Review of The Big Gay Musical (2009) by Ólafur Ó — 17 Apr 2011

I didn't know anything about this film before watching it, and I guess I had mentally connected it with Another Gay Movie or something, and my expectations tended towards "exploitative gross-out trash". But -shock- I was pleasantly surprised to find that this film is nothing of that ilk, though I suppose all the (rather yum) nudity could be considered exploitative, but hell, I'm not complaining here.

But anyway, I was surprised at first off, how good the movie looked, photographed well, screened well, edited very well, the works. The acting wobbled here and there, and in some cases it did more than just wobble, but the main actors, and especially the Paul character did a fine job I felt. The songs were surprisigly funny, but at the same time they had actual meaning in most cases, and I found myself rather glee-ified as the whole thing progressed. But perhaps my greatest surprise concerned the plot. Most importantly: there was one! And it also managed to hold up pretty well for most of the film. I liked how it did its best to show all aspects of "gay life" and the differences within, and for once I didn't even mind the 'overkill' that gay films inevitably seem to have when they attempt this, ramming philosophical opposites down your throat just so that you won't think that "there is only one kind of gay". Yes, usually the artifice around that irks me, but here I felt it was presented in a more naturalistic way. The "struggle" of the Paul character is undoubtedly a familiar one to many viewers, but I'd never seen it worked out in a way that felt real and natural to me until now. On a less ebullient note I have to say that despite its generally positive message and ending, I was left with a taste of melancholy in my mouth, mostly because of personal associations the movie is not culpable for, I'm certain, and of course also because I can't sing and I'll never have abs like that, damnit...

I'm aware that I'm a bit TOO glowing about this flick, it's not a masterpiece, and that this is mostly because my expectations were so incredibly low, causing every scene to be a pleasant surprise and delight. Nonetheless, I feel that even those better informed will find plenty to enjoy here, provided you like musicals, hot guys, lots of talk about sex, sex, gay jokes galore and hot guys singing and hot guys having sex, and maybe I should just watch it again before bed...