While there is no doubt an audience for Another Gay Movie, which posits itself as a satire of the lewd and loud sub-Porky's teensploitation films that wash up in cineplexes like red tides every few seasons, it unfortunately doesn't even manage to achieve the rather modest promise of its title.
   What plot there is revolves around a pact four gay high school friends make to lose their virginity before the end of summer - a premise so threadbare as to serve as a joke in itself. There's a straight-seeming jock (Jonathan Chase), a nerd (Mitch Morris), an innocent (Michael Carbonaro) and a flamboyant type who seems like a hybrid of Jon Cryer as Duckie and Paul Lynde. While it's very gay and very derivative, it's not very funny. Aside from a few modest grins - I actually laughed when a character did a flash impression of Karen Black in Airport '75 - the only reason to see this movie is if you're curious or starved for movies about stereotypical gay types.
   That said, the mostly young cast - which includes Little Rock's Ashlie Atkinson as what passes for the movie's Fonzie/Yoda/Rizzo font of street wisdom - is lively and likable even in their (admittedly purposefully) over-the-top roles. They all seem to take the entire enterprise so lightly it seems the height of sourpussiness to subject it to anything like criticism.
   But while we understand camp - and this movie can certainly be enjoyed as camp - there's not much here other than a few skits the most bottom-feeder TV comedy ensemble would reject as too broad. And while the tastelessness of some of the gags is probably the point, it is possible to be tasteless while being funny, or at least provocative. South Park manages the trick fairly regularly.
   Although Todd Stephens became an instant cult figure with his debut film, the highly regarded in some quarters Edge of 17, he displays a fraction of the imagination of fellow "gay auteurs" like John Cameron Mitchell and Charles Busch. Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus) is a more ambitious and inventive filmmaker, while Busch (Die, Mommie, Die!, Psycho Beach Party) is simply wittier.
   Still, nothing in this review should dissuade anyone with the yen from attending this film. It is a harmless, silly thing that would no doubt be improved if viewed in the right company.

Another Gay Movie
   B Cast :
Michael Carbonaro, Jonah Blechman, Johnthan Chase, Mitch Morris, Ashlie Atkinson

Director:
Todd Stephens

Rating:
Unrated, contains language, nudity and lots of simulated sex

Running time:
92 minutes

This story was published Friday, October 13, 2006