Review of Humpday (2009) by Nora H — 14 Jul 2009

"Humpday" is a radical, fearless film about transcending one's own limits. Meet Ben and Andrew. They were very close in college, when they shared a passion for art and the courageous exploration of life. They were going to take on the world together. Instead Ben left Andrew and settled down to a relatively normal married life. Andrew went out on his own.

Now on the verge of middle age, they find each other again. The spark comes roaring back immediately. At an all-night party under the influence of numerous drugs, their artistic spirit starts to soar. The discussion turns to Humpfest, Seattle's amateur-porn festival (it really does exist) that caters to artists who are interested in more than just bump and grind.

Ben feels that there's no use in submitting a video for the festival unless it's a real work of art, something that's never been done before. They jokingly entertain the idea of making a film themselves -- two straight guys having sex certainly hasn't been done before.

Andrew then jokes that Ben would never in a million years do something so radical, which draws Ben's ire. Ben wonders if he's missing out on life by being too conservative and not exploring his outer limits.

Surprisingly, when the drugs wear off, both Ben and Andrew still want to make the video, but they don't really know why. Neither one is sexually attracted to the other, and neither one is bi-curious. They really are straight. They're determined not to "puss out" though, to use their words. So begins an extraordinary exploration of the forces of gravity that keep us in our comfort zones and the occasional rebellions we wage against that gravitational pull.

The sexual dimension of this project makes it even more interesting. Why is it especially disconcerting for two straight guys to push beyond the bounds of their sexual orientation? Why is it especially exciting? Even those nauseated by the idea probably would experience it like a car crash. It's a terrible sight and you cover your eyes instinctively. But you peer fleetingly between your fingers to catch a glimpse.

And surely everyone, whether they want to or not, will wonder -- even if just for a split second -- which sex practices the straight guys will actually perform with each other. How far will they go? Will one of them surprise himself and like any of it?

Then there's the question of Ben's marriage. Will he do this behind his wife's back? If he tells her, will she leave him? Will her sense of his masculinity be permanently undermined? "Humpday" takes these issues on, too. Ben's wife emerges as a full character in her own right as a result.

This is a profoundly original film. All throughout, I had the feeling I was watching the 21st century itself being born. How will sexual, social, and marital practices evolve in this new century? "Humpday" is not sure, but it teases out some of the threads and asks open-ended questions in a thrilling way.

Despite the fact that it explores issues that will make many members of the audience squirm (in fact some straight men may be thrown into real panic and dread), "Humpday" miraculously finds a way to remain light-hearted. It never bashes the viewer over the head or grinds any axes. It's not a polemical film. "Humpday" is an enjoyable experience, with a lot of genuine laughter produced. But it also pulls the rug out from under 20th-century notions of sexuality and identity in a way that is deeply disconcerting.