Adam & Steve (2005)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Craig Chester

Writer (WGA):

Craig Chester (written by)

Release Date:

17 May 2007 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

the tempting new comedy from the producers of 'Latter Days'

Plot:

Follows two New York city couples -- one heterosexual(Posey, Kattan) and one gay (Chester, Gets) who explore the peaks and the valleys of their respective relationships.

Plot Keywords:

Goth | Psychiatrist | New York City | Gay | Love

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Malcolm Gets	...	Steve Hicks
Cary Curran	...	Cary / Cherry Dazzle
Craig Chester	...	Adam Bernstein
Parker Posey	...	Rhonda
Noah Segan	...	Twink
Sally Kirkland	...	Mary
Kent Fuher	...	Herself (as Jackie Beat)
Mario Diaz	...	Orlando
Lisa Frederickson	...	Fiona
Sandy Martin	...	Biker Chick
Michael Panes	...	Lou
Jennifer Echols	...	Triage Nurse
Jack Guzman	...	Security Guard
Chris Kattan	...	Michael
Maxine Prescott	...	Elderly Lady

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, language, drug use and some crude humor.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA | Germany:12 | Philippines:R-18 (MTRCB)

Company:

Funny Boy Films

Quotes:

Rhonda: I have an audition for a lesbian cruise ship next week... I like lesbians. Lesbians like me.

Movie Connections:

References Dirty Dancing (1987)

Soundtrack:

Say Hi

If you don't like romantic comedies, why do you review them?

I'm getting really tired of people who don't like a particular film genre giving bad reviews of movies belonging to that genre. I don't like gory horror films, so I wouldn't review (or see) something like Hostel or Saw. But somehow people (and reviewers) delight in putting down romcoms, not because there's anything wrong with the films, but because it would have to be something absolutely extraordinary to even merit a "satisfactory" from them.

That's why it pisses me off that Adam and Steve hasn't gotten the critical acclaim that it deserves. I honestly feel that most of the bad reviews were of people predisposed to dislike it just as they'd be predisposed to dislike any new romantic comedy, gay or straight. (That's not to say that it hasn't gotten its fair share of good reviews, and deservedly so!)

Yes, the romantic comedy genre has been done and done again, and not always well, but I can count the number of GAY romantic comedies on the fingers of one hand. All Over the Guy, and Adam and Steve, and...? How many others follow the formula of two people who meet cute, fall in love, face some kind of crisis, and then overcome it in a tear and laughter filled climactic scene? Yes, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for a good romcom. I can see While You Were Sleeping any day of the week. But as a gay man I've been cheated of this genre, always having to superimpose my own boy/boy couple over the boy/girl couple in the film.

Adam and Steve is the film I (and others I'm sure) have been waiting for. One of the funniest (admittedly crude at times, Thank you Farrely bros) and at the same time most gloriously romantic romcoms ever, and this time it's a boy meets boy, boy loses boy, boy gets boy back story! The chemistry between Craig Chester and Malcolm Gets is palpable, and thank you openly gay hero Chester for casting another gay man to play opposite. As Chester says in the film commentary, he and Gets don't have to worry about "playing gay" but can simply play the characters, and when they are in bed together or sharing a romantic moment (lots of kissing in this film), you don't have to wonder if they felt odd or uncomfortable. It's obvious that they didn't and don't.

Parker Posey and Chris Kattan are along for the ride, Ms. Posey giving yet another lovable quirky performance that's made her the indie queen, and Mr. Kattan showing himself a real actor and real person, something that his usual over the top roles don't allow him to do.

If you don't like romantic comedies, don't see this movie. But if you're like me, someone who loves the genre but has felt cheated out of his own romcom, by all means BUY the DVD because this is a movie you'll be watching again and again.