DVD Review: Big Gay Love

Big Gay Love is a dramatic comedy about a gay man who is doing well in his professional life (as a party planner), but is insecure in his social life, not completely pleased with his appearance, and not believing that anyone could fall in love with him. It opens with Bob (Jonathan Lisecki, who wrote and directed the wonderful Gayby) going to look at a house he wishes to purchase. In voice over he tells us, “Today I am realizing the dream of buying my first home.” But while looking at the house, the married gay couple next door pops by and makes Bob feel worse during what should be a bright moment for him.

Meanwhile, Bob’s best friend Lana announces she is getting married, but her fiancé is someone Bob recognizes from some photos in a gay magazine. And Bob’s mother (Ann Walker) wants Bob’s help in making a comeback as an artist of some sort. But the main thread of this film is Bob’s relationship with Andrew Darcy (Nicholas Brendon, whom you’ll recall from Buffy The Vampire Slayer), a caterer who is not only handsome, but seems like a nice, level-headed guy. So of course Bob questions why someone like Andrew would be interested in someone like him, possibly leading him to undo the very thing he’s been searching for.

Early on, when Andrew asks Bob, “How was your day,” Bob begins to tear up. “No one ever asks,” he explains. It’s a sweet moment, and the film works best when it’s being sweet. I love the moment when Bob enters the elevator (after his first kiss with Andrew), and is so joyous that he jumps. Jonathan Lisecki is able to make that moment not only believable but endearing. The scenes between Bob and Andrew are those that work best. The humor, however, is hit and miss.

The film has some forced and awkward moments, like when Bob’s friends push Bob to introduce himself to a series of people at a party. The stuff between Bob and his two gay friends often seems forced. And when Bob’s mother shows up at Bob’s apartment unannounced, Andrew somehow recognizes her, saying “Aren’t you that pin-up model from the 1970s?” It seems an unnatural way to get across that bit of information, especially as I don’t believe Andrew would recognize her that way. The film hasn’t established that Andrew follows female models or that he’s heavily into the 1970s or anything that would give credibility to his recognizing her. Also, the movie doesn’t really find a flow. It moves from point to point, but without any real momentum. That being said, the film does have heart.

Special Features

The DVD includes a commentary track by Ringo Le. He talks about the cast, and about shooting at M Bar, and offers some advice for new directors. However, he’s clearly unaware of the definition of the word “literally,” for in describing the actors playing the gay neighbors, he says, “they just literally nailed the scene.” Ouch. And later when talking about the two leads eating a lot of sandwiches, he says, “By the end of the night, they literally wanted to explode.” Really?

The DVD also includes the film’s trailer.

Big Gay Love was released on DVD on December 2, 2014 through TLA Releasing.