This is one of those movies where you're constantly screaming at the lead character, "Don't do that!" It's exceptionally tiresome, especially in this case where there would have been no bad consequences for doing the right thing and plenty for doing the wrong thing.
Russell is a cute, gay, closeted, and otherwise unremarkable high school kid who is pulled in two very wrong directions. His fat, nerdy, obnoxious "friend" Gunnar demands Russell help him score with the babes by dating his crush's bestie, while his secret boyfriend - star quarterback Kevin - recruits him for the football team where he meets toxic jocks who prod him to become a homophobic bully.
In each case, all Russell had to do was say "No." Instead he goes along with everyone's schemes, compromising every shred of integrity he might have once had - and is predictably outed as a result. Somehow he doesn't recognize that the completely self-absorbed Gunnar is only using him for his own gain, or that Kevin manages to avoid all the homophobic nonsense that Russell allows himself to be drawn into. Hell, Kevin even gives Russell a kiss in the locker room - not right out in front of the team, but in a place where they easily could have been seen.
Sadly, we see very little of Russell and Kevin's relationship - nothing more than a couple brief chats, and a chaste kiss now and again. It feels like the real meat of the film is missing. The filmmakers decided to spend much more time on the painful, cringeworthy contortions Russell goes through to maintain his friendship with Gunnar, who at no moment is the least bit likable. I guess the choice was made because that kind of material is easier to write and easier to sell - but it gives the whole film the aspect of a Porky's sequel. And it undermines any worthwhile statement the film could have made.
But the real tragedy is the ending. Finally outed against his will, Russell gives Kevin an ultimatum - out himself to the whole school as well or they're through. It's unconscionable that the filmmakers portray Russell as the "good guy" for making this demand and Kevin as the "bad guy" for walking away. Kevin is closeted because he thinks it will hurt his chances of getting a college football scholarship - and he's right; going to college is way more important than having a high school boyfriend. Russell is acting like too many other gay men who were closeted and behaved badly for years, but as soon as they come out expect everyone else to do the same. No one should be forced to come out before he or she is ready. Ever. And it's shocking that no other review I've seen picked up on this.
It's sad that Russell is left alone at the end of the film - but he surely deserves to be.
Russell is a cute, gay, closeted, and otherwise unremarkable high school kid who is pulled in two very wrong directions. His fat, nerdy, obnoxious "friend" Gunnar demands Russell help him score with the babes by dating his crush's bestie, while his secret boyfriend - star quarterback Kevin - recruits him for the football team where he meets toxic jocks who prod him to become a homophobic bully.
In each case, all Russell had to do was say "No." Instead he goes along with everyone's schemes, compromising every shred of integrity he might have once had - and is predictably outed as a result. Somehow he doesn't recognize that the completely self-absorbed Gunnar is only using him for his own gain, or that Kevin manages to avoid all the homophobic nonsense that Russell allows himself to be drawn into. Hell, Kevin even gives Russell a kiss in the locker room - not right out in front of the team, but in a place where they easily could have been seen.
Sadly, we see very little of Russell and Kevin's relationship - nothing more than a couple brief chats, and a chaste kiss now and again. It feels like the real meat of the film is missing. The filmmakers decided to spend much more time on the painful, cringeworthy contortions Russell goes through to maintain his friendship with Gunnar, who at no moment is the least bit likable. I guess the choice was made because that kind of material is easier to write and easier to sell - but it gives the whole film the aspect of a Porky's sequel. And it undermines any worthwhile statement the film could have made.
But the real tragedy is the ending. Finally outed against his will, Russell gives Kevin an ultimatum - out himself to the whole school as well or they're through. It's unconscionable that the filmmakers portray Russell as the "good guy" for making this demand and Kevin as the "bad guy" for walking away. Kevin is closeted because he thinks it will hurt his chances of getting a college football scholarship - and he's right; going to college is way more important than having a high school boyfriend. Russell is acting like too many other gay men who were closeted and behaved badly for years, but as soon as they come out expect everyone else to do the same. No one should be forced to come out before he or she is ready. Ever. And it's shocking that no other review I've seen picked up on this.
It's sad that Russell is left alone at the end of the film - but he surely deserves to be.