Friends & Family - Cute, Fun, & Homophobic?
by Tallulah
Givehead
Ah really enjoyed
"Friends & Family", kiddies. Ta hayuz not
had a lot to laugh about with the countdown to
Armageddon quickly ticking off the days; but Ah
laughed until mah corset popped off.
Yeah. It plays on
stereotypes and having Stephen's (Greg
Lauren) parents be FBI was just too over the
top. The film is decently paced beginning with
Stephen and Danny (Christopher
Gartin) enjoying an evening at the opera.
Howevah, during intermission they head back-stage to
congratulate the lead singer as he takes his break;
then demand a check to pay off a gambling debt.
And thus weah
introduced to the secret life of the real gay mafia!
When not breaking heads, Stephen and Danny live in a
fabulously furnished NYC home and are the beloved,
openly gay employees of Don Patrizzi (Tony
Lo Bianco). Danny and Stephen are also out to
their parents, open about everything but their
profession (their parents think they operate a
catering business).
When Stephen's mom
and dad (played over the top by
Beth Fowler and
Frank Pellegrino pay a surprise visit and ask
for a fabulous party (after all the boys are gay
caterers)so they can meet everyone. So, from the Don
to the lowly loan sharks theyah all get into the act
of deception. Throw in the aforementioned FBI and
related right-wingers, the Don's straight sons, and
sundry mobsters who learn to act gay), and you get a
fast-paced farce that delights in its stereotypes.
So. Y'all are
wondering wheyuh mah remark about homophobia comes
in ... well, the clincher is the two lead characters
- who are, mind you, living in romantic bliss -
nevah, Ah say NEVAH touch romantically, NEVAH kiss
romantically! In fact, y'all could almost remove the
gay storyline and substitute a storyline wheyah
theyah two straight business partners (who live
together) and don't want anyone to think their gay!
Ah longed to see our
lads show they were in love. But Ah guess in the gay
mafia you can tell everyone y'all are gay, you just
cain't show it.
Tallulah Givehead is
a Fabulous drag queen living in Portland, Oregon
(Lord only knows why!) writing reviews of gay film
by day and tearing up the stage by night. You
can read her reviews here as well as at her blog,
QUEER VUE MIRROR.
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