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A lot of the people who say they'd never seen any of Tori Spelling's work (in particular her TV appearances) before this are lying. I happen not to be - I mean, I KNOW she was on TV...but I never saw Beverly Hills 90210...I really didn't (and was in constant danger in the 80s/early 90s of having my Queercard taken away as a result...).
That out of the way...this was a fun romp of a film. I've met a lot of people who say they didn't think the two (straight) actors who played Gabriel and Mark 'acted' gay - let's not go there...personally, I think that kind of statement is asinine...what does 'gay' act like? (Bear in mind I speak from the extreme bias of being told I don't act gay, and the slowly dawning realization that is not a compliment (though the paradox that has always struck me is that it is evidently possible to act 'too' gay - is a 'win' achievable, then?)).
The basic plot concerns Gabriel, an aspiring Broadway songwriter, who is trying to write moving romantic songs, but is hampered by his inability to feel such emotions, in his opinion. He hangs out with an incredibly bad actress, Katherine, who always seems, nevertheless, a font of cheerfulness, determination and benign self-absorption. (This is evidently typecasting for Ms. Spelling, I'm told.)
One night, he goes out to a bar, where he meets Mark, a go-go dancer, who picks him up (as it happens, he's very cute, and, if I notice it, he must be). They then try to find somewhere to trick (hence the title)...it would be giving too much away to go into the circumstances, but everything is thrown in the way of this urgent mission.
Along the way, Gabriel meets Miss Coco Peru in a washroom, who warns him what a terrible person Mark is (this turns out to be false). Like every drag queen in every movie ever made, Miss Peru chews up the scenery, and nothing else shines or speaks while she is on-screen. Easily the most shriekingly funny and intense parts of the picture...
They almost succeed in getting the apartment of Perry, a bad musical variety performer acquaintance of Gabriel's, but, again, this is not to be.
Not to give too much away...but it has a happy ending for all concerned, even Katherine, who finally locates her anger.
It's no Fellini, or even (eek!) a Bruce LaBruce...but it is a very frothy, entertaining bit of fluff.
It should be out on video in February, 2000, which means it's probably circulating somewhere in the repertory cinema circles as we speak...I saw it late August, 1999...
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