I never learn. I should have known this Toby Ross video would be a total waste of time. (And no - this isn't an American re-make of the British coming out film of the same name.) There is nothing at all believable or coherent about the narrative of this video. The script, description and cover art make you think the story's going to be about Monty, a troll-loving young bi-sexual who is having a last summer fling before getting married and leaving his gay past behind him (yeah...sure). If the story had been about Monty's (a winning Michael Gonring) friendship with Jamie, the sad sack cruiser with a crush on him, it might have been mildly interesting. Instead, it focuses solely on Jamie, a completely vacant character played by an actor with more facial tics than a clock. I suppose the tone is supposed to be comic, but most of the humor is so over-the-top as to be unfunny. The only exception is a brief jaunt as desperate drag queens that manages some humor (drag being naturally over the top). The guys cruise Chicago's seedy Ram Bookstore like they are socializing at the intermission of a Harvey Fierstein musical. Again, no bearing on reality. The acting is mostly poor, the script worse. The DVD commentary (which sounds like it was recorded at the bottom of a well) has the nerve to assert that Toby Ross is a better director than John Cameron Mitchell (Shortbus). I shut it off right there. Instead of renting vids like this, I need to get a life.
7 Reviews
I can only confirm...
stef-decloe8 September 2012
I can only confirm what most of the previous reviewers wrote. I also wanted to stop watching after 20 minutes but I was so curious to see if it could get worse. It did.
The elements were there to make an "OK" movie. After all, weren't there a lot of situations we can relate to, or have lived, or seen on the "gay scene"?
The announcement "I want a straight lover who is gay just for me" is a fantasy many of us must have had at least once, and could have been the basis for a funny story, as it could also have been used for a more serious movie...
But the acting was dreadful, the directing also, as was the sound.
Not worth more reviewing.
The elements were there to make an "OK" movie. After all, weren't there a lot of situations we can relate to, or have lived, or seen on the "gay scene"?
The announcement "I want a straight lover who is gay just for me" is a fantasy many of us must have had at least once, and could have been the basis for a funny story, as it could also have been used for a more serious movie...
But the acting was dreadful, the directing also, as was the sound.
Not worth more reviewing.
Could not have been worse
PreCodeDude6 August 2007
You know how people make fun of porn in that the acting is awful the story lines are trite and production values are non-existent? Well, this little flicker has all those things without the payoff that porn inevitably produces.
So what are you left with? A ticked-off feeling that you wasted four bucks at the rental store.
It's not even worth getting into the plot and all that. It doesn't matter. It's so bad it's not even campy or laughable. It's just lame. And the acting is awful! And the direction is terrible! Don't waste your time. Or money.
So what are you left with? A ticked-off feeling that you wasted four bucks at the rental store.
It's not even worth getting into the plot and all that. It doesn't matter. It's so bad it's not even campy or laughable. It's just lame. And the acting is awful! And the direction is terrible! Don't waste your time. Or money.
Awful
comment_981 August 2007
It not even worth the time to watch the movie. Cheap production. Bad script. Something that one won't even watch it if you get paid for it.
I don't understand how it manage to average a 7.8 rating before my review.
To summarize it. This movie is like one of the worst that B-rate movie with amateurs trying to act which they can't if their life's depends on it.
So don't waste you time on it.
I couldn't even bother to watch more than 2 min's of the movie
Persoally I think someone try to get the rating up by fixing it.
I don't understand how it manage to average a 7.8 rating before my review.
To summarize it. This movie is like one of the worst that B-rate movie with amateurs trying to act which they can't if their life's depends on it.
So don't waste you time on it.
I couldn't even bother to watch more than 2 min's of the movie
Persoally I think someone try to get the rating up by fixing it.
Trollish Nitty-Gritty And Fairytale Ending
lemayman30 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Although not the best film that I've ever watched, it was far from the worst, either. I agree that the actors were not "old pros," but we've all got to start somewhere. So, I cut them some slack on that subject.
As for the topic, I agree with a previous poster that no one wants to watch trolls at large, but I give them credit for tackling an otherwise ugly subject. They tried to give it a comic spin, and fell a little short. It spotlights yet another facet of Gay Life that not everyone knows exists.
I also agree that I thought the film would have more about the guy from Boston, but after watching it, his character would have only made this film more shallow.
Some of us have actually been in Jamie's shoes, feeling dumpy, unwanted, and alone, and have not had the guts or lack of inhibitions to do the things that he did.
When he goes out with his co-worker, it's all too obvious where the story is going, but I did not foresee the co-worker's betrayal, nor what happens next...
Don't rent this one expecting an action packed, orgy-filled, delicatessen of manhood, but more of one man's path through the labyrinth of gay midlife, with a storybook ending.
As for the topic, I agree with a previous poster that no one wants to watch trolls at large, but I give them credit for tackling an otherwise ugly subject. They tried to give it a comic spin, and fell a little short. It spotlights yet another facet of Gay Life that not everyone knows exists.
I also agree that I thought the film would have more about the guy from Boston, but after watching it, his character would have only made this film more shallow.
Some of us have actually been in Jamie's shoes, feeling dumpy, unwanted, and alone, and have not had the guts or lack of inhibitions to do the things that he did.
When he goes out with his co-worker, it's all too obvious where the story is going, but I did not foresee the co-worker's betrayal, nor what happens next...
Don't rent this one expecting an action packed, orgy-filled, delicatessen of manhood, but more of one man's path through the labyrinth of gay midlife, with a storybook ending.
Waste Of Time
whitewingedove1714 May 2008
OK so at about 23 minutes and 30 seconds into this DVD, I decided that I had totally had enough. My boyfriend and I rented this DVD from Blockbusted cuz the cover was kinda cute in a goofy sorta way...so we decided to try it. WHAT A FREAKING WASTE OF TIME!!!...not to mention waste of a budget. Fortunately we got this as a free rental so at least we didn't waste any money on it. It's just a lame movie with really overly bad acting. I mean, bad acting is actually a compliment for this because the acting is so awful. And no one wants to watch trolls in sex clubs hitting on young boys. No one! So really...don't waste your time with this one. I gave it a 1 because I couldn't rate it any lower...
excellent queer screwball comedy
sugarfreepeppermint13 February 2015
This film is very funny, if you like wacky films. It's like a queer "Dude, Where's My Car." You simply have to abandon all common sense, and let yourself be taken in, by the zany humour it offers. The decor looks low budget here and there, but it actually suits the tongue in cheek humour very well (and is not too far from the truth as many gay cruising bars or "book stores" are not top end high standard either). There is an array of different characters. The various Chicago locations keeps the film feeling fresh. I particularly like the ice cream parlour on a hill showing the horizon of the skyscape and lake beach. Also the drive around gas station sat night is a high light. There are some really good lurid gags there. The ending of the film is not disappointing in the least. This film is an lovely little memento of mid 2000s Boystown' lifestyle, banter and aesthetics.
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