Customer Reviews

29th and Gay

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For those that want to watch a gay-themed film with their parents or straight friends and family, this movie is hard to beat. "29th and Gay", shot and produced on the proverbial shoestring budget, delivers a good solid story with some stand-out acting without anyone getting (fully) naked. There is a hilarious scene between the star and "Meet the Parents'" Kali Rocha, playing an HIV testing nurse, that consistently brought the house down on the festival circuit. And for anyone who watches "Lost" on ABC, seeing the diabolical leader of "The Others", actor Michael Emerson, dressed in a gorilla suit is a hoot. The supporting cast, made up of up-and-comers such as Nicole Marcks ("American Dreams" and the hit LA comedy show "Totally Looped") and local San Diego actors David McBean and Annie Hinton really deliver. First-time director Carrie Preston (star of TLA's "Straight-Jacket") delivers a heartfelt and unique look at gay life in the 2000s.

Think of "29th & Gay" (2005) as kind of the "anti-Queer As Folk" ... something that the average gay man (one is who is not model perfect and spend each waking moment obsessed with "hooking up") can relate to.

James Sanchez is a quiet, somewhat shy gay man, turning 29 years of age and disappointed in his life. His lifelong dream of being a successful actor seems to be a pipe dream at this point, he's caught in a dead-end job at a theme park, but, most of all, he is tired of being single and having to deal with the phonies and game playing he finds in the gay singles scene. His two best friends are Roxy, a straight woman who is becoming an ardent feminist, and Brendan, who drags him out to gay clubs where he is soon alone after Brendan quickly finds a "boyfriend du jour." He has an embarassing crush on a hunky (and likely straight) coffee house barista (played by Mike Doyle, a regular in "Law & Order: SVU"), turning into a tongue-tied, bumbling klutz whenever he is around. And, although he loves his parents and is happy that they accept his homosexuality, his mother has turned into a kind of "PFLAG Mom on Steroids", giving him birthday gifts like a leather sling! As he approaches the age of 30 (which is old age in "gay years"), he wants to make some changes, to stop merely reacting to what life deals him, get his career on track, and find a life partner.

A sweet, charming, witty and realistic romantic comedy, by first-time screenwriter James Vasquez (based on his own life, and who also plays the lead character) and directed by actress Carrie Preston, which is not without its faults. (I could have done without the cutesy "street sign" introductions to each scene, the frantic rewind flashbacks, and the MTV-style quick-cut film editing.) But its familiar yet original approach, and the obvious efforts that went into the film from all involved, more than make up for any minor problems.

DVD has deleted scenes, outtakes, trailers and a scene with two of the actors having their palms read by one of the extras. Five stars out of five.

James Sanchez, a balding, slightly paunchy gay man struggling to make it as an actor and find romance in an image-obsessed Hollywood, suffers an emotional crisis as he approaches his thirtieth birthday. I totally wanted to hate this low-budget vanity piece written by and starring James Vasquez. First, and perhaps most egregiously, it's populated by the entire brigade of queer comedy stereotypes - the slutty best friend, the brassy fag hag, the PFLAG-waving mother. Second, the acting is mostly pretty bland - not bad, exactly - just bland. And last, this sort of storyline has been done [to death] in the gay film genre. But its charms definitely sneak up on you and, about halfway in, I found myself kind of enjoying it.

Shallow as it sounds, at first I was disappointed that Vazquez wasn't much to look at, but little by little, his warm, likeable screen presence won me over. And to my amazement, all the stereotyped characters eventually blossomed into pretty well-rounded human beings. I was particularly touched by a well written scene between James and his mother that takes place late in the film. And best of all, like all my favourite gay stories, this is not a "gay issues" film. Anyone can relate to James because he's not struggling with problems that are exclusive to the gay community, but things that all of us deal with. All this and a meet-cute romance, too. What more can you ask? I certainly don't think this is the best gay film ever and if you choose to watch it, you'll have to wade through a lot of stale, overused jokes during the first half, but if you stick it out you'll be rewarded with an upbeat, warmhearted diversion.

I thought this would be a good buy after reading previous reviews. I was extremely disappointed as the story line is quite ridiculous. We all know a hunk is not going to fall for a guy with a below average physique. Lets me honest its a fact of life and this story is simply unrealistic. In between the final unrealistic hook up, there are minor silly sub plots, the gay best friend, the irritating fag hag, it got so boring I was wondering where this story was going and when it ended with the hunky guy falling for the average bloke, I was kicking myself then for not purchasing some silly horror flick, at least you get to see some eye candy amongst the blood and gore. Bottom line, don't waste your money.

I kept waiting for something interesting to happen thru all the flashback and self-examination scenes. Sadly it didn't and I was glad I did not spend much for this DVD. It goes nowhere.
Stereotypical over-liberal nutty parents, the fag-hag & nelly best friend. Somehow a super-hot guy from a coffee stand falls for our normal-looking, jobless, whining main character. Like Judy Tenuda would say, "YEA...IT COULD HAPPEN!"

I can't even state how much i loved this movie in this review that i'm going to do..or i could but it would ramble on. I dont want to do that. I just want folks out there to know about this movie, the star/writer of this movie and every other actor/actress that appeared in this. Whether it was his best female friend (she called herself a fag hag), his best friend as gay as can be and never has a problem getting a guy to go wherever with him. He wants more as well but for the time being he's just settling for the "right now".

James the troubled, gay and going nowhere wannabe actor. Has just hit his 29th birthday and is basically wondering is this all there is. All his plans and hopes of being rich and famous, being with so and so and being happy. Well it hasnt happened obviously. He has money and car problems, along with no sex problem for like what 4 years (how can u do that?). There is a cute, hunky guy that works at the local coffeee shop who he has been stalking for several weeks now. But he's too chicken to step up too him and say what's up. I'll stop there with it because i dont like telling the whole premise behind a movie.

If you are in doubt at least rent it first. I believe you should find it enjoyable if not it being like other gay films. But because it has fun doing it and be sad at the same time without dragging down the whole film. Love it and everyone in it...check out 29th & Gay (its about time).

James Vásquez wrote and stars in what seems to be an autobiographical musing on the life of a plain, conflicted, wannabe actor who is trying to cope with his unsuccessful social life as he approaches his 29th birthday. Presented as a movie within a movie, Vásquez speaks as James Sanchez directly to the audience, sharing his background, his parents (Annie Hinton and James Synjyn) who progress from shock at his outing to overindulgent to the point of intrusion, and his best friends - the wacky Roxy (Nicole Marcks) and circuit guy Brandon (David McBean). The general idea is how to make the almost closeted James into a happily paired man and how his friends and family go about making his happen is written with a lot of snappy dialogue and with the introduction of some really fine character actors - Kali Rocha as an hilarious HIV Nurse and Mike Doyle as the super hunk coffee house waiter who is to become James' payoff!



Directed by Carrie Preston the film moves along with a fast clip despite the elected technique of 'instant replay' used to define James' illusions from his reality. The production values of this low budget film are modest to say the least, but the premise of showing the life of a gay man who is not on the top of his life is worth watching. And there are some very good performances by newcomers who seem to have a future. Grady Harp, June 07

Not great, but really cute. It'll make you smile and laugh a lot. Worth seeing, but I don't know if I'd watch it over and over.

Thank you James Vasquez for a wonderful, funny, and uplifting gay themed film. I totally related to this film and the main character as an everyday normal gay man looking for love. The supporting cast were true to heart portraying people who accept and love the main character and themselves for who they are. A wonderful gay date film, I recommend it for everyone.

This film points out something that should be so obvious, but isn't. All other movies are made for and by the beautiful people with six pack abs and perfect teeth.

29th & Gay was made specifically for me and every other perfectly average gay male in the world. This film is so cute, so real, so funny, so different, so light, etc. etc.

I don't know if this says much or not, but it was the perfect movie to watch on a Friday evening...when all the beautiful people were at the clubs...and the extremely exhausted, average, hardworking guys just needed to relax, unwind and watch a light comedy.

I loved this film.