Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss

Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss

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DVD Reviews of Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss

DVD Review: Is he or isn't he? I don't care all that much.
Summary: 4 Stars

Had I written this review shortly after receiving the DVD I would have gone on gushily about how great it is, but it hasn't worn that well with repeated viewings. The slender thread - should I say tease - upon which the plot hangs, "is he or isn't he," "will he or won't he," hasn't sustained my interest that much on subsequent viewings.

Still, it's a fun movie.

Sean Hayes is wonderful in this endearing role he created before becoming a stereotypical queen on "Will and Grace." The other characters are not as well drawn and mostly too true to simplistic stereotypes but are entertaining. Brad Rowe plays the somewhat naive but just-a-little-bit curious hunk well. It isn't a role that I'm very sympathetic to. I realize he was supposed to be more wooden and less graceful than Billy, and a bit of a tease and a bit of a jerk, but I kept wondering if he was chosen just for his Brad Pitt looks.

I am not a fan of drag or musicals, but the fantasy sequences were a real hoot, particularly the dance number with Billy and Gabriel and the Petula Clark numbers. Besides Hayes acting, these are the best parts of the film.

Director Tommy O'Haver has a few cute cinematic tricks up his sleeve. The use of the Polaroid as integral to the story was fine, but he was overly fond of it's use as a cinematic device. I found the opening sequence and "groovy" credits tedious the first time thru and even more so on subsequent viewings. When a film starts out by playing down to the audience and talking down to the audience, it's usually not a good sign, but fortunately the rest of the film treats the audience more intelligently.

The Polaroid device is also unfortunately used to present the tedious flashback of Billy's coming out, which I suppose is actually somewhat autobiographical of the director. I suppose everybody thinks their coming out story is absolutely fascinating, but in truth they seldom are to anybody other than the teller. Anyway, its preferable in a movie to show a prior coming out experience, if it's essential to the story, rather than just have a character narrate a slide show. Billy's character is already the only well developed character in the film and this extra insight isn't necessary to the plot.

Besides the tiresome overuse of the Polaroid as a cinematic device, the scene in which Billy gets some quality PosturePedic time with Gabriel and starts acting like a rabbit in a lettuce patch was a bit heavy for a trifle like this. I was grateful Gabriel quickly put a stop to it.

One of the best parts of the DVD is the track of director's comments; don't miss it. There is a lot to the film that doesn't catch the eye of a casual viewer and I hope Mr. O'Haver has the opportunity to make more films, so long as he loses the Polaroid next time around.

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