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Great Gay Movies
The Birdcage (1996)
One of the famous gay movies due to its celebrity cast and comedic writing, The Birdcage is one of my family's all time favorites. I think the main reason for this is that it is a film about people in relationships, not a straight up romance or coming out story. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane play off each other very well, both comedians who are willing to lean into a ridiculous, emotional, funny role. The same is true for Gene Hackamn and Dianne Wiest. Both couples are putting forth a vision of strength within their respective communities, yet both have their ups, downs, and moments of quiet and solidarity.
The basic story follows two families: Val's Jewish gay male parents who own and perform in a drag show night club, and Barbara's straight-laced conservative senator and senator's wife parents who are wading through a political scandal. Val and Barbara met at college, and are now engaged at a young age. They are in the process of getting their parents to accept this decision when Barbara's parents decide to visit Val's parents in Florida as a way to get away from the scandal, but she has avoided telling them the truth about the night club owners by telling her parents they are also work in national diplomacy. So, Val feels forced to convince his parents to tone down their out and proud lifestyle for one dinner party.
In & Out (1997)
This is a star-studded movie I rarely hear about. Kevin Kline is the lead, accompanied by Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Bob Newhart, Tom Selleck, Wilford Brimley, and Debbie Reynolds. They perfectly create the picture of a small town that stays perfect as long as everyone conforms to norms everyone is used to and comfortable with. (This can be an unfair stereotype, but one many people face.) According to Wikipedia, the film was inspired by Tom Hanks making an Oscar speech in which he mentioned his gay high school drama teachers.
Howard is a well-liked high school English teacher who loves his whole life and is about to get married to fellow teacher Emily. Everything is wonderful until his past student Cameron wins an Oscar and dedicates his win to Howard, ending the speech by saying that Howard is gay. This throws Howard's life into a tailspin as everyone begins to question him and his poof-like habits—his parents, his fiance, his students, his fellow teachers. Reporters swarm the town to document his upcoming wedding to a woman.
The Big, Fat, Gay Musical (2009)
Even in the midst of a really silly setting, there is good emotional conflict to be found. This film covers the juxtaposition of sparkly rainbow musicals about gay people and the hard realities of life, mainly the fears we hold about parental rejection, sexually transmitted diseases, and the search for love.
Paul and Eddie are performing in a show called "Adam and Steve: Just the Way God Made 'Em." Their lives seem to be going great, doing what they love by day and enjoying the city life at night, going to clubs or singing show tunes. Unfortunately, as the premier of the show grows closer, they begin to experience issues. Paul's boyfriend is told a rumor that Paul has an STD, breaking up with him, and Paul decides to forget about relationships altogether. Sadly, he really wants someone to care about him, and one night stands and prostitutes just don't provide the love he needs. Meanwhile, Eddie is stressed out about his conservative Christian parents coming to see his show because he hasn't told them about his sexuality or about the real theme of the show. Stressed and wanting to be himself while also desiring his parents' acceptance, he has his first, disappointing sexual experience.
Another Gay Movie (2006)
For those in the audience looking for a completely NSFW movie that is a funny, ridiculous adventure, this is what you've been looking for. This movie is great at making fun of teen coming of age movies while covering all the pitfalls of youth and love. Interestingly, this film covers a lot of ground without going into anything very serious—STDs, gay bashing, none of that. The characters are out and proud, wearing whatever they want, playing gay baseball against a team of bears, and going to gay bars. The film also takes a lot of inspiration from straight couple coming of age stories and serious coming out stories.
Four high school best friends are determined to lose their virginity before their lesbian friend Muffler's Labor Day party and the beginning of college. They are a diverse group: normal guy, sports jock, books nerd, and flamboyant twink. Their search for someone to sleep with takes them on emotional roller coasters, chasing after celebrities, crushing on teachers, meeting up with people from online, hitting on guys in bars, and even perusing the local public toilet. Their good intentions constantly get them into trouble until they all begin to wonder if sex is all it's cracked up to be.
This movie does have a sequel, one that actually pushes the envelope harder, so beware.
Latter Days (2003)
This movie is less skillfully made than others on this list (it had a higher reported budget than Another Gay Movie, yet is not as well shot) but has a lot of good heart and good on screen chemistry. There are a few moments when the acting feels amateur, then others where it is really superb. The film deals with the more serious side of being gay and deciding whether to hide, give up, or embrace yourself.
Christian is an out and proud LA party boy with dreams of Hollywood and a hobby of getting straight men to sleep with him. Aaron has just been shipped out to LA to begin his time as a Mormon missionary. They end up living next door to each other, and Christian takes a bet that he can get one of the missionaries into bed. When he almost succeeds, revealing Aaron's hidden desire, Christian is forced to take a closer look at himself when Aaron accuses him of being shallow. Now, rejected and reflective, Christian is genuinely interested in Aaron.
Bedrooms & Hallways (1998)
This is a movie about the difficulties of being a man who does not fit the stereotypes flying around him. It points out both subtly and not so subtly that movies portray people one way when they are, in fact, any number of ways. The movie has a solid punchline and is really enjoyable with lots of types of characters.
Leo is a gay man who builds furniture with his business partner for a living. His brother convinces him to attend a men's group, at which he meets Brendan. He develops a crush on Brendan, and over time Brendan seems to become responsive to it. At the same time, Leo is reconnecting with Sally, Brendan's ex-girlfriend and Leo's old high school sweetheart. Everyone assumes Sally was Leo's beard (gay man's girlfriend) but he begins to have feelings for her again.
Adam & Steve (2005)
To sum up this film, it is about letting go of the past, being yourself, and not giving in to fears. It is also just a romantic comedy about two gay dudes with a lot of insecurities. I would compare it to Along Came Polly in terms of bathroom humor mixed with sweet moments, dancing to impress, and fear of commitment.
Adam and Steve meet one night at a club when they are young—Adam is a goth kid and Steve is a sparkly go go dancer. They end up at Adam's apartment, high and drunk, where Steve has spontaneous diarrhea due to laxative lacing the cocaine. He runs, and Adam is left behind sick and addicted to drugs. Many years later, they meet again when Adam's dog is hurt and he takes him to the hospital in a panic, where Steve (a doctor) is kind enough to patch him up. They end up dating, not realizing that they met years ago. Meanwhile, they each have a goofy best friend looking for love.
Were the World Mine (2008)
This is one of my favorite musicals and is one of my old Netflix finds. You can find the original short film on YouTube that did well in film festivals and inspired the creation of a full movie. It is loosely based off Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream while at the same time featuring the play within the story. It is filmed in a very whimsical way that makes it feel like a high school fantasy. Interestingly, it features Robin William's daughter Zelda.
Timothy lives with his struggling single mother and has two great friends. Unfortunately, he is openly gay, which caused his father to leave and gets him picked on by other students at the all boys prep school he attends. Their English teacher Ms. Tebbit announces that the senior play will be A Midsummer Night's Dream. Some boys will play female parts like in Shakespeare's day and one person will play the fairy Puck. Timothy is chosen for this role, and as he practices his lines he finds a perfect rhythm and discovers the recipe for a love spell within the words that allows him to make anyone fall for the first person they see. Inevitably, he forces everyone in town to fall in love with someone of the same sex, trying to fulfill his own unrequited love as well as enact revenge.
