What Happens Next (U.S. 2011)

The Gist:

After a rich 50-something businessman is forced into early retirement, his sister gives him a puppy before moving onto her next project, getting him a wife. For his part however, he seems less interested in dating women than in figuring out what, if anything, his burgeoning friendship with a baseball cap wearing gay man (and fellow dog owner) may imply, considering he has spent so much time working he has never had time for a social life. 

Comments:

I guess going to the dog park is the "in thing" for meeting guys. Also, apparently you can tell if a guy is butch or fem by looking at which gay stereotype he fulfills, wearing a baseball cap or wearing lipgloss. Which surprised me because I had not realized that we were known for doing either. 

Odd stereotypes aside, it was a nice enough movie, sweet even (appropriate for a romance comedy), but at the same time, just not an overly interesting one. Jon Lindstrom and Wendie Malick are fine in their roles as an older man trying to figure out his life/sexual orientation, and his overbearing sister. The dogs are cute (though they kind of disappear once they've fulfilled their duty of introducing the leads), and unlike some indie movies dealing with rich people I've seen, his apartment didn't look cheap. Free advice for indie filmmakers with script calling for for an expensive apartment... don't do it. 

Then again, there's very little about the movie that is not totally predictable, and some sections of it (and characters) seem a bit too flat. Which is too harsh, because it isn't a bad movie, just... average. 

I'd recommend it, but only if you go into it with low expectations.

Women:

Sister, best friend, maid, nail stylist and more, so all in all, not too bad. 

People of color:

The maid. No, really. One person. The maid. 

Gratuitous nudity:

A brief shot of a bare male butt, so while it technically meets the gay flick stereotype of unnecessary bare flesh, it barely does so.

• Director: Jay Arnold
• Writers: Jay Arnold, Thom Cardwell, Ariel Shafir
• Actors: Lon Lindstrom, Wendie Malick
• 100 min
• IMDB

Arizona Sky (US 2008)

The Gist:

Deciding that he needs a break from his hectic unfulfilling life, Jake returns to the small Arizona town he grew up in. When he had left 15 years prior, he and his best friend Kyle were teenagers in love, but too afraid of the consequences of being gay. When they meet again as adults, will they still have the deep connection they once shared, and if so, will they be able to do what they could not as kids and build a life together?

Comments with minor spoilers:

I liked the movie though I'm not entirely sure why, since when examined it's not so much good as barely ok. 

The basic premise could be interesting, two people not quite able to get over their fears of coming out when teenagers, meeting again as adults. Throw in some commentary on what it means to be gay in a small town and it should be good. But instead of good, this is heavy handed and weepy. 

Despite liking it, the best thing I can say about the movie is that it is a sweet natured story, and that the acting and execution isn't terrible.  

However, start looking at the negatives, and problems quickly pile up. Why do the actors playing young Kyle and adult Kyle speak nothing like each other? Young has a generic American accent, while adult has a mumbling heavy "Hick" drawl. 

The movie has one of the worst stage punches I have ever seen, and secondary characters appear to exist not to add to the story, but instead merely so the main characters would not be talking to themselves in long monologues. Also, unfortunately for a romance drama, the adult actors have next to no "chemistry" with each other. Which does not help my (admittedly cynical) suspicion that despite the movie's attempts to portray them as soul-mates, after 15 years apart, these two guys have so little in common they would not last long as a couple.

On the other hand, going back to positives, while the adults have no chemistry with each other, the teenage actors play very well off each other and are believable in playing love/desire/angst.

After writing this and trying to think it out, I'm still unsure of the exact whys of why I liked the movie. Regardless, it is not something I would exactly recommend, at least not without a warning to approach it with low expectations.

Women:

Two. An advice giving aunt (and one of the better actors in the movie), and a woman who as mentioned above seems to exist solely so the leads don't spend the entire movie talking to themselves. 

People of Color:

None. 

Gratuitous nudity:

No actual nudity, just occasional flashes of skin as characters change clothes.

• Director: Jeff London
• Writer: Jeff London
• Actors: James McCabe, Eric Dean
• 92 min
• IMDB