The Broken Hearts Club

Rating:
Summary: An inferior version of "Queer As Folks"
Review: Having seen it from start to finish, the first thing that came to my mind was "A total lack of originality". What's more, the strory lines are not convincing and some are just plain stupid, irrelevant and redundant, such as the death of the restaurant owner (played by what's his name), for example. Dean Caine gives a poor performance as a gay man (or as a character actor in general). All in all, it's just a poor immitation of the much talked-about and brilliantly produced TV series "Queer As Folks"

Rating:
Summary: Very Disapointing
Review: While it is cute this movie does not break any new ground. In brief mix late ninties prime time television and Mart Crowley's "The Boys in the Band" and you'll have "The Broken Hearts Club". A myriad of neuroses and stereotypes that will leave you feeling, "Why did I watch this???" Check out "Trick". Far more realistic and sexy with just the right amount of camp.

Rating:
Summary: Great Ensemble Cast
Review: When I first saw this movie as a recommendation for me, I read the reviews. Most of the ones I read were not complimentary. In fact, one of them gave it only 2 stars! I give this movie stars because of the acting, the story and the soundtrack. I used to be a fan of The Carpenters many years ago but as I got older, I changed my mind. Two of their songs are featured in this movie are strategically placed and made me fall in love with the music again. Each "category" of gay life is portrayed here in an honest light with no apologies offered or given. An interesting question happens at the beginning of the film, "What does Jack see in the Purple guy?" This question eventually gets answered and it is so obvious. So what did I particilarly like about this movie? See it and the question will get answered.

This movie is a non-threatening movie which can be seen with straight friends, family and co-workers and you or they will not be offended. There aren't any token sex scenes or obligatory nude scenes. Everything is tastefully done. Please see this movie, you will be able to identify with at least one of the characters. A great ensemble cast.

Rating:
Summary: Broken Hearts Club Is Just Broken
Review: I love gay mainstream films and purchased The Broken Hearts Club with great anticipation. To say that my enthusiasm was short lived would be an understatement! The characters are all so whiny,feeling sorry for themselves and chronic complainers that there is no one to root for during the whole 96 minute opus. While similar gay themed films like Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss,Jeffrey,The Object Of My Affection and Trick had characters to cheer for (or hate),this film elicted neither sympathy for nor empathy with any of the characters they were all so unlikable. And you got the impression that though these were supposed to be friends.....they were anything but. The story was thin to say the least and continuity was sadly lacking. The best performance came from veteran actor John Mahoney and his scenes were too few to carry and save this film. Hopefully a sequel is not planned for The Broken Hearts Club!

Rating:
Summary: mixed feelings
Review: I had my doubts about this movie even before I saw it, and I still have them. It's about a group of gay friends, all with their individual issues of coming-out, being or not being in a relationship, recreational drugs, donating sperm to your lesbian sister, etc. Somehow it is all just a bit too much, I think it would have been better to focus more on a specific storyline. I also didn't think it was romantic at all, although there are some funny moments. It's just a nice film to watch when you have nothing better to do (although even then I could name a few others you'd be better off watching instead).

Rating:
Summary: Just... Nice...
Review: Saw the movie through the weekend at an Out-Takes film festival. It was just a nice light hearted movie, had the audience laughing and the dictionary definitions were classic.

A bit stereo-typical maybe, but this is part of the appeal in a 'Feel-good take you to a gay ghetto for an hour' kindof way - a little of which can be a nice reminder of big city styles when you live in a small 100,000 city at the moment!

Rating:
Summary: Heterosexual Stealth Bomber
Review: I laughed at the first few scenes, until I began to notice something about the over-all context of virtually every "message" in the movie.

Subject: How to pander to virtually EVERY heterosexual misconceived perception of being a gay man.

1. Gay men are more miserable AFTER they "come out" then they were before they decided to make "being gay" the ONLY thing they ever talk about or before "being gay" became the primary focus of their one-faceted lives. The only other alternative available to gay men to being "out" and miserable is to attempt to achieve momentary and fleeting happiness through drugs...which leads to overdoses.

The overall message: If gay men would just shut up about it, everybody, including heteros, would be much happier.

2. At least four of the primary characters work in a restaurant, and yet at least one of them owns a home and drives a brand new SUV. Conclusion: Gay men have incredible amounts of disposable income even on the lowliest of salaries.

3. It is the ultimate goal of gay men to "act straight" and being a "bottom" is something gay men find just as degrading as heterosexuals would.

4. Gay sexual relations are empty and unfulfilling with even celibacy being a more desirable alternative. 5. Only Gay men who don't find fulfilling relationships and do not settle for celibacy as an alternative by the age of 28 or so are jaded and bitter. This, of course, is NOT the case for heterosexuals in the same boat.

There are more of these not-so-subtle contexts and sub-contexts which run rampant through this entire movie. The internalized self-hatred of these "gay" characters is based on completely heterosexual perceptions of what it means to be a gay man in America and left this viewer wondering just which right wing conservative organization provided the funding for its production.

If the production wins any awards, in my opinion, it would be most fitting if the presenters were Rev. Phelps and Dr. Laura.

Don't get me wrong. Gay men SHOULD watch this movie. And if you identify with any two characters in the story, immediately seek professional help from a qualified therapist to overcome your heterosexually socialized self-hatred. It beats overdosing and/or living a life of jaded celibacy.

Rating:
Summary: Not great but fun in places
Review: Six of us watched this at a "dinner and movie" night - I recommend watching it in a group. It's not a great movie but when several people in the room have dated each other some of the lines ring very true. It has enough laughs to be fun and enough serious material to be a conversation starter. I appreciate the realistic non-campy portrayals.

Rating:
Summary: A good movie, not brilliant
Review: Must a film always be brilliant and ground-breaking? Can't it just be a bit of fun with a little bit of moral to it?

This was certainly no brilliant film, but I think it's redeeming value lies in that each character had struggles in his life and learned how to deal with them the best way he could. There were issues of the true meaning of friendship and how to resolve conflicts in those friendships; low self-esteem; bad relationships that were eventually worked out through truthful communication; coming out and the need to develop one's identity, and be more than gay.

What's so bad about that? I've learned a few things about my own life from this film, even though it isn't a brilliant masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: BLAH BLAH BLAH
Review: VERY BORING AND LACKLUSTER. A WASTE OF SOME DECENT ACTORS. ENDING LEFT ME FEELING CHEATED AND TIME WASTED. TOO MANY STORYLINES WITH NONE DEEP ENOUGH TO HOLD YOUR INTEREST. A SHAME THEY DIDNT DO MORE WITH THESE PEOPLE. COME TO THINK OF IT WHY DID I GIVE THIS 2 STARS