The Trip (2002/I)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Miles Swain

Writer:

Miles Swain (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The things we do for love and things we should have done, all come together on The Trip.

Plot:

When 19-year-old gay-rights activist Tommy and 24-year-old Alan first meet in 1973, they find themselves on the opposite sides of the political coin...

Plot Keywords:

Reference To Judy Garland | First Gay Sexual Experience | Closeted Homosexual | Mexico | Drugs

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Larry Sullivan	...	Alan Oakley
Steve Braun	...	Tommy Ballenger
Ray Baker	...	Peter Baxter
James Handy	...	Hal
Faith Salie	...	Ignored Woman
Dennis Bailey	...	Larry Jenkins
Alexis Arquette	...	Michael
Sirena Irwin	...	Beverly
Zoe 'Joshua Tree' Logan	...	1973 Jogger
Jill St. John	...	Mary Oakley
Art Hindle	...	Ted Oakley
Christina Hempstead	...	TV Reporter (as Christina Cameron Mitchell)
Julie Brown	...	OutLoud Receptionist
David Mixner	...	Himself
Alfred Dennis	...	George Baxter

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Antelope Valley, California, USA

Company:

Falcon Lair Films

Trivia:

Falcon Lair Estate served as the setting for much of the film. This historic site once was home to Rudolph Valentino, Doris Duke, Gloria Swanson.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the park jogging scene set in 1977 Beverly is running in spandex and leggings. Leggings were not popularized and mainstreamed until Flash Dance created the trend in the early 1980s.

Quotes:

Beverly: So, Alan tells me you're a homosexual.
Tommy Ballenger: Only because there was nothing good on television.
Beverly: Well, I just find it so intriguing.
Tommy Ballenger: Not always, Liberace for example.
Beverly: Liberace is a homosexual?
Tommy Ballenger: Sadly, yes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 2005 Glitter Awards (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Ain't Nobody Straight in L.A.

Wonderful, unique, effort by terrific cast and crew

Having seen virtually every gay-themed film that has ever been made and having received A+ grades in all the film studies courses that I took in college, I would like to weigh in on the excellent unique first effort that is "The Trip" written and directed by very talented newcomer Miles Swain. You already know the basic plotline, timeline and substance of The Trip if you have read IMDB's information. My overarching impression of this film is that it feels real and from the heart as it shows us the relationship between two very different gay men as they age through the '70s and '80s, living their lives both together and apart amidst the ongoing struggle for equal rights for gay persons. They say opposites attract and that is very true here for lead characters Larry and Alan who clearly grow to love each other very much. The focus of this film is on the complete persons who are Alan and Larry, not just their sex life, as in so many gay-themed films. Although AIDS unfortunately affects their lives, it does not affect their enduring love, and the director has rightly said that "This is not an AIDS film". It is a delightful, moving, comedy/drama/historical record with universal themes of trusting the power of a faithful love, the importance of honesty and courage, and being true to yourself in the face of a world seemingly always against you. The film is now available on DVD with great extras from TLA Video and is very reasonably priced. It is a *must have* for any quality collection of gay-themed films.