It took me forever to get around to watching this movie due to the dislike of the overly campy tone of the trailer -- camp is not my favorite flavor when it comes to movies. However, upon recommendation of a good friend who knows me too well, I loaded the movie on Netflix and now wonder why I spent so long without it.
Sure, the movie is as campy as I feared it to be, but it fits well. Like a good John Water's movie, it actually fuels the film and makes the bitter moments seem that much more tragic. The opening scene was the only part of the movie that felt out of place; where it just jumps right into the surreal tone of the film without too much of a warning. After James' and Michael's opening narrative duet, though, the grandiose nature of the characters build the film.
The two main leads are perfectly cast. Although Macaulay Culkin's acting always leaves something to be desired, his monotone deliverance and wooden facial expressions seem to sell Alig as a real person, although supposedly the real man was a far different creature. It also helps to balance out Seth Green, whose character was born dancing to a wildly different beat, and whose spastic energy is an easy fit for the Buffy alum.
The movie does have it flaws. I've yet to find one that doesn't. But for a movie that seemed to promote itself as the "daring" gay flagship for Macaulay Culkin's return to the limelight, it is a genius tribute to the Club Kids, whose influence on pop culture and modern American youth is often unrecognized.
Sure, the movie is as campy as I feared it to be, but it fits well. Like a good John Water's movie, it actually fuels the film and makes the bitter moments seem that much more tragic. The opening scene was the only part of the movie that felt out of place; where it just jumps right into the surreal tone of the film without too much of a warning. After James' and Michael's opening narrative duet, though, the grandiose nature of the characters build the film.
The two main leads are perfectly cast. Although Macaulay Culkin's acting always leaves something to be desired, his monotone deliverance and wooden facial expressions seem to sell Alig as a real person, although supposedly the real man was a far different creature. It also helps to balance out Seth Green, whose character was born dancing to a wildly different beat, and whose spastic energy is an easy fit for the Buffy alum.
The movie does have it flaws. I've yet to find one that doesn't. But for a movie that seemed to promote itself as the "daring" gay flagship for Macaulay Culkin's return to the limelight, it is a genius tribute to the Club Kids, whose influence on pop culture and modern American youth is often unrecognized.