All American Guys: Raw Workout Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a video of three guys taking turns lifting weights for a full-body workout. Presses, curls, pulls, squats, and ab exercises are included.
As indicated to me by the seller (who viewed the DVD and responded to my questions before my purchase) there is no nudity or sexuality and those "tags" placed on this product are incorrect and should be removed. The guys workout without shirts.
This video falls short by not providing instruction during the weightlifting (which would have greatly improved the value). Isiah Brooks "advises" the guys about a technique to perform squats to provide better muscle definition. Additional instruction throughout the rest of the workout would have made this a valuable tool.
Extras are talks by two of the guys (one including motivation), an arm wrestling match, and two of the guys talking and "play" wrestling.

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Join Ryan, Josh, and Jesse, three of Allamericanguys.com's top male fitness models, along with fitness trainer and fellow model Isiah Brooks, as they guide you through a complete total body workout.Each segment of this challenging workout focuses on key muscle groups, including chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and abdominals.Raw Workout also includes bonus interview footage of the guys sharing workout tips and glimpses into their personal lives.

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A Very British Gangster (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Despite being an American, I'm very interested in England and am a bit of an Anglophile so I generally gravitate towards the country's films. A Very British Gangster was an exceptional documentary that revealed the full complexity of a man whose life seems to have already been decided. We discover at the end of it that he is going back to jail but his attitude and everything about his character suggest that his final destination is a foregone conclusion. The police follow him everywhere and it's quite likely that the filmmaker was not the only individual who recorded many of these conversations. What we find most is that Dominic Noonan is, in many ways, a normal man with a variety of relationships and concerns that must be negotiated. Most of his criminality is merely hinted at here, but it seems very unlikely that--even if he is re-released--he will conjure up the will to change his life. This is an endearing and well-crafted portrait of a doomed man.

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In A Very British Gangster, world-renowned, award-winning BBC journalist Donal MacIntyre dives into Manchester's underworld, revealing Britain's most notorious and powerful crime family--the Noonan dynasty. With surprising chivalry, Dominic Noonan answers to his poverty-stricken streets while lurking from trial to trial, dodging arrest on a slew of serious criminal charges. Dominic's 10-year-old son, Bugsy, wants none of the prestige his father holds, and his candid confessions of boxing dreams--hopeful words from the child of a very violent man--are heart-wrenching. DVD Features: Deleted Scenes.

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Ugly Betty: The Complete Second Season Review

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(More customer reviews)Warning! Some spoilers contained in the following review!
All in all, Season Two of UGLY BETTY was, like Season One, an utter delight. It certainly was not timid in its story telling, trying to keep true to its roots in telemundo by pushing storylines that beggared credibility, sometimes perhaps crossing the lines of believability, but all in all having a lot of fun.
There were too many plotlines to attempt any summarization, but suffice it to say that if you didn't care for one - and there were some that I definitely didn't care for (primarily Wilhelmina's theft of Bradford Meade's sperm upon his death and then having Christina carry Bradford and Wilhelmina's baby, though secondarily the storyline of having Gene Simmons temporarily feature as Amanda's supposed biological father [like most people I've talked to, I just find anything having to do with Gene Simmons to be more than a little distasteful]) - just wait a week or two and you'd find others you might like instead. That said, the one arc that extended the length of the season was the two men in Betty's life: Henry, who she loves and with whom she continues a romance that is fated to end as soon as his ex-girlfriend Charlie gives birth to their child, and Gio, who is deeply attracted to Betty and tries to engage her interest even while she remains with Henry. Both Christopher Gorham who plays Henry (who I previously loved in JAKE 2.0) and Freddy Rodriguez (who I loved in SIX FEET UNDER) do a great job of making both of their characters really interesting. I found myself wanting Betty to be happy with both of them, though obviously she could only end up with one.
But to be honest, the real appeal of the show lies less in the story arcs, which while good are not particularly outstanding, than in the fine ensemble cast and the great collection of characters. I perpetually found myself less than riveted by what was happening than in whom it was happening to. Ultimately, I think that might be the show's weakness. With its roots in telemundo, the show has an indelible and inescapable frivolity. By its very nature, it lacks any potential to become much more than a nice way to pass time. That being said, it is time that I do enjoy passing.
I am extremely anxious, however, about the show's future. Season Three is going to feature some absolutely massive changes to the show. Shortly after filming concluded on Season Two it was announced that the production was going to relocate to New York City. At the same time it was leaked that Rebecca Romjin, who has been delightful as Daniel's sister/former brother Alexis/Alex, was going to have a greatly lessened involvement in the series in Season Three. To make matters worse, there were rumors that some actors were unwilling to move to New York full time and might have their character's become less central to the story. The most worrying of these is Eric Mabius, who has young children and a home in L.A. After Betty his Daniel Meade is easily one of the most important characters on the show. Having him on less than a full time basis could significantly change the entire texture of the show, and I suspect not for the better. Also, while I believe having the show filmed in the actual city where the action is supposed to take place (though I suspect that the neighborhood in which Betty's house is supposed to be located will continue to be CGI) will be a great boon for the show, I fear that the changes could give it a very different feel from the first two seasons. This could very easily cease to be the show that we've all known and loved.
Fearful or not, I will try to be optimistic. Hopefully the cast will remain more or less intact with the move to New York. I will also hope that the producers reconsider the lessened role for Rebecca Romjin and that Eric Mabius stays with the show fulltime. And I hope that having the possibility of on location shots in New York outweighs any disruption leaving L.A. creates. Season Two ended, as with Season One, with some major cliffhangers, but this year not all of the anticipation was created by the story. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the show remains as much fun as it has been in the past.

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UPC:786936754230DESCRIPTION: Betty Suarez is smart, sweet and hard working. They only problem is that she s not thin and beautiful like all her co-workers at Mode, the high-fashion magazine where she works. The only reason the publisher hired her to be his son s secretary is that he thought Betty was someone who Daniel would never sleep with. Betty s hard work and determination earns Daniel s respect, as she helps him find his way through the shark infested waters of the fashion industry.

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Boy Crush (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)This new anthology of gay male short films, from Wolfe Video, is better than most. As usual, I'll review each short individually, and the overall number of stars is simply an average:
* "Summer" (UK 2006) explores the common theme of unrequited love between a gay teenager and his best friend, who is straight. Sweet, give it 4 stars out of 5.
* "Night Swimming" (USA 2005) has a similar plot to the short above, but carries the gay boy's crush on the straight best friend a bit further, on an unplanned night together after the latter's vehicle breaks down en route to a concert, stranding them in the woods. The togetherness encourages the gay boy (Otter) to test the waters and see if his friend/idol (Darby) feels the same way. Realistic and emotional, give it five stars out of five.
* "Running Without Sound" (USA 2004) spotlights Sean, a gay deaf teen boy whose passion is cross country running. Already somewhat shy due to his inability to hear or speak, Sean has to rely on visual signs from his friends, which become more complicated when he develops a crush on a teammate. Sweet and creative short film; wish it had more time to develop the story. Four stars out of five.
* Small town, shy German teen Tom is considering being "Out Now" (Germany (20 min.) to his classmates, who already torment him as a sissy and outsider. He discusses his feelings with a boy he meets on the internet, including the fact that he has a crush on another boy who works at a nearby snack shop. A night out at a disco frequented by his classmates results in a revelation and a new resolve for the young man. In German with subtitles (Which unfortunately aren't that easy to read, since they often flash on the screen too briefly or are shown as white on a light background, rendering them near invisible). Three stars out of five.
* "The Bridge" (Australia 2006) - A young gay male couple leave their Russian homeland to escape homophobia, and relocate to Sydney Australia, awaiting approval to immigrate there. Their thoughts and emotions before (and after) the immigration decision is made are the subject of this intense, emotional film. Four stars out of five.
* "Hitchcocked" (USA 2006) is a sexy but somewhat scary story about two guys who meet on the internet for sex, with a very clever twist ending. Tempted to give it an extra star just for the title, but we'll stick with four stars out of five.
* "Oedipus N+1" (France 2003), likely boasting a production budget higher than the other six films put together, tells a creative and intriguing sci-fi story set in the distant future, when "The Circle" - the elite rich and educated part of the population - have essentially taken over control of the world, and push for conformity with its ideals and values. Thomas, a gay man, awakens to find out that he had died and, paid for my his mother, he has been cloned to live again ... but Mom wants a bigger say in that life, this time around. Impressive and generally well-acted, though a bit confusing as a 26 minute short. In French with English subtitles. I give it five stars out of five.
There are no DVD special features, other than trailers for other Wolfe releases.

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Summer (10 min.) Great BritainDirected by Hong Khaou What are you going to wish for? This intricately crafted short delicately explores the ache of unrequited love as Leung (Peter Peralta) reveals his true feelings for his beefy straight pal Will (Jay Brown).Night Swimming (19 min.) USADirected by Daniel FalconeThis terrific bittersweet teen drama depicts that perennial gay dilemma: falling for straight boys. Young Otter idolizes his alpha-male buddy Darby who just might have similar feelings for him. This exquisitely crafted story unfolds on a road-trip to New York City.Running Without Sound (13 min.) USADirected by Judd KingA deaf teen with a crush on his pal grapples with confusing emotions and tensions with his fellow cross-country runner team-mates in this finely crafted gay jock story.Out Now (20 min.) GermanyDirected by Sven J. MattenSmall town shy teen Tom is tormented by his high school classmates while he pines over the blond boy at the candy kiosk. German, with English subtitlesThe Bridge (8 min.) AustraliaDirected by George BarbakadzeA forboding dramatic snapshot of a bi-national gay couple who just want to be together in Sydney.Hitchcocked (8 min.) USADirected by David M YoungThis smart, sexy, scary short gives new meaning to the term: shower scene. Oedipus N+1 (26 min.) FranceDirected by Eric RognardKnockout French phenom Jalil Lespert (Tell No One, De Sade) stars as Thomas, a gay man who dies and then awakens as a clone in a terrifying sci-fi future (shades of Gattaca) only to have his mother deny him access to his boyfriend as she attempts to cure his sexual preference. French, with English subtitles

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Naked Fame Review

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(More customer reviews)Two members of a gay male couple want to leave the adult film industry. One wants to be a singer, the other an actor. You only get to see brief nudity near the start and finish of this film. I guess you have to get their REAL performances to see more. Yes, Glenn the wannabe-singer was/is talented. However, he sings with that George Michael-esque voice that can be common. Such a voice was imitated in the South Park movie back in 1999. Further, he wants to go into dance music which really doesn't bring fame to its makers. Think about what happened to Salma Hayek's character in "54," for example.
This movie confirmed every controlling image of West Hollywood. It's filled with men who are young, muscular, beautiful, and of course full of attitude! They are very fashion-conscious and totally nonchalant toward drug usage. That whole area might as well have a sign saying, "Non-beautiful guys not welcome!"
I guess all that butch behavior in adult features is just acting. These guys have stereotyped accents. They make comments such as "I am so over this!" and "I had to take a pill just like Judy Garland." There's crying, hissy fits, recounting what therapists told them, etc. Homophobes (and of course, I disapprove of such bigotry) will cringe here at what some refer to as "gay accents."
I do think this may be an instructive documentary for people of all sexualities who want to be famous. This guy had to market himself in New York City. He had fights and splits with his manager. His boyfriend is told, "Stay away, because future stars need to look single." The wannabe singer has to take advice (read: criticism) from as many places as he could get it. This taps into the aspects of stardom that people enjoy seeing in the "American Idol" series.
Like documentaries for Ron Jeremy, Annabel Chong, and Seymore B*tts, this documentary showed relatives who are knowledgeable and accepting of their family member's work in the adult business. You only see Glenn's parents briefly at the start and finish of this work. I wish you could have seen more of them. Countless gay works show family members abandoning their gay relatives, but here they are supportive. It would have been great to see how these straight parents learned to accept their son's sexual orientation.
Despite the numerous gym bunnies in this documentary, there were several bears here: Chi Chi LaRue (which I learned is pronounced with a "sh," rather than a harder "ch"), Bruce Vilanch, and a nameless impresario. For those of us who like big guys, it would have been great to see these bears. Why do the thin guys get so show so much flesh and yet, we only get to see a partially unbuttoned shirt on one of the bears?
Glenn's partner reluctantly returns to being a nurse. However, nurses can make a TON of money. This man stated that he only made $30,000 at most in adult features: that's a fraction of what nurses can make, especially nurses that don't have children. He didn't fail by returning to this profession since it's more lucrative. He grows a beard when he does so. I think it's meant to be a sign of respectability, but it makes him look a lot like the gay conservative editorialist Andrew Sullivan.
In many ways, this was just the GWM's version of "Hoop Dreams.

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At the age of 40, wildly successful gay adult film star Colton Ford decides to leave porn behind and to pursue his dream: music. He definitely has the talent, but can he successfully use his porn past to build up a new career as a singer-songwriter? Christopher Long's intelligent and appealing documentary, Naked Fame, attempts to answer that question, following Colton and his life partner, fellow adult film star Blake Harper, as Colton moves from the film studio to the music recording studio. This documentary explores the inner-workings of the music industry, capturing the intense emotional drama involved in the pursuit of stardom against the stigma of a porn-star past.

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Straight Boys Gay Boys Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this DVD about a month ago when I came back from a stressful business trip and I must say it did manage to relax me, put a smile on my face and turn me on.
There are certain moments that were my very favorite (e.g. When the Plumber closes the shower glass door with a gesture "no you can't" is one for example, or when the young redhead manipulates his victim into posing in that humiliating way)
All and all I found the approach fresh and non typical in compare to other gay movies that are populating the market now a days.
The thinking of this concept come from an obviously different space, more like a straight movie does, and maybe that is what I liked.

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Watch Out Review

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(More customer reviews)There's been a lot of buzz about this actor Matt Riddlehoover (one very easy on the eye man) and this director Steve Balderson. I had to check it out for myself. The disc contains some 4+ hours of material. The film - with and without commentary - plus over an hour of bonus video blogs. I've seen a lot of movies, but nothing quite like this. I'm still trying to absorb what I saw and heard. This is a keeper to watch again and again and well worth the price of admission. Act 1 is way-over-the-top-bizzaro-titillating comedy. I kept thinking - where is all this leading? Act 2 take an unexpectedly darker turn until the end. There's ample nudity - OK, more than ample. Someone ask Matt Riddlehoover if he did his own "stunts" and he said "why, yes I did." I'd say this film is a must see to believe, but that's just my opinion. I'll be waiting for Part 2!
Sidenote: click on Steve Balderson's name.

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Matt Riddlehoover gives an extraordinary, bravura performance as Jonathan Barrows, * a man who falls in love with himself, literally. Barrows is attracted to his own body, carries out an erotic relationship with a blow-up doll that resembles him, and takes pleasure in rejecting the advances of his many admirers. He descends into a world of carnivorous priests and Prozac-popping Polish prostitutes and eventually assassinates the world's most popular pop-diva. You strange creatures, Barrows declares, you are nothing more to Me than a meal at the fast-food restaurant of life. But who will end up being devoured? Based on the best-selling novel by Dr. Joseph Suglia, WATCH OUT is extraordinary, a film which settles down into your consciousness and is still there days later. Most directors would not have the balls to show this... The combination of Steve s direction and Riddlehoover s performance... It s masterful film-making. It leaves you in awe. * *(MJ Simpson, UK)

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The Mary Tyler Moore Show: The Complete Sixth Season Review

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(More customer reviews)After what seemed like an eternity, fans of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" were rewarded for their patience with a terrific release of "Season Five" last October. (The Oprah effect, anyone?) Hot on the heels of that release comes the announcement for "Season Six" which contains easily the greatest episode of the series and arguably one of the greatest episodes of any sitcom ever: "Chuckles Bites the Dust". In previous seasons the action was split between Mary's home life and work life. However, with the departure of Rhoda and Phyllis, the show now takes place almost exclusively at WJM-TV and the comedy really matures. You don't see shows written like this anymore, so sit back and enjoy yourself with some old friends this winter.
Fans can expect the following classic episodes when the set arrives in February:
1. Edie Gets Married
2. Mary Moves Out
3. Mary's Father
4. Murray In Love
5. Ted's Moment of Glory
6. Mary's Aunt
7. Chuckles Bites the Dust
8. Mary's Delinquent
9. Ted's Wedding
10. Lou Douses an Old Flame
11. Mary Richards Falls in Love
12. Ted's Tax Refund
13. The Happy Homemaker Takes Lou Home
14. One Boyfriend Too Many
15. What Do You Want to Do When You Produce?
16. Not With My Wife, I Don't
17. The Seminar
18. Once I Had a Secret Love
19. Menage-a-Lou
20. Murray Takes a Stand
21. Mary's Aunt Returns
22. A Reliable Source
23. Sue Ann Falls in Love
24. Ted and the Kid

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Join all of your favorites in the WJM-TV newsroom for the hilarious, heartfelt Season Six of the comedy classic that turned the world on with a smile! This time, love is all around, and while the ever-independent Mary falls head over heels and rekindles an old flame, the level-headed Murray pines away for a secret love of his own. And that’s just the beginning—from Lou’s outrageously unlikely date with Sue Ann to Ted and Georgette’s uproarious wedding, it’s time to share the love, the lunacy, and the laughter with all of the gang in this timeless, Emmy Award-winning classic

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Anyone and Everyone - Documentary Review

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(More customer reviews)Over the years I have seen many coming out films, dramas, comedies, short films, and documentaries. Each of these have had one thing in common: they have told our stories, the stories of gay men and lesbians on their personal journeys. Susan Schutz had produced a coming out film that breaks out of this mold by telling us the coming out journey of the parents of gay and lesbian children. Each family in the film has a unique story -- Schutz has included families from all across the nation covering a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds. When I first saw this DVD I was totally blown away by the honesty and openness of each family. I laughed, I cried, I was moved. This is truly an amazing film. It should be seen by anyone and everyone.

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Connected by having a son or daughter who is gay, parents across the country discuss their experiences in the documentary Anyone and Everyone. In it, filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz, depicts families from all walks of life. Individuals from such diverse backgrounds as Japanese, Bolivian, and Cherokee, as well as from various religious denominations such as Mormon, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Hindu, and Southern Baptist, share intimate accounts of how their children revealed their sexual orientation and discuss their responses. The parents also talk about struggling with the pain of their sons and daughters dealing with not being accepted by relatives or friends, and being ostracized by religious congregations. "It was so evil and so bad that we almost couldn t talk about it... You just had the idea it was so terrible that it was unspeakable," said a Mormon mother in the film. "Having heard all these awful things and what homosexuality was and then having a member of your family, a person that you have seen, a child that you have seen since the child was born, a person that was absolutely wholesome, good, kind, gentle and that put together with the word lesbian didn t add up," said a hispanic mother. This film is especially important since up to 26% of gay teens who come out to their parents or guardians are told they must leave home. Of the approximately 1.6 million homeless American youth, 20-40% identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Nearly 40% of LGBT (GLBT) students report being physically harassed. In a 2001 Department of Health study of youth in Massachusetts, about 40 percent of gay and lesbian students attempted suicide, compared to about 10 percent of their heterosexual peers.

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Were the World Mine (Standard Cover) (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)The premise of Were the World Mine is romantic comedy trope: character A yearns for the love and affection of unattainable character B, then though a series of hi-jinks, true love wins in the end. That is about where the comparison ends as everything else is turned on its ear in Tom Gustafson's big screen adaptation of his own short film Fairies.
The film's tagline, `If you could make someone love you, would you?' Is honestly, unexpectedly answered, "Yeah. Obviously."
The first twist to the romantic comedy trope is that the lead couple is two young men. In the film our put-upon hero Timothy (Tanner Cohen), is cast as Puck in his senior production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. During rehearsal, he happens on the recipe to recreate the flower, here called a pansy in a nice play on words, which Puck uses on Shakespeare's lovers. Timothy/Puck uses the pansy first on his unrequited crush Jonathon (Nathaniel David Becker), then on his classmates, and then the town, allowing everyone to see the world through his eyes. By the end of the film, as in Shakespeare's play, all is peace.
Of course, Timothy is hardly the usual trodden-down gay lead. This is not some Cinderella story with the homely, or even 'Hollywood Ugly' lead forlornly in love with someone quite beyond him; Timothy is a pretty boy himself. The object of his affection, Jonathon is not the typical, unattainable ideal man either. We are shown in subtle ways that he is just as interested in Timothy, as Timothy is in him. Oh, were things only a bit different, eh? Enter the pansy.
This is not an adaptation of Midsummer Night's Dream, but it does have plot points tacked on from that play. Helen Fielding did the same thing tacking on Jane Austen's plot from Pride and Prejudice to the novel Bridget Jones's Diary. Timothy at various points may is Puck, Oberon, Bottom and Helena. Perhaps that is the perfect descriptive combination for a young gay man, part fairy, imp, fool, and unrequited lover.
The musical fantasy sequences are not really fantasy, they are a part of the plot; magic spells that movie the story along.
The music and lyrics are inspired. Shakespeare interpolated and set to music, may hardly be revolutionary, but it is still quite fun and infectious. I find myself listening to the soundtrack repeatedly. Tanner Cohen is wonderful and has a slight sibilant 'S' that is quite endearing.
Tom Gustafson is definitely a director and writer to watch, he spins a fun, engaging yarn with genuine moments of poignancy. Some of the imagery in the film is iconic and arresting. It is hardy without flaws, but the the music and the performances buoy you along over those flaws. Cohen and Becker are especially good. I would not change a frame.

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Armed with a magical love potion and empowered by dazzling musical fantasies, struggling teen Timothy (dreamy Tanner Cohen, As the World Turns) turns his narrow-minded town gay and captures Jonathon (buff Nathaniel David Becker), the rugby jock of his dreams.Also starring Wendy Robie (Twin Peaks), Broadway star Judy McLane (Mamma Mia), Zelda Willaims (House of D and daughter of Robin Williams), and Jill Larson (Opal on All My Children), Were the World Mine uses vibrant imagery, a first-rate cast, and innovative music to push modern gay cinema and musical film beyond expectation.Director/writer/producer Tom Gustafson brings us his feature directorial debut in Were The World Mine. This critically acclaimed, multi-award winning film about the truth of love was inspired by his award-winning musical short Fairies, which has screened in over 75 International film festivals. " It made my heart soar." - indieWIRE

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Ugly Betty - The Complete First Season (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)In retrospect, the 2006-2007 television season debuted an unusually large number of first rate new series: HEROES, MEN IN TREES, 30 ROCK, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DEXTER, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, and UGLY BETTY. That is a remarkably strong group of new shows. UGLY BETTY occupied a unique niche among them. The new show it most resembled was MEN IN TREES. Both were light fare, intended to entertain and charm rather than challenge and rattle. It was unorthodox, but in comforting ways. It was, basically, a very nice show. One never came away from any episode shocked or dismayed as with the best episodes of DEXTER or FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, but to tell the truth, after a week of watching my favorite shows on TV--BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, LOST, DEXTER, and others that were sometimes exceedingly emotional affairs to watch, I found it a refreshing change of pace, never shocking, never emotionally taxing, never intellectually demanding. It managed always to be smart while also very easy to absorb. Most of all, it was great fun.
The plot was simple. Betty Suarez desires a job in publishing. After she applies at MODE magazine, where she has a disastrous interview, she finds herself mysterious hired as assistant to editor Daniel Meade, playboy son of Meade Publishing owner Bradford Meade. It turns out that Bradford had seen her leaving the building and ordered her hired for his son simply because she is as far from a fashion model in appearance as can be imagined. She has terrible hair, dresses horridly, has garish braces, thick glasses (and eyebrows), and carries more weight than your standard attractive woman. Father makes her employment mandatory for his rare-do-well son. Very quickly, however, she proves herself not merely necessary for Daniel's professional life, but a good friend as well. One of the most attractive aspects of the show is, in fact, their genuinely caring, completely platonic, friendship. Working at MODE pulls Betty into a world of interoffice intrigue and political infighting. To be honest, I could have lived without any of the stories. The appeal was just about 100% based on a large number of likable and adorable characters popping up each week.
America Ferrera, who had previously been amazingly effective in the cult-hit film REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES and the teen chick flick THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS (a sequel to the latter is due in 2008), simply steals this show as Betty. Though not a slender actress, America in fact has a beautiful face. They do a great make up job on her, however, putting a terrible wig on her each week (with very stressed looking hair), gluing thick, fake eyebrows on her, giving her thick-framed, brightly colored glasses, fake braces, make up to give her an unpleasant complexion, and an incredibly unflattering set of clothes. Despite this dramatic transformation each week, Betty manages to be utterly charming and adorable. A couple of people I've talked to feel it is a bit of a cheat to have an attractive woman play someone who is supposed to be "ugly," but I think it would be a bit cruel to take an unattractive person and have them play such a role. I would be surprised if she does not get an Emmy nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy. Lauren Graham deserves to win in this category (as she does every year) for her genius work in THE GILMORE GIRLS, but since the Emmys year after year have ignored Graham (her show is on the wrong network), I will probably be pulling for America to win.
Ferrera is supported by an amazingly strong cast. Eric Mabius is wonderful as Daniel, consistently showing himself to be a decent guy despite his efforts to transform himself into a waste of humanity. I think there is a secret contract someone dictating that Alan Dale appear in every other show on TV in some capacity or other. He is his usual stern self as Bradford Meade (he also has a very occasional but ongoing role in LOST, the only show I've seen him on where he gets to use something like is native Kiwi accent). Vanessa Williams is a lot of fun as the scheming and unscrupulous Wilhelmina Slater, the fashion editor at MODE who would love to be the editor in chief. Ashley Jensen, who really is Scottish, plays the head of wardrobe at MODE and one of Betty's few friends at the magazine. But the people at MODE who make the show worth watching are Michael Urie and Becki Newton, who play Marc and Amanda, Wilhelmina's gay assistant and the mildly sluttish receptionist, both of them for most of the season Betty's mortal enemies (though by end of season she was making headway with both of them as friends, in particular Marc, inspiring him to come out to his mother). There is also Henry, winningly played by Christopher Gorham. He had previously played the title role in JAKE 2.0, on which UGLY BETTY executive producer Silvio Horta also worked. I suspect his appearing on UGLY BETTY has something to do with that connection. Gorham is a very good-looking guy who is somehow able to pull off completely nerdy guys, in this show an accountant.
But there is more than just the office. There is Betty's home life. Veteran character actor Tony Plana plays Betty's illegal immigrant father (one of the subplots deals with his attempt to get a green card). He is one of these actors who has appeared in literally hundreds of TV shows and movies, but has rarely had an especially prominent role. You love to see fine actors who have paid their dues get a great role like this one. Ana Ortiz is hysterical as Betty's garish sister Hilda, but the person who steals nearly every scene in the Suarez household is twelve-year old Mark Indelicato, who plays Betty's nephew Justin. We don't know that Justin is gay, but his effeminate swagger, his deep love of stage musicals, and his encyclopedic knowledge of fashion marks him with all of the stereotypes.
This show is too smart to be a guilty pleasure, but it is just as much fun as one. It doesn't go on my list of my absolute favorite shows. It isn't as sophisticated or as intelligent as FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, as engrossing as LOST, a fist-in-the-gut like DEXTER or THE WIRE, or as original or jaw-droppingly brilliant as BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, but sometimes you just aren't in the mood for something as heavy as these shows. Sometimes you just want to have a good time and relax. I promise there are few shows on television more perfect for that than this.

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Audiences are cheering for a vibrant overachiever with the spirit and the smarts to live her dream. America Ferrera stars as go-getter Betty Suarez, a true beauty in the skin-deep world of high fashion. Two very different cultures collide in this sexy and stylish series about believing in yourself regardless of the odds. Earning Golden Globe Awards® for Best Television Series* and Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series* in its very first season, Ugly Betty is a runaway hit with fans and critics. "Ugly Betty is a thing of beauty," raves the Boston Herald. Experience every episode of Season One in this six-disc DVD box set. Plus, join executive producer Salma Hayek and actor Eric Mabius for exclusive show insights, and see what it takes for America Ferrera to get Bettyfied – available only on DVD. You’ll find yourself falling in love with every minute of Ugly Betty.

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Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just finished watching the movie and it was FABULOUS. I would recommend getting the video at soon as it releases. I will be doing just that. Jumping the Broom was a great love story. It had all elements of a great movie. It was heart-warming, and funny, sad and a feel good movie. I have but two negative comments, the first being it was way to short and I would have loved more. Story lines could have developed into more but as it was it was GREAT. My next negative is where was WILSON CRUZ. Not having this final and important member to the movie was extremely DISAPPOINTING and would not have destroyed the story line. I will purchase this movie and I am going again to see it.

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NOAH'S ARC:JUMPING THE BROOM - DVD Movie

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Get Real (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Get Real" combines a terrific script with superb acting. Steven Carter is one of the best gay teen characters ever written, portrayed touchingly and realistically by Ben Silverstone. He is simultaneously geeky and sexy, awkward and self-assured, yet underneath his fears and self-doubts there is always a ray of self-acceptance and sense of humor about his predicaments that comes shining through.
You will marvel at Steven's courage, empathize with his pain, and just simply fall in love with this complex and totally adorable young man. His love interest, another complex character, is also brilliantly played. Steven's next-door neighbor and (female) best friend is the only character who comes across as somewhat stereotypical (an overweight fag-hag type), yet her performance avoids the pitfalls that the stereotypical characterization could've created.
The quirky humor the director interjects throughout the film will catch you off guard at times - during the scene inside the park men's room, when the soundtrack started playing The Troggs' "Love is All Around", I had to supress an urge to laugh uproariously and at the top of my lungs (I first saw the film in a theater).
"Get Real" is a "must see" for anyone who knows what it feels like to be young, gay & in the closet, and also for straight folk who wish to understand the difficulties GLBT people have to face, even in our contemporary, allegedly "enlightened" world.

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Noah's Arc - The Complete Second Season (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)A television series about a previously ignored group of people certainly deserves attention, and I applaud the creators of Noah's Arc for daring to present the first series about the lives of African-American Gay men. Even better, after watching both seasons on DVD, I found that Noah's Arc mostly lived up to its well-deserved accolades. The characters are quirky, the plot lines fast and furious, the laughs frequent and genuine and the drama quite effective.
I admit I was initially disappointed by the quality of the acting, until I realized that it took a few episodes for the cast to fully hit their stride, and I believe that the series perfectly fit its tag line, "A comedy about drama". After I relaxed into it, I came to care about the characters and their situations quite a bit. By the time I finished the DVD of Season One, I was so addicted to Noah and his friends that I had to purchase Season Two, even though it seemed the creators sometimes tried to squeeze just a little too much plot into a 22-minute format. But considering the constraints they had to work with, in the end I marveled at how skillfully the writers weaved in a myriad of subjects and plotlines, subtly handling many important issues without ever being heavy handed.
The lead character Noah is a case in point. I quickly caught on that his character is deliberately rather feminine, and I realized that the writers wanted viewers to get comfortable with the idea that this slight, delicate and very femme gay man managed in eight short episodes to attract the romantic attention of a half-dozen masculine, sexy co-stars and guest stars. The story of Noah's romance with his on-again off-again boyfriend Wade (played by the adorably dimpled hunk, Jensen Atwood) is the primary focus of the plot, although each episode also found time to explore the daily lives, loves and dramas of his three best friends, Alex, Ricky and Chance (for those who don't get it, Alex Ricky Chance = Noah's ARC, according to a comment by the series creator).
But at first I wasn't sure if Noah's wardrobe and femme manner were meant to be the biggest "in-joke" of the series. In an early episode, while his character is crying poverty and falls behind on his rent, he is dressed (as always) in an ever-changing ensemble of ultra-chic couture, much of which makes him look even more effeminate. Eventually, the effeminacy issue was tackled head-on quite satisfactorily, and one character's speech about "effemina-phobia" and his subtle but powerful comments on the anti-eroticism / ostracism of femme men in the gay male subculture was extremely thought provoking. This is the show's biggest strength; it manages to delve very subtly into issues that many members of the gay male community (and indeed, many gay films and novels) completely ignore, without spoiling the humor or getting too preachy. Before long, I realized that the creators were definitely making a statement with the fact that some of Noah's outfits bordered on cross-dressing, even while I could never be sure if his clothes were meant to be taken seriously or not. Noah's boyfriends were all extreme hunks (one thing this show does not lack for is eye candy) but all the while the disparity between Noah's feminine nature and the masculinity of his various suitors made me feel uncomfortable and definitely conscious of the looks-ism and anti-femme bigotry that permeate the gay male world today. Bravo!
In fact, the most satisfying aspect of the series was that it tackled a surprising number of real-life issues with humor and charm, and I was amazed that through the relatively short run of this show, Noah's Arc discussed a variety of important topics, like HIV testing and awareness, the "down-low" subculture, sero-discordant couples, gay dating, gay marriage, sexual compulsion, monogamy, gay bashing, and the previously mentioned delicate issue of "effemina-phobia" (and whichever writer on this show coined that word deserves a medal), all with a refreshing mix of light-hearted laugh-out-loud humor and (at times) dead serious drama. As often as I found myself laughing hysterically, I also found myself extremely touched by the dramatic situations and challenged by the serious, provocative subject matter.
There was one major disappointment - although I was aware even before I acquired the Season Two DVD set that the show had not been renewed for a third season, I was not prepared for the abrupt, unresolved cliffhanger ending of the final episode, which left the fate of one of the main characters completely up in the air. This was quite annoying, since there was no opportunity to resolve this plot point. For this reason alone, I must subtract one star from what would otherwise be a five star review.

Despite this shortcoming, Noah's Arc gets five stars for effort, ten stars for its genuinely funny moments, and a big thank you for discussing so many important topics without being preachy or trite. May it be a harbinger of things to come.

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Navigating life and love in L.A. isn't easy, and no one knows that better than Noah and his friends - Alex, Ricky & Chance. LOGO's ground-breaking, one-of-a-kind series Noah's Arc follows all four as they chart an uncertain course through the City of Angels, where laughter and drama are never in short supply.

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Brothers & Sisters: The Complete Fourth Season Review

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(More customer reviews)"Brothers and Sisters" is a show created back in 2006 by Jon Robin Baitz (a writer who worked on "Alias" and "West Wing"). The series revolves around the Walker family, an upperclass family that owns a major company known as Ojai Foods.
But the family goes through major trials and tribulations in the first three seasons but with the fourth, the family faces a much greater challenge as a family member has cancer, the family business is quickly losing money and the Walker may never be the same after the season finale of season 4.
VIDEO:
"Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Fourth Season" is featured in Widescreen (1:78:1), enhanced for 16×9 televisions. There are a lot of outdoor and indoor shots and "Brothers and Sisters" does have quite a bit of grain but nothing too distracting. But for the most part, picture quality is satisfactory.
AUDIO:
"Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Fourth Season" is featured in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, the show is mostly dialogue-based but there are quite a bit of music featured in the episodes, but the audio is pretty much front and center channel driven and audio is clear. There are no really need for major sound effects for "Brothers and Sisters" but for the most part, dialogue and background music are heard quite clearly.
My receiver setup preference was set to "Stereo on all Channels" for a much more immersive soundtrack.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Fourth Season" comes with the following special features:
DISC 1:
* Deleted Scenes - A total of four deleted scenes: Ryan steps up, taking a second, kitty's caught in the middle, a meeting of mothers.
DISC 2:
* Deleted Scenes - A total of six deleted scenes: what to do, advice from Tommy, phone connections, happy birthday mr. governor, official entry and going for it.
DISC 3:
* Deleted Scenes - Featuring a total of three deleted scenes: Justin's promise, being there, make a deal
DISC 4:
* Deleted Scenes - Featuring two deleted scenes: lost keys, next republic senator
DISC 5:
* Deleted Scenes - A total of three deleted scenes: tell me what happened?, second thoughts and mug shots.
DISC 6:
* The Red Carpet - (08:11) Featuring the red carpet premiere of the first episode of season 4 at the "Brothers & Sisters" premiere party.
* Off the Clock - (11:09) Behind-the-Scenes of what happens "Off-the-Clock" of "Brothers and Sisters". Featuring the crew of "Brothers and Sisters" and fun things that the cast take part in.
* Bloopers - (2:14) Featuring outtakes from the fourth season of "Brothers and Sisters".
* Deleted Scenes - A total of four deleted scenes which include what's going on?, hell of a backhand, Ojai Foods and like old times.
EXTRAS:
"Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Fourth Season" comes with a slip over case.
JUDGMENT CALL:
Heartfelt, humorous, dramatic and enjoyable, this is probably my favorite season of the popular ABC drama series yet.
I have to admit that many of my favorite drama series on television have somehow gone astray with the writing this year. And without mentioning any series, I will say that the "thinking outside of the box" has literally brought many quite a few of these once wonderful drama series to unusual lows with unrealistic, make-believe and idiotic storylines.
Unfortunately, this is not the case with "Brothers and Sisters". For this fourth season, writers for this season went for accessible storylines that people can relate to.
With the Walker family, everything that had to do with the characters are stories that people can relate to. With Nora, we see a single mother trying to get on with her life and start dating again, also having to deal with a mother who is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease via Dementia. With Kitty, having to face the reality that she may not be there for her young child because she is suffering from Lymphoma and having to deal with stage 3 cancer. With Kevin and Scotty, two gay men who want to adopt and are having problems. With Sarah, also a single mother testing out the dating scene but also having to deal with a daughter. Tommy who has to deal with divorce and custody issues. And then we have Justin and Rebecca who are stressed out because of their wedding, having to think of parenthood and even for Justin trying to get into medical school and realizing that he may have a learning disability.
And of course, it doesn't stop there. You have Holly, having to deal with losing her money to a Ponzi scheme, the reality that all that she had worked for is now gone and now finding herself in the worst position in her life and facing a future of being broke, starting over and even more which I don't want to spoil anyone one who hasn't seen the episodes yet.
And this is what makes the fourth season of "Brothers and Sisters" so believable and we can laugh during the jokes but when can also shed a tear when things get tough. We can sympathize with the characters and that is one thing that really distinguishes "Brothers and Sisters" from many other drama series as many of them have become so unbelievable that these one popular shows have lost its sparkle. Fortunately, "Brothers and Sisters" fared well and not only did it get people tearing over Kitty's battle with cancer but with a finale so shocking, no one expected the writers to really end it in this fashion. Definitely one of the most impressive and tragic season finales that I have ever seen.
I admit that the writers really pulled things off for the fourth season but it's going to be quite interesting to see how they can improve on the fifth.
Another reason why I enjoyed this season so much is how much time was given to characters such as Holly Harper, Rebecca Harper, David Caplan and Scotty Wandell. It was good for the series to explore the relationships other than Kitty and Robert and give more screen time to these characters and see how the Walker's have affected their relationships with these people. Rebecca has grown to a character I enjoy watching and I also feel that the writers have treated Kevin and Scotty's relationship was tastefully done. And also to see Holly in a new light and to see how her relationship with Nora is evolving.
Also, the introduction to new characters was well-done. At first, I thought they would treat the character of Luc Laurent as more of just utilizing his looks and overplay it but he has become a pretty cool character for the season and it's always good see Sarah not so neurotic or angsty all the time. Luc seems to have brought some stability with that character and I like that. Also, for the younger viewers, to see Roxy Olin of MTV's "The City" reality TV show on "Brothers and Sisters" was a bit surreal but the fact that both of her parents are on the series didn't surprise me.
As for this DVD set, although there are not as many special features compared to last season's DVD boxset, nor are there any commentary tracks, you do get a lot deleted scenes but also "The Red Carpet" featurette and also quite a few featurettes via the "Off the Clock" and bloopers included in this fourth season set. So, if that was my only nitpick of this DVD set, it was the lack of audio commentary.
Overall, "Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Fourth Season" is definitely my favorite season of the drama series yet. Well-written, well-acted and from beginning to end of this fourth season, viewers will be crying, laughing and then shocked by the season finale. It's that good!
Definitely recommended!

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Welcome the Walkers back into your home with the emotional fourth season of the warm and witty drama that explores the triumphs and tragedies of the American family. Featuring one of the most celebrated casts on television, including SallyField, Calista Flockhart, Rob Lowe, and Patricia Wettig, ABC’s Brothers And Sisters is “instantaneously seductive," raves the Wall Street Journal. No matter how much life changes, family stays the same. As new challenges arise for the Walkers, they learn to rely on one another more than ever before. Kitty’s personal revelation devastates the entire family, Nora begins a relationship with a younger man and Justin and Rebecca’s Malibu wedding doesn’t quite go as planned. Relive all the drama and every touching moment of Season Four, complete with never-before-seen bonus features available only on DVD!

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Dare (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Not since Threesome (1994), which born-again Stephen Baldwin has since disowned, has there been such a daring coupling of two men and one woman on screen. The tagline of that earlier film, "One girl. Two guys. Three possibilities," might have been adopted for Dare as well. The elephant in the room is the excellent Dare (2005) short included on the Blu-ray disc. While the swimming pool "dare" scene that is most of the short also appears in the new film, it has been truncated for no obvious reason, and it is not one of the deleted scenes. The new film also suffers by comparison because the chemistry between Johnny and Ben seems stronger in the short.
The new film is really not a gay film anymore. Alexa, who is peripheral to the short, drives the new film from the opening frames. Johnny's backstory of a distant father and a youthful stepmother certainly explains his vulnerability, but his friends are not privy to the same personal details the audience sees, and that sets up the somewhat unsatisfactory, though perhaps realistic, ending. Threesome, based on the college experiences of the director, was shot with an alternative ending that appeared on the 2001 release (unlike some male-male scenes that were cut and never seen) which also had problems. How do you resolve any threesome satisfactorily? We never learn how Johnny vanquished his personal demons except to see the sign on the door he enters in the last frames.
Threesome has about the same rating as this film overall, but has more five-star votes than otherwise. I would recommend Threesome over Dare, but the Dare short is a keeper and film comes very close as well.

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Emmy Rossum (The Phantom of the Opera), Zach Gilford (TV's Friday Night Lights) and Ashley Springer (Teeth) head up a stellar cast including Ana Gasteyer (Mean Girls), Rooney Mara (A Nightmare on Elm Street), comedienne Sandra Bernhard (TV's Roseanne) and Alan Cumming (X2: X-Men United) in this captivating story of high school seniors at the crossroads of their adult lives. When a pompous actor tells good girl Alexa (Rossum) that she hasn't lived, she embarks on a bold journey that takes her to mysterious bad boy Johnny (Gilford). Envious, her shy best friend Ben (Springer) also dares to pursue Johnny, complicating Alexa's romance and pushing the boundaries among the three friends.Stills from Dare

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Trick (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)What do you get when you mix an aspiring musician working as an office temp with a hot go-go boy? The answer is "Trick" a charming movie that proves that looks aren't everything. Christian Campbell (brother of Neve) stars as Gabriel, a composer of showtunes who meets the man of his fantasies dancing atop a counter at a gay club in New York. J.P. Pitoc, who plays Mark, is the go-go boy with a body to die for who finds himself and Gabriel trying to locate a place where they can fool around. Due to several mishaps, both men get to know each other's interests and friends, and eventually they discover each other's inner beauty. Pitoc is probably the best looking actor I have seen on film in recent years and his torso inspired me to work out even more. He provided enough eye candy for everyone. Campbell is great as Gabriel, however the two scene stealers in this are Clinton Leupp who plays the bitchy drag queen that confronts Gabriel about Mark's past and Tori Spelling, who plays Gabriel's best friend. Personally, seeing that her father had no role in producing this film gave Ms. Spelling more credibility that she was casted in this film for her talent and not because of neptotism (e.g. "House of Yes"). An excellent soundtrack of dance music will keep you in the mood, and the interesting characters in this film will give those who have never stepped into a gay/lesbian club circuit an idea of what goes on after the sun sets. Except for a kiss between the two main characters and a brief encounter beneath a piano, there are hartdly any references to gay sex. I encourage anyone to watch this film in what I consider a gay version of the "Pick Up Artist".

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What do drag queens aspiring sex therapists and tori spelling have in common? theyre part of a madcap night out in manhattan for two frustrated guys that are desperate to find a place any place. Special features: widescreen version original theatrical trailer and cast and crew filmographies.Studio: New Line Home VideoRelease Date: 05/30/2000Starring: Christian Campbell Clinton LeuppRun time: 90 minutesRating: RDirector: Jim Fall

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