Friends and Family (2001)

A gay couple are hit men for the mafia.

Director:

Kristen Coury

Writer:

Joseph Triebwasser

Stars:

Greg Lauren, Chris Gartin, Rebecca Creskoff

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Greg Lauren	...	Stephen Torcelli
Chris Gartin	...	Danny Russo
Rebecca Creskoff	...	Jenny Patrizzi
Edward Hibbert	...	Richard Grayson
Allison Mackie	...	Cheryl
Meshach Taylor	...	Bruno
Beth Fowler	...	Mrs. Torcelli
Frank Pellegrino	...	Mr. Torcelli
Johnny Russo	...	Max
Sam Coppola	...	Carlo Ricci
Mike Arotsky	...	Unruly Customer (as Mike Arotzky)
Michael Squicciarini	...	Ray (as Michael 'Scuch' Squicciarini)
Frank Minucci	...	Leo
Richard Petrocelli	...	Eddie
Elisa Heinsohn	...	Tania / Singer at Banquet

Storyline

Children and parents. In New York City, Stephen and Danny live well: they're smooth, cool, in love, and good at what they do. Stephen's Midwestern parents pay them a surprise visit. Meanwhile, Jenny and Damon tell their parents they are engaged: Matt's parents, Midwestern paramilitary fanatics, take it as a sign to gather their group to invade New York. Jenny's father is the local Mob boss who employs Stephen and Danny as enforcers. He's unhappy that Jenny is marrying someone who is neither Sicilian nor Catholic. Stephen's parents know he's gay, they just don't know what his job is. Here come the parents; will the children survive? All roads lead to the engagement party.

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Plot Keywords:

john f. kennedy international airport | new york city new york | gay | surprise visit | catholic | 

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Taglines:

Meet the real gay mafia!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Goofs

When called upon to speak at his birthday party, Mr. Torcelli knocks his champagne glass off the table. In the next shot his glass is back on the table.

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Quotes

Little Old Lady: [to Stephen and Jenny] Pardon me, but you make a beautiful couple.
Stephen Torcelli, Danny Russo: Thank you.

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Connections

References All About Eve (1950)

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Soundtracks

You Can't Surprise Me
Written by Walter Edgar Kennon a/k/a Skip Kennon

User Reviews

Such Potential

Like so many gay movies, there is so much potential here, but it never matured during the artistic process. So many things were not quite there. The script with a little more polish, the directing with a little more experience, the acting moving a little faster, and the movie with a little more work would have been totally delightful.

Two things bothered me most.

1. The lack of a kiss or any real intimacy between the gay couple. I kept hoping until the end that they would kiss - even a small peck.

2. The pace. This movie was slow. Not sure whose fault this was. Did the director over control the actors not allowing them to move it along? Did the editor stretch everything to try meet an appropriate length? Not sure, but even the big action sequence toward the end was a waltz, when it should have been frenetic tarantella.

There were a lot of funny ideas here, but the delivery was sooo slow. Pace, pace, pace, screwball comedies are about pace. Keep it moving. It may have been that the production staff (writer, director, etc) where just too impressed with themselves.

The acting on the other was pretty good. I think with proper pacing they would have been exceptional.

Yes, like so many low budget indie gay movies - I wish for a rewrite and a remake by a competent director. I wouldn't change the cast at all, just the creative/production staff. This could be a delightful charming hilarious movie, but it isn't quite there.

By the way, if you listen to the commentary you may begin to understand what went wrong and who is at fault. Oh well, <sigh>.

Details

Official Sites:

Former Official site for the film - site no longer active. [United States] Official distributor's page for the film. [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

17 June 2004 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Friends & Family

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,804, 18 May 2003

Gross USA:

$127,212

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$127,212

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belladonna Productions, Charleson Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color