This movie is hilarious. I giggled so much I thought I was gonna shit. Pay no mind to the lackluster and dated title. This is a film you are going to love.

Granted, the film seems like three movies in one, but who cares. First, it's so funny that your sides will hurt. Secondly, it's so romantic that it will bring a tear to your eye. And third, it's got dancing and singing, which is something that will make any gay man worth his weight in salt (or salty related emissions) perk up and take notice.

The Adam is writer/director/star Craig Chester as a whiny, fragile New York Jew and recovering substance abuser who can't seem to find the right guy. Steve is Malcolm Gets (from TV's "Caroline in the City" - girl, we always knew) as a hunky, bar-hopping, gym rat who is growing tired of his lifestyle of anonymous sex in the bath-house.

I don't want to give away to much of the film but I have to tell you that the centerpiece of the story, the moment that defines the film, is the climax of a flashback sequence set in the 80's that kicks off the film. Chester is hilarious as a Goth guy (although he looks far older than the 21 he is supposed to be). Gets is even more hilarious as a "Dazzle Dancer" who rocks out to "Obsession" by Animotion with his company of glittered co-stars. And Parker Posey is funny as hell in a fat suit playing the fag hag to end all fag hags.

Let's just say that an embarrassing moment occurs between the Goth and the dancer when they begin a love-making session and this moment becomes the most important one in the film. 17 years later, the two meet and, having changed so drastically, do not recognize each other. The embarrassing moment from their past is only a suppressed memory now and we enjoy watching them fall in love knowing all the time that, when the memory returns to their psyche, getting past the embarrassment will be the true test of their love.

I'll be the first to admit that this isn't a perfect film. Posey's character has a plot about being a stand-up comic that tries one's patience at times and some of the country line dancing goes on way too long, but overall the comedy and romance here helps the film move right along. Yes, there is some schmaltz, like the finale of the film and some of the snuggling between the two stars, but when the film hits the right romantic notes, it will move you to tears. Girl, all I'm saying is that Gets sings a song from "The Sound of Music" to Chester that not only brings a tear to the lead actors eye, it will make you boo-hoo like a 5 year old. This was so romantic, and brought such a rush of emotions and memories back to me, that I thought I was going to loose it! To hear a man sing "I must have done something good..." to another man is nothing less than a defining moment in gay cinema. And Gets performs it perfectly. It is amazing.

Chester is great in the film. He plays "Adam" like "The 40 Year Old Gay Virgin." And since we all know there is no such thing, we understand that he is still sheltered, shy and inexperienced even if he has had sex before. Chester isn't afraid to look middle-aged and his face is so interesting that he evokes lust as easily as he does comedy. He doesn't have to mug or bug his eyes to make us laugh and yet, he easily provokes a giggle with just a look or a sidelong glance. Gets, meanwhile, is far more masculine than he was in his most famous TV outing (no pun intended) and provides all the key elements for a romantic lead. It's nice to see a gay romance that isn't about some 40-year-old, balding, loser suddenly finding love with a 17 year old hustler or some such nonsense. This is one of the most viable gay romantic comedies I've ever seen.

"Adam and Steve" has everything. It's romantic as hell and it will make you laugh so hard you just might shit. Bring Kleenex. And toilet paper.

Note:

Also with Chris Kattan, Julie Haggery, Sally Kirkland, Paul Sands, Melinda Dillon, Jennifer Echols, and Noah Segan, the hottest guy I've seen in a film so far this year. (Looking on-line I see he is also in a film called "Brick" with Joey Gordon-Leavitt, Lucas Haas and Noah Fleiss which debuted at Sundance this year).

Score by Roddy Bottum, the keyboardist for Faith No More. (I can't believe that is his real name - it's a double double entendre to rival Peter O'Toole.)

The film debuted at Tribeca in April of this year and will be given a theatrical release by TLA in March of 2006.

Viewed at the opening night of Agliff in September of 2005 at the Arbor theater in Austin with the filmmaker and star Craig Chester in attendance.

Report Card

Script: A

Acting: A+

Cinematography\Lighting: B+

Special Effects\Make Up: B+

Music: B+

Final Grade: A