Dir. Andrew Fleming

Starring Lara Flynn Boyle, Josh Charles, Stephen Balwin

College is not only the place to learn subject matter like higher physics and biology, it is also often the place where you discover who you really are. Having a name that is usually reserved for guys, Alex (Lara Flynn Boyle) comes to live in the same dorm room as both Eddy (Josh Charles) and Stuart (Alec Balwin). At first sight, Stuart falls for Alex, who in turn falls for Eddy, who, while being unsure of his sexual preferences, comes to realize that if he could have a partner, it would be Alex, as long as she would be in Stuart’s very masculine body… as much as he tries, he just can’t get himself to be excited by girls.

The threesome live together, eat together, play together and you can feel they have love for each other. When they decide to experiment … it is not planned, just something that kind of happens, like many things in life. Sometimes these events can change our lives forever, sometimes we can no longer be what we were before, it’s just too awkward. Hopefully we never regret them, as they do make us the people we turn out to be.

When I first started watching the movie, and knowing that Stephen Baldwin was in it, I guess I was expecting it to be filled with raunchy bad boy jokes, which is not really bad in the right place, but I was surprised to find it smarter and actually quite funny, with no bad guys or cliché endings.

It was hilarious in spots and because the ménage-à-trois that happens does so in a very natural, unforced manner, you will not be repulsed, unless, of course, if you have issues with same-sex relationships. I think you could easily see something like this happening… not on purpose but simply because of the circumstances.

Although this movie is about sex, it is not a sex movie… it about finding ourselves and not dismissing what is not considered the norm. Ever heard the expression: “Walk a mile in my shoes” ? Don’t be so easy to judge others… without understanding how they got there.

Ok, I made this sound like a very deep dramatic movie, when it is full of fun and happiness but with the underlying current of what is going on underneath that makes it much deeper than simply any regular comedy.

This is Her review, you can read His review here.

Keywords: Kinky, Gay, Threesome

Dir. Andrew Fleming

Starring Lara Flynn Boyle, Josh Charles, Alec Baldwin.. Ooops, I mean Stephen Baldwin

The last of the great 80’s comedies, and it’s from 1994, Threesome manages to create it’s own niche in the comedy/drama genre.

It tells the story of two guys and a girl who end up sort-of-roommates at college, how sexual attraction isn’t really controllable, and sometimes just a real pain. Alex (Boyle) is attracted to Eddy (Charles), who is attracted to Stuart (Baldwin), who is attracted to Alex. It’s circular (makes hand gestures).

It’s also quite funny, if a little dated. The language was probably a love it / hate it barrier at the time, but maybe not so much in the age of motherfucking snake-filled planes. With all the sex and jokes about sex that’s in it, it never, ever crosses over into “standard sex comedy” territory, it’s too smart for that. The funny is all about people’s thoughts, actions based on them, and their consequences, not about some guy eating dog cum (which is funny too, but has it’s place and time).

If you haven’t seen it, and you’re not a rampant homophobe, then check it out. It’s a piece of comedy history you shouldn’t miss out on.

This is His review, you can read Her review here.

Keywords: Kinky, Gay, Threesome

Dir. Émile Gaudreault

Starring Luke Kirby, Ginette Reno, Paul Sorvino, Peter Miller, Claudia Ferri

Comedies that play with prejudice and perception have a good chance of success. They have a lot to build on from the start, and with a good script, it pays off.

In Mambo Italiano we follow Angelo: young, canadian-italian and gay. He’s got some issues right there, and the mix doesn’t exactly make him internally serene. It shakes up his family and his life, there’s heartache and love-loss, but it remains a pretty sweet family flick. I don’t know if that speaks for an altruistic streak in all canadians, or just their film-makers.

For you comparison-buffs out there I would describe this movie as a light-weight blend of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and But I’m a Cheerleader. It doesn’t dodge all of the serious stuff, but puts it in a perspective where you can laugh at it. Alienation and family choke-holds can be pretty funny, trust me.

Keywords: Canadian, Family, Gay

Dir. Émile Gaudreault

Starring Luke Kirby, Ginette Reno, Paul Sorvino, Peter Miller and Claudia Ferri

I’m coming out,… right now… and admitting that I really liked this movie. For the most part it is filmed in the Italian section of Montreal, St-Leonard. Yes, it’s Canadian but don’t let that scare you off! Lots of good things come out of Canada, including me.
It’s all about a young gay man, Angelo Barberini (Luke Kirby) who decides to tell his parents, Maria and Gino Barberini (played by famous Quebec singer, Ginette Reno and father of the beautiful Mira Sorvino, Paul Sorvino) that he is gay and their journey of coming to grips and accepting his life choice.

What I particularily loved about this movie was how it played with the stereotypes of Italians and their mucho-macho attitudes and how being gay would almost be worse than being dead. Everything is done just a bit over the top, the laughter, the crying, the dramatics… but that’s just the point.. that’s why it’s funny and not just cliché… and when I say, everything, I mean everything… including the wild and crazy wallpaper seen both in the Barberino household as well as at every single therapist (and there are many) that Anna Barberini (Claudio Ferri) consults because everyone in her family is crazy except, of course, her!

If this was simply a big laugh at the Italian community and gays… it may have fell flat on it’s face, but it is not.. it is about family and their love for their son… the thread that keeps this whole movie together and makes it sweet and tender. Their love just shines through the entire movie and although this is basically a comedy, there were moments where I was truly touched.

Keywords: Canadian, Family, Gay