All Over The Guy

Rating:
Summary: okay as a rental
Review: Read the other 3-star reviews and you'll get a good feel for this movie. The two lead gay characters were too dysfunctional for me. One is the child of alcoholic parents. The other is the child of 2 pyschologists. Both guys have issues, and it's played-up. It is a romantic comedy. I was surprised that Eli was still interested in Tom after catching him in a one-night stand after Eli and Tom had already gotten to know each other; and Eli never talked about it. I recommend this DVD as a rental (if it's available in your area), but not as a purchase.

Rating:
Summary: Funny and insightful from start to finish
Review: This is one of my favorite movies.

It is packed with star power (Christina Ricci, Lisa Kudrow, Doris Roberts, and more) as well as packed with talent.

The two leads (Richard Ruccolo and Dan Bucatinsky) and have an on-again-off-again romance on their rocky road to finding a compromise between what each of them want in a relationship.

Their friends (Sasha Alexander and Adam Goldberg) have a less-rocky but equally funny romance. The two couples are compared and contrasted in the movie and the result is an interesting, insightful, funny, and touching movie that works exceptionally well. Sasha Alexander, particularly, is hilarious and wonderful in this vehicle.

The dialog in this film is tight and very funny. You have to listen carefully to everything that everyone says to get all the jokes and learn about each of the characters.

It's a commentary on relationships (both straight and gay,) friendships, family, and love -done with humor and tenderness.

Wonderfully enjoyable. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, quirky, and a good addition to your DVD collection
Review: I am not usually drawn to romantic comedies; I am, in fact, a sci-fi/horror movie kind of girl. However, I was thoroughly enchanted with this movie, from start to finish. The relationship with Tom and Eli was, at times, funny, sad, and angering. (you really wanted to smack Tom a few times). But, you can't help but cheer for these two as they feel their way around each other, and discover (especially Tom) that's OKAY to have some pretty deep feelings for someone, and feel like you might actually deserve a little happiness in your life, no matter how screwed up your childhood was. I personally think this was the best romantic comedy I have ever seen, and can't recommed it enough!

Rating:
Summary: Above average gay film
Review: As a gay man, I am desperately looking for gay films that are not complete pornography, make you run screaming back into the closet, or have you depressed and suicidal for the next several days. This movie is none of those-thank God! [...]. All over the guy has truly lovable characters who you are cheering on in hopes they will get their lives figured out in time to attain happiness by the end of the film. My only real complaint about the film is the amount of foul language, there is a ton, but it is forgivable. In many ways, it is a very realistic love story with sobering yet humorous glances into the character's lives growing up and how that affects who they are now (this is not a major part of the film's development, just an enjoyable one). Overall, it is a fun ride. You can relax, sit back, enjoy. . . no-one moaning on and on about how much they hate themself, no suicides--just very adorable, lovable people struggling simply to be true to themselves and every once in awhile making you burst out in laughter in the process.

Rating:
Summary: Classic love story
Review: I thought about doing this review long ago (and actually started it at one point), but, well, you know how it is... but I just happened to catch the first hour when I went home at lunch, so here goes.

All Over the Guy is, ultimately, a classic boy meets boy, boy falls in love with boy, boy loses boy, boy gets boy back. In short, the kind of movie I wished for most of my younger life. It is -- yes, let's just say it and get it over with -- sweet. And that's nothing to be ashamed of.

First, a disclaimer -- I have worked with both Rich Ruccolo and Don Roos (I haven't seen either in years)... but that makes my love of this film all the more amazing. I find it difficult to watch films of actors I have worked with because it's hard to separate the character from the person I know. Rich succeeded in making me forget the actor and concentrate on the character of Tom. Tom is at once vulnerable and supremely sexy; you're not sure whether you want to hug him like a teddy bear or throw him down and get wild with him.

Dan Bucatinsky's Eli is perhaps not the polar opposite of Tom he appears to be. Tom almost physically runs from relationships while Eli backs away apologizing the whole time. They both embody the whole kaleidoscope of feelings that most of us have when we meet someone who interests us -- mostly, of course, fear. Fear of falling in love, or of not falling in love. Fear our feelings won't be returned, or that they will.

Personally, I see an enormous amount of chemistry between Tom and Eli. Look at the scene in the flea market, the interaction of their eyes, the body language... here are two guys who are fighting what they're feeling every step of the way (oh, and by the way, Eli is much more forgiving that I would be about the smoking).

The rest of the cast is superb as well, including some great cameo roles. Most of all, the characters of Brett and Jackie are very funny in a superb role reversal -- instead of the ubiquitous second-banana gay best friends, we have second-banana straight best friends.

The only problem I have with the film is the same problem I have with straight versions of this kind of story. How likely is it that people who appear to have such different interests and such volatile emotions will stay together... not to mention Tom's penchant for alcoholism. But then in "Pretty Woman" I just couldn't shake the feeling that this rich guy wouldn't stay with a prostitute long whether she looked like Julia Roberts or not.

Gay cinema has, thankfully, branched out from the early "Oh my God I'm gay I hate myself I can't let anyone find out" films like "Doing Time On Maple Drive." There is a place for gay cinema in every genre. And this film is in a definite class by itself in its genre.


Rating:
Summary: A Future Classic
Review: Well written and nicely acted... a good blend of comedy and drama. Mr. Bucantinsky writes with flair and feeling, and acts with grace and depth. Mr. Ruccolo distinguishes himself with a finely-crafted, multi-layered compelling portrayal. Ms. Alexander and Mr. Goldberg deliver great comic performances. This is a future classic! With its excellent script and fine direction, it is a most successful and insightful exploration of the complex intricacies of human relationships and possibilites inherent therein.