Two Minutes After Midnight (2003)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Seamus Rea

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

A young man strikes out while trying to pick up a hunk in a gay club. Later in the men's room he meets an angel who gives him the ability to change into the person of one's dreams. Unfortunately we don't all have the same dreams... |

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Gay Club | Magic Ring | Sexual Fantasy | Gay Bar

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Adrian Bouchet
Andrew Hinton-Brown
Alex King
Nigel Shipp
Mark Wakeling

Directed by
Seamus Rea

Produced by
Andrew Odgers	....	producer
Janet Potter	....	producer

Casting by
Matt Western

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kevin O'Neill	....	first assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Georgas	....	gaffer

Production Companies

• Cheek2Cheek Productions

Runtime:

UK:11 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Cheek2Cheek Productions

Great sight-gags and editing make for fun but predictable film

Directed by a Briton and filmed in Australia under the auspices of the UCLA Film, Theater and Television School, this film is a predictable if funny fairy-tale about an average young man who can't get the handsome muscle-boy of his dreams to do anything but spit invective at him. He flees to the bathroom, where he meets a guardian angel who gives him a magic ring. Twist it three times, and you'll turn into the guy your dreamboat wants most.

One, two, three -- and Our Hero has turned into a golden-haired god. But the muscleboy turns out to be a shallow narcissist. Our Hero spits invective at him. But, upon seeing yet another hot guy, Our Hero returns to the bathroom. One, two three -- and Our Hero turns into a woman! "Just like me to pick the only straight guy in the joint."

The film is pretty predictable from here on out. Our Hero turns into Mom, an old sugar-daddy, a leatherman, a rubber fetishist and even Adolf Hitler. Hours pass. With the final twist, Our Hero leaves the bathroom -- but looking just like himself. Oh no: It's two minutes past midnight! The ring has stopped working! Dejected, our hero leaves the club. As he walks past a handsome young man, the man turns to his friend and says, "He's perfect...but he never showed any interest in me."

The few verbal jokes are funny, and the editing works extremely well to present a fast and furious series of sight-gags at the crucial moment.

But the film's moralizing rankles. Is the film saying that handsome men are never nice? Or that fetishes are not attractive? Or that average guys must "stay in your league"? The film is trying to say "be true to yourself." But there are mixed messages here which I find unpalatable, and that diminishes the film after the series of effective sight-gags.

Also of note: Excellent cinematography and a terrific soundtrack.