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Fearlessly raw and surprisingly tender The Houseboy delivers a wildly unconventional holiday tale. Aimless and barely in his twenties, disarmingly cute Ricky is content to play boy toy to a pair of hot thirty-something lovers. That is until he overhears them whisper about "a new toy for Christmas." Crushed and totally alone while his couple vacations, Ricky binges on internet hookups, random tricks, and hardcore drugs. Unable to kill the pain, Ricky contemplates the end. But a chance meeting with Blake, a sweetheart college kid with a thousand watt smile, makes Ricky wonder if there's something to live for after all.
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
An unusual protagonist raises this film above the usual fare. Ricky is a young-ish guy who has been in a relationship with a wealthy, older gay couple for around a year. He's fairly content with this ménage-a-trois, and believes the couple love him. The film opens just before Christmas - the couple are off to visit relations, leaving Ricky behind to house-sit. The morning of their departure, he overhears one saying to the other that he wanted "a new toy" for Christmas, evidently referring to finding a replacement for Ricky.
Left alone for the holidays, depressed at the rejection, Ricky spirals downwards into a string of faceless one-night stands and explorers the use of hard drugs. He tells each trick that he plans to commit suicide on New Years' Eve. They mostly brush him off, interested only in a fleeting sexual encounter. The one man he does meet to whom he feels some genuine emotions is Blake, a college student, and all-round nice-guy. Ricky had been thrown out of home for telling his parents that he was gay; in contrast, Blake has an open, loving family environment - everything that Ricky most desires. But when Ricky presses for sex, Blake runs.
The faceless sexual encounters and drugs increase. New Years Eve is approaching...time for Ricky to put his plan into effect?
'The Houseboy' starts off somewhat bland, and the viewer can be forgiven for thinking that it will be just another low-budget fluff piece, the stereotypical 'gay movie'. In some ways it is - family conflict, lashings of nudity and sex - but Ricky's character develops impressively as the film proceeds, becoming increasingly disturbed as New Years' Eve draws closer. Not an easy role, but Nick May turns in a credible performance as the progressively dazed, scared and obsessive Ricky. This characterization, together with some surreal moments (snorting coke with Santa Claus) and a darker look at desire, make 'The Houseboy' into more than it first appears. I would actually give this film 3 and a half stars, in recognition of its potential.
Plenty of extras complete the DVD: deleted scenes, extra footage and on-set rehearsals, alongside the usual stills gallery and trailers.
Left alone for the holidays, depressed at the rejection, Ricky spirals downwards into a string of faceless one-night stands and explorers the use of hard drugs. He tells each trick that he plans to commit suicide on New Years' Eve. They mostly brush him off, interested only in a fleeting sexual encounter. The one man he does meet to whom he feels some genuine emotions is Blake, a college student, and all-round nice-guy. Ricky had been thrown out of home for telling his parents that he was gay; in contrast, Blake has an open, loving family environment - everything that Ricky most desires. But when Ricky presses for sex, Blake runs.
The faceless sexual encounters and drugs increase. New Years Eve is approaching...time for Ricky to put his plan into effect?
'The Houseboy' starts off somewhat bland, and the viewer can be forgiven for thinking that it will be just another low-budget fluff piece, the stereotypical 'gay movie'. In some ways it is - family conflict, lashings of nudity and sex - but Ricky's character develops impressively as the film proceeds, becoming increasingly disturbed as New Years' Eve draws closer. Not an easy role, but Nick May turns in a credible performance as the progressively dazed, scared and obsessive Ricky. This characterization, together with some surreal moments (snorting coke with Santa Claus) and a darker look at desire, make 'The Houseboy' into more than it first appears. I would actually give this film 3 and a half stars, in recognition of its potential.
Plenty of extras complete the DVD: deleted scenes, extra footage and on-set rehearsals, alongside the usual stills gallery and trailers.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is the story of Ricky, he is `the housboy' for a gay couple who have him a s a sort of live in play thing, very nihilistic. However he seems to genuinely like/love them both and it is Christmas and as he has been let down by his own family he thinks he is going to be with them. Except they are going away to one of their parents for `the holidays', and are leaving him with extensive directions on how to look after their love nest. This involves a lot of plant and fish feeding apparently.
Before they leave Ricky overhears them talking about getting a `new toy' for Christmas and he knows they are referring to his position within the home. They leave and he is distraught, so he goes out and hooks up with an astonishing amounts of success with every low life cruiser on the planet and a few more besides. His first guy is into chicks except they lack any felating prowess - like we didn't know. He then lets them come back to his place and get up to all sorts of shenanigans, the sort you normally need to visit a `members club' for. He then announces on a number of occasions that he will commit suicide on Christmas Eve.
Whilst the plot is somewhat limited, it is actually a quiet and warm film, with love and the lack of it as a central theme. Where I felt it fell down was in some average support performances and the comedy fairground music that kept on crashing into the mood of the thing. Whilst nearly all of the guys he picks up are universally self centred and actually horrible, there are some that redeem gayhood and men in general and at 71 minutes this did not drag. This won't float everyone's boat but it is one for those interested in gay cinema.
Before they leave Ricky overhears them talking about getting a `new toy' for Christmas and he knows they are referring to his position within the home. They leave and he is distraught, so he goes out and hooks up with an astonishing amounts of success with every low life cruiser on the planet and a few more besides. His first guy is into chicks except they lack any felating prowess - like we didn't know. He then lets them come back to his place and get up to all sorts of shenanigans, the sort you normally need to visit a `members club' for. He then announces on a number of occasions that he will commit suicide on Christmas Eve.
Whilst the plot is somewhat limited, it is actually a quiet and warm film, with love and the lack of it as a central theme. Where I felt it fell down was in some average support performances and the comedy fairground music that kept on crashing into the mood of the thing. Whilst nearly all of the guys he picks up are universally self centred and actually horrible, there are some that redeem gayhood and men in general and at 71 minutes this did not drag. This won't float everyone's boat but it is one for those interested in gay cinema.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ricky is a house boy but feels he is about to be cast aside . Spending christmas alone he goes from one miserable unwanted sexual encounter to another . Random pointless sex [ some very graphic and sexy] and lots of drugs . This film works suprisingly well
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great DVD
Great service and a really nice present. Delilvery was as discibed and recieved in top comdition with no damage. I would recommend purchasing DVD's from them.
Published 8 months ago by Martin
A wee bit dreary...
The title sounds like the nature of being in a 3 person relationship was going to be explored, but the actual story is about the 3rd wheel - always surplus to requirements -... Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by Dee Tee
Bold and brave filmmaking
The Houseboy is not an easy watch and often feels like quite a depressing journey but it is ultimately an up-lifting tale of a young, lost boy who finds himself within the haze his... Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2009 by Tom Smith
Mistake
Don't be misled by the cover. The two guys disappear within five minutes of the opening credits leaving the boy in the center to his own devices and mainly to face imaginary... Read more
Published on 14 July 2009 by Ford Ka
badly acted
Im afraid this is really rather awful..badly acted, stilted, plot had potential but so poorly scripted that lost interest rather quickly. Read more
Published on 13 April 2009 by stuinsun
Very enjoyable movie
I was not sure what to expect with this movie, but it was much better than i thought. Well worth watching. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2008 by Mr. A. Stockdale
Drivel
The title had loads of potential, but what a mission to remain focused on the movie - you find yourself looking for distractions, any distractions.... Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2008 by UK Lad
Dire
An appalling depressing sadly and badly directed and realised piece of drivel....get yer razor blades out if you buy this. Well intended? Can't even say that.
Avoid.
Avoid.
Published on 15 Oct 2008 by C. W. Marshall
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