Outing Riley (2004)

Director:

Pete Jones

Writer:

Pete Jones (written by)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Bobby, the youngest boy in an Irish Catholic family, is gay and his coming out to his brothers and the family's way of dealing with the news is the basis of this film.

Plot Keywords:

Catholic | Irish Catholic | Coming Out | Family Relationships | Gay Lead Character

Cast

Pete Jones	...	Bobby Riley
Nathan Fillion	...	Luke Riley
Stoney Westmoreland	...	Connor Riley
Dev Kennedy	...	Jack Riley
Julie R. Pearl	...	Maggie Riley (as Julie Pearl)
Bob Riley	...	Mr. Riley
Michael McDonald	...	Andy
Dana Lynne Gilhooley	...	Carly
Jim Rose	...	Busboy / Priest
J. David Ruby	...	Howie
Ashley Giancola	...	Holly Avery
Marc Singletary	...	Boyfriend
Steve Dahl	...	Mr. Berk
Tracy Amico	...	Bar Girl
Dan Bernstein	...	Bartender Larry

Also Known As:

Doubting Riley (USA) (working title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Goofs:

Continuity: When the siblings are gathered at their parents' house to look through the items at the house, Luke is heard saying "another round?" twice: just before and then again just after he says, "you are never too drunk to be pilfering your dead parents' house for goods."

Quotes:

Bobby Riley: [stopping nephews and nieces as they run throught the house] Got a little joke for ya.
Nephew: Your jokes always get us in trouble!
Nephews & Nieces: [other kids agree] Mm hm!
Bobby Riley: This one is a clean one. What kind of bees make milk?
Nephews & Nieces: I don't know.
Bobby Riley: Boobies!

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather (1972)

Confessions and Sequelae

OUTING RILEY may feel a bit self serving, as though Bobby Riley, the main character of the film, is sitting in a Confessional Booth revealing his secret, and in fact that is certainly the case as the film was conceived, lived, written, directed and stars Pete Jones as Bobby. This may account for some of the awkward sense of some of the dialog: it is difficult to be up front about an issue with a history as embedded as the theme of this film. But despite these minor flaws, this little film has a heart of gold and a cast of actors who bring it to life in a good way.

Bobby Riley (Pete Jones) is an Irish Catholic closeted gay man living in Chicago with his partner Andy (Michael McDonald). Bobby is being pressured by Andy and by his informed sister Maggie (Julie Pearl) to come out to his family - a good Irish Catholic family of four brothers, a sister, and a dying father (Bob Riley). His facade with his brothers is a mime of voyeurism of 'chicks' and a beer drinking butch life. Each family member has a secret: Maggie can't hold a relationship and is unable to keep secrets; Connor (Stoney Westmoreland) is addicted to internet porn; Jack (Dev Kennedy) is a priest who has problems with the conflicts the church places on his own beliefs; Luke (the always outstanding Nathan Fillion) is a pothead. Once Maggie decides she must out Bobby, the brothers are conflicted: homophobia raises its ugly head despite the bonds of close family ties. How the family comes to grips with Bobby's being gay, individually and as a family, is the crux of the tale.

This is a fine cast (especially Fillion and Pearl) and the story rolls along at a fine pace. At times it feels 'dishonest' but that is in the script, not the acting. This is not a major film, but it just may be a helpful one to families and friends who are curious about the lifestyle of someone who has surprised them with a similar secret! Grady Harp