It's In The Water

Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have for Every Gay/Lesbian Video Library!
Review: If you're ready for a great lesbian and gay romance that's also hysterically funny ... or a brilliant film that projects positive lesbi-gay images with eye-pleasing protagonists ... or something you'd love to watch with Mom or Dad, then RUN, DON'T WALK, to your local video store (Blockbuster carries it) and rent IT'S IN THE WATER! Come to think of it, buy your own copy, as you'll want to watch it over and over again!

Rarely have I seen any production (film, television, stage) that accurately portrays the South, much less what life is like for a lesbian from a socially prominent family in a small southern town. Though some of Kelli Herd's characters may seem bigger-than-life (Hell, it is Texas, after all!), let me tell you that characters like these truly exist in my home town -- maybe even in yours.

Though set in the South, this has been an audience favorite at festivals the world over. It is truly one of the best films I've seen in years. Let's hope that we see more from first-time filmmaker KELLI HERD!

Rating:
Summary: Big Heart, Small Budget
Review: At last, a feel-good gay themed movie about living and thriving rather than death and dying!

Rather than talk about the darkness and shadows of being gay, first time screenwriter/director Kelli Herd focuses her script and her camera on the very things that makes all us straight folks sit up and pay attention, too: love and happiness.

If you can't be happy with who you are, then how will you ever love another?

That's a universal question, not one for merely certain parts of civilization. To that end, this film works. It calls to task the human condition without making us feel like we're being hit over the head with a message.

It fails mostly in small parts of the script that needed tightening, some of the acting is weak, but not that of the leads. Kerri Jo Chapman and Theresa Garrett, as the strong female lead and her paramour, offer up a nice calling card for producers with their work here as does Mathew Tompkins, as our heroine's estranged husband. He startles with reserved rage, making what could have been a two-dimensional role a character to be reckoned with.

And before you go thinking this is just a lesbian eye candy movie, note there is no real nudity, nary a tongue a waggin', and pay attention to that beautiful boy Timothy Vahle, as Tomas. He could paint my interior any time :)

There's something here for everyone - boys and girls, straights and gays alike.

As I said, Big Heart, Small Budget.

As for the DVD itself, any dvd with cast and director commentary is a.o.k. by me.

Rating:
Summary: Adequate... since there isn't much else.
Review: By my way of thinking, there are three ways to look at it.

The first - it's great for a genre that rarely gets the funding to produce anything at all, much less something this inventive.

The second - compared to movies outside its genre, it's poorly written, poorly acted and poorly filmed. Hate to say it, but it's true.

The third (and probably the most reaslistic) - it's an endearing enough idea that could have been better had the budget been there to hire someone to write a better script to be performed by better actors (perhaps some who are actually gay instead of beautiful straight women who seem more like they're experimenting than actually coming to terms with their sexual orientation). As it is, there was no budget, so some of the better actors overcome the dialogue that isn't so great, making this a fine and somewhat enjoyable way to kill a few hours just before bed. At least they tried, huh?

Rating:
Summary: In the Water, Into your Hearts
Review: Independent movies, by their nature, aren't meant to be big Hollywood blockbusters. The reason they are so popular is that they concentrate on the depth of characters rather than a bunch of mind-numbing special effects or a big movie star. Certainly nowadays, independent cinema has imporved tremendously in all arenas. It's in the Water is typical of that independent film made truly independently.

Made and directed lovingly by Kelli Herd, It's in the Water tells the story of Alex Stratton, trapped in a loveless marriage due to the expectations of her family and the town she lives in. Reacquianted with her old best friend Grace Miller, she begins to question herself and who she is. Herd throws into the mix a crazy cast of characters, from a domineering mother Lily, to glorious drag queens, all adds up to a film that's both fun and heartwarming.

Offering a more inclusive story, Herd includes men coming out on their own terms as well. Mark Anderson is a man struggling with coming to terms with his homosexuality and attends a hilarious group "Homo No Mo" group, only to meet the incredibly sexy Tomas, a painter with a heart of gold. Both Derrick Sanders and timothy Vahle should be commended on their honest and touching portrayal of two men coming out and into each others arms. I liked seeing a "lesbian film" more inclusive; a route more "gay men" films need to do as well.

Herd manages to tackle with her short hundred minutes of film the insanity of small town thinking, ex-gay ministry groups, religious hypocrisy, and AIDS. She manages to do it without the usual preachiness and brow beating that this film could have become. By keeping the film from becoming too serious, the messages hit home more strongly. By the end of the film, with it's absolutely stunning choir rendition of "I'll Fly Away" sung by the Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ Choir, you are carried away with everyone as well.

Especially fun on the DVD was listening to the commentary track done by Ms. Herd, and the films two stars, Keri Jo Chapman and Teresa Garrett. Offering many insights and fun stories, listening to them was almost as enjoyable as watching the film itself. You can tell from their comments that this movie truly was a labor of love.

I highly recommend this movie. Don't take it too seriously, but allow yourself to be carried away to Azalea Springs, and while you're there, go ahead and drink the water.

Rating:
Summary: Cheesey
Review: While I appreciate any and all lesbian movies, simply by virtue of the fact that there are so few of them, this certainly wouldn't fit into my Top 10 list. Cute but terribly corny and predictable. The dialog and acting leave much to be desired. I'm glad to have seen this "classic" lesbian flick, but there are much better movies out there: Fire, Lost and Delirious, The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love, Go Fish, Better Than Chocolate, among others.

Rating:
Summary: Where Have I Been?
Review: I immediately purchased the DVD, after borrowing this little indie from friends recently. I wondered how I missed it's release several years ago! I especially HIGHLY recommend buying/renting the DVD, so that you can listen to the commentary from the director and the two main actors. They are as funny as the movie, and really offer deeper insight into the inspiration behind each character, and what it was like for them to make this movie. I was surprised that some of the previous reviewers didn't "get" the whole stereoptype thing. It's a comedy! The sterotyping is what makes the movie so fun and the mom, Lily, for example, to be so over the top. Scarey thing is, I've known people like that. The acting for the most part was very believable, especially in the pivotal porch scene. Besides being HOT, Keri Jo Chapman's (as Alex) facial expressions are priceless and often make the scenes memorable. While the sex scenes certainly don't stray into [the hardcore] territory, they are hot enough and leave you wanting more. We need an "It's in the Water" Two..."Diving Head First into the Water?" They could have left out a few of the gimicky things (Endora), and a couple of the music choices (Ballroom). But hey, who can complain, when we've had such terrible films like Claire of the Moom? In the desert of good Lesbian and Gay movies, I was very pleased to have found this one and add it to my small collection.

Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have for Every Gay & Lesbian Library!
Review: If you're ready for a great lesbian and gay romance that's also hysterically funny ... or a brilliant film that projects positive lesbian and gay images with eye-pleasing protagonists ... or something you'd love to watch with Mom or Dad, then buy this film, as you'll want to watch it over and over again!

Rarely have I seen any production (film, television, stage) that accurately portrays the South, much less what life is like for a lesbian from a socially prominent family in a small southern town. Though some of Kelli Herd's characters may seem bigger-than-life (Hell, it is Texas, after all!), let me tell you that characters like these truly exist in my home town -- maybe even in yours.

Though set in the South, this has been an audience favorite at festivals the world over. And this one's for the boys and the girls. It is truly one of the best films I've seen in years. Let's hope that we see more from first-time filmmaker KELLI HERD!

Rating:
Summary: Whatever is in the Water...it aint good!
Review: I'm harsh with lesbian movies...and this dvd is a good example as to why.
Plot:
Really pretty strait chick leaves husband for unattractive lesbian: Horrible make-out scene's follow.
I considered tearing my eyes from my skull as I watched the lame acting of the brunette in this flick. I don't know who she is, or who told her she could act, but someone screwed up big-time!
The 'love scene' was a complete rip off. Ugly, stumpy legged brunnete lesbian crawls into bed with sweet looking blonde woman...and the screen fades to black.
Wow.
(...)
Skip this (...) movie...for your own sake.

Rating:
Summary: light comedic fare
Review: This was ok...light on comedy light on love...and a little light on story line...worthwhile to see may want to rent first

Rating:
Summary: It's in the Toilet
Review: This movie was horrible. I expected a B flick, but come on, I've seen porn with better actors!!! Don't buy it, it's not worth your hard earned money.