Gaydar (2002)
One of the biggest treats for me
while attending the Austin
Film Festival this year (2002) was meeting Terry
Ray and Larry Lafond, the filmmakers of "Gaydar."
I didn't have a chance to catch their short during
the festival, but they were nice enough to give me
a copy of it to check out. I bring this all up because,
I am going to try to be objective here. It's really
hard to judge films in that manner once you meet a
filmmaker and like them, but... here goes anyway.
"Gaydar" is pretty funny for the
first five minutes or so. I'm talking hilariously
funny. The set-up is cute and the dialogue is snappy.
The best part of the entire film is Jm J. Bullock
as a guy having a yard sale. He's freaking hilarious.
Bullock may be doing his usual schtick, but you just
can't help but guffaw at his work here. I laughed
out loud at least 5 times, maybe more, while he was
on screen. His dialogue is wonderful.
But after this wonderful opening,
the film seems to lose a little ground. Terry Ray,
the co-writer, co-producer and star of the film is
funny but rather over the top. He mugs, squeaks, titters
and bugs his eyes far too much too take seriously.
Of course, the film is a comedy, but it is far too
rare that his antics lead to truly original humor.
He's pretty good at being goofy though. Ray has done
some TV work for family-oriented shows (and I'm not
using the word family as a euphemism here) and knowing
this about him may have flavored my opinion of his
performance here. I bet he's quite funny when held
a little bit more in check. I certainly wanted to
see him in other stuff after watching this film. And
I'll give him this, he comes off as cute as button
in this film.
After the hilarious first few minutes,
the film meanders through some typical and pointless
stuff including Ray doing (sigh) a take-off of Deniro
in front of the mirror from "Taxi Driver." Then there's
a really pointless and unattractive scene with Charles
Nelson Reilly that has no reason to exist. CNR looks
pretty old and Lafond, who directs here, insists on
showing him almost continually in close-up. I love
CNR, but this segment of the film is bothersome in
both its meaninglessness to the plot and its nauseating
visuals. (CNR spits continually while he talks, God
bless him).
But the film redeems itself with
its final message and a truly wonderful performance
from Jennifer Echols. As a rather large and adorable
co-worker to Ray's protag Randy, Echols is one of
the most darling faghags to hit the big screen since
John Waters went commercial. And her heartwarming
message at the film's climax is one that is unique
and poignant. Lafond and Ray have created a truly
sweet and yet pointed theme and Echols issues it via
dialogue with the sort of common-sense, sweet-natured
delivery it deserves. "Gaydar" reminds us that in
a world of drudgery and disillusionment, sometimes
a little ambiguity mixed with curiosity can help us
brighten the day by encouraging us to fantasize and
dream a little. It certainly is a nice and important
message from a short film that is as often humorous
as it is a little too cutesy.
Note:
Also with soap stud Bryan Datillo.
The rather clever and amusing theme
song is written by Ray. Datillo provides a hip-hop
song for the score. The rather typical traditional
score by John Boswell.
Run time is about 20 minutes.
