with well-formed characters, great acting and a solid script. The cliché of being set in NYC is a bit of a turn-off (does anyone outside of NYC care about how neurotic and dysfunctional people are there anymore?) but the acting absolutely makes up for it. Someone here is complaining about gratuitous nudity, and I think they may be referring to a different film, since this one doesn't have any at all...which is why I'm giving it such a high rating; the script carried it without having to resort to that gimmick.