Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss [2008] [DVD]

Billy's wish in life is to meet the man of his dreams and share a romance similar to those of classic hollywood movies. Unfortunately he falls for a sexually confused young model and things cannot end happily. A stylish, intelligent comedy with more wit than many recent pretenders. Sean P Hayes (from TVs 'Will & Grace') is a real star and Brad Rowe as the object of his affection beautiful enough to be belived. Upbeat, moving and very funny Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss deserves to sit along side Priscilla, Beautiful Thing and Trick - films which deserve success way beyond the constraints of the gay market.

Being a huge fan of Will & Grace, and loving Sean Hayes performance as Jack in it, I was excited when I noticed this film!

Having bought it I can say it was worth buying!

The whole story revoloves around Billy (Sean Hayes) who is a photographer, a hopeless romantic and who happens to be gay at the same time!

He always finds himself falling for men he can't have, and his latest crush is his newest model who is posing for Billy's latest idea of using an all male cast to show the greatest Hollywood Screen Kisses! Oh, he also happens to have a girlfriend and Billy just cannot tell if he is gay!!! What should he do? Don't know? Well neither does Billy!

What follows is a funny and romantic trip for Billy as he tries to wrestle with his feelings and his past!

I found this film, funny, touching and with out the typical Hollywood Ending!

Wonderful stuff

If you are a fan of Sean Hayes then you may enjoy this movie, despite the story being a little predictable. One however, should not expect that much from the scripting, direction or content, as it is hardly insightful or new. The story of unrequited love has been explored in countless other movies, many of which are far better in both delivery and humour. Here I am reminded of that profoundly mesmerising scene in the "Object of My Affection" when Nigel Hawthorne concedes that the man whom he loves and adores, will never return that affection, and how he must reconcile himself to that truth and be satisfied with the level of intimacy he has. The movie had both wit and humour, and yet dealt with that reality in such a way as to liger well beyond the final credits. "Billy's Hollywood Kiss" attempts to reach that same level, and two scenes in particular come to mind. The first is the bedroom scene, where Sean Hayes and the object of his affection share a bed, and the other is when the truth is finally realised. Both scenes have humour, but fail to impact on the same level that Nigel Hawthorne did in his singular scene in the "Object of My Affection" (such is the power of a well crafted script, good direction and a established actor). Not that one needs such an established actor, as the young Michael McMillian in "Dorian Blues" was equally profound. Not that Sean Hayes is bad in this role, albeit a far more reserved and casual version of his many other characters. Brad Rowe (the object of his affection) on the other hand seems too artificial and lacks any convincing substance. Indeed he may be attractive, but that is not the sum of a good actor. In fact, and in my humble opinion Armando Valdes-Kennedy who plays Fernando (a minor character) is far more convincing, and perhaps the roles should have been reversed.

All of that aside, the movie has moments which are rather funny and well delivered. The story however, is both predictable and condescending. Whilst touching on some of the inherent (albeit superfluous) vulnerabilities and fears of an ageing gay man, there are times when the story descends into stereotypical neurosis. I am not convinced that all gay men are so superficial, and I am certainly not convinced that they lack emotional depth or substance. History is full of examples where such depth and substance made for profound human development, art, creativity and even revolution. I am therefore, saddened when 'Hollywood" churns out time and time again, the same gay characters that lack emotional substance, and seem destined to self-destruct. Either they fall in love with a straight man, and project their affection. Or they fall in love with a gay man, and project their affection. Come now, enough!

Gay cinema deserves better. Sure explore these themes, but do so in a manner which gives honour to the substance that one finds daily in queerdom, or at the very least has real quality and design.