Jeffrey

(346)IMDb 6.839min1995R

Jeffrey, a young gay man in New York, decides that sex is too much and decides to become celibate. He immediately meets the man of his dreams and must decide whether or not love is worth the danger of a boyfriend dying.

Directors: Christopher Ashley

Genres: LGBTQ Comedy

Subtitles: None available

Audio languages: English

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Rating: R (Restricted)

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5 star		83%
4 star		11%
3 star		2%
2 star		3%
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lawrence chan

Life, Love and AIDS

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2018

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I never read Paul Rudnick' original play, a romantic comedy about life, love and AIDS nor did I see the original staging at the Minetta Lane Theatre (and if I did I have no recollection whatsoever), so either the material lost something in it's translation to the screen or I'm simply not overwhelmed by Mr. Rudnick's approach to the subject matter; I just find it a bit too sugar coated like frosted flakes for my tastes. Romantic comedies are not "my thing" so to speak; I find nothing comedic about "romance".

To paraphrase a line from Harvey Fierstein in "Torch Song Trilogy", when you enter into a relationship that you know deep down inside is going to fail (as they all too often do), and when it does you end up burning black candles at midnight, well, you got what you were asking for.

All that being said, I did in fact enjoy this film immensely, it's highly entertaining and it brought back many fond memories.
I must laud with great enthusiasm, Patrick Stewart's portrayal of "Sterling"; IMHO this is one of Mr. Stewarts finest screen roles.

At long last, he permits himself to let go of that "storm clouds on the horizon" approach to drama which can be a tad overbearing; in "Jeffrey" we're treated to a truly refreshing revelation of the full scope of his acting abilities ranging from camp to grief but without any of the hamminess that a lesser actor would fall prey to.
Also, in this case an all star cast is worth it's weight in gold; how could you say no to the likes of Kathy Najimi, Victor Garber, Christine Baranski, Olympia Dukakis and the list goes on and on.

Perhaps there are those of us who prefer the (very) angry Larry Kramer viewpoint on the AIDS pandemic, in which case I recommend something with real pitbull bite such as "Philadelphia" with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington or "Longtime Companion" with Bruce Davison and Mary-Louise Parker.
I'm a great fan of Mary-Louise Parker who is equally brilliant as "Harper Pitt" in the Mike Nichols HBO production of "Angels in America".

7 people found this helpful

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Charity

So glad it's been re-released.

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2019

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So glad they finally re-released thus movie!! The Blue Rey plays as expected. Case is average.
I'm not going to rate the movie. As I'm a fan and there for biased. But I will say I have been waiting for years to replace my VHS copy of Jeffrey. What a fantastic story! Still relevant after all these years!! Funny & Sad and thoughtful all in one!

4 people found this helpful

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Blaine

Campy gay comedy, but not that funny

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2020

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I have seen some really lame gay movies, and this one is no exception. Why is it that quality, intelligent gay films are so rare? Why do these directors seem to play to the lowest common denominator formula containing predictable glimpses of skin, suggestive dialog, and generally shallow plots. Movies like this reinforce public stereotypes of gay men that are not representative of them at all! I won't be surprised if it get flamed by those who soak up this kind of nonsense and can't tolerate alternative viewpoints.

One person found this helpful

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Pet Roc

Oh My!

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2020

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I really enjoy this campy flick! Patrick Steward playing a posh queen makes the entire film for me. Jeffery (Steven Weber) now he's just a horny neurotic queen that needs to face his issues, like who doesn't! Steve Howard (Michael T. Weiss) from the Pretender series, Gym scene would make George Takei blush. It's a good campy but has a realistic message facing gay men even today.

2 people found this helpful

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J. Brown

Michael T Weiss is in this!

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2016

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Michael T Weiss and Patrick Stewart have the best characters! Jeffrey I could do without, actually, I just wanted to give Steve (Weiss) a great big hug and make it my mission in life to find him someone better than weak, inconsiderate Jeffrey. Oh well, it's not my story. Patrick Stewart's character was hilarious and genuine, I enjoyed him very much. Other famous 90's actors pop up occasionally. I had no idea what this movie was about when I bought it and it's definitely a culture shock if you aren't aware of gay or AIDS issues the 90's. I'll just call it 'different' because I've never seen a movie like it. Also, is it a coincidence that there is a mention of a 'Dr. Sydney Green...something' at the party? ;)

9 people found this helpful

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Günther Hartung

Definitely a must see!

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2015

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Clearly a dated, period piece from the 1990's, this movie stands as a classic. Although stereotypically effeminate gay portrayals it pokes fun at itself with the dramatis asides, when usually Jeffrey has to pause the scene to give the view some insider information about what is going on in his head.
I feel that this classic of a melodrama should be required viewing for all U.S. public high school students seeking graduation. Nothing is held back about how HIV and AIDS affected and still affects not only the gay/lesbian communities, but globally.
The character Jeffrey played exceptionally well by "Wings" co-star Weber, ponders daily, and nightly about possibilities that all of us face sometimes in our lives. That is understood by reading just the cover of the movie.
I find the subplot of the feelings of the POZ character Steve, the hunk, pardon my feelings for a moment, but I can really relate to Steve, but not for the obvious reasons. He is different from other guys, I am too, and just like Steve, dancing alone again to music in his flat, we feel the sense of loneliness that comes with a price of being the different one from every one else!

But is he really different, am I really different??? This is the dilemma that comes out. Only Jeffrey sees him as different, it seems that everyone else looks beyond the obvious and sees a caring, loving, really HOT guy. Well I'm not all that, but it pulls on my heart strings to see him alone dancing in the dark to music he has probably heard a hundred times over. So one wonders through the movie whether or not they will get together or even just have a good kiss at the least......

So, is this movie really about Jeffrey, or Steve, or is it about people like me (and you) who sometimes wonder if we are the different ones. For me this is a delightfully funny tear-jerker: yes have the tissues ready. I highly recommend this masterpiece!

9 people found this helpful

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Lisa

"There is only one real blasphemy - the refusal of joy..."

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2016

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Paul Rudnick's fabulous 1993 Broadway play now preserved as a cult classic on film: a story about AIDS, love, sex, and the gay community in New York in the 1990s. Hysterically funny, insightful, romantically sweet, and deeply moving. It's a love story to New York City, and Rudnick loves to poke snarky fun at the stereotypes of queer experience (and oh, nothing is sacred). The campy Patrick Stewart (who steals every scene with his bon mots) and the New Agey evangelist Sigourney Weaver are particularly brilliant, but really the cast is quite solid.

To add a historical context: AIDS hit the USA hard in 1980 and the impact on the gay community was terrifying and tremendous. For the next twenty plus years, the papers were filled with stories of celebrities and community icons coming out and/or dropping dead from the disease. We didn't have AZT until 1987, and even then it wasn't particularly effective. There wasn't a real medical breakthrough until 1996 (and the film comes out in 1995). So please remember, it's not quite as simple in Jeffrey's world to "just wear a condom" (and please, condoms do break and there are technically other ways to transmit the disease). Please remember there was real fear and danger and stigma attached to the virus in the early 90's. The first case of someone being CURED was not until 2007, so it is only in recent years that being HIV-positive was not an automatic death sentence.

This film is particularly important because it used comedy to broach what was a very difficult subject -- and at the time, the arts were producing brilliant stories about AIDS that were deeply depressing and full of mourning. "Jeffrey" belongs in the LGBTIQ canon: it uses personal stories to offer an important snapshot of a challenging time in our cultural history. It helps us celebrate and better appreciate the medical breakthroughs that now, thankfully, offer a different experience for those who are affected by the virus today.

One person found this helpful

H. Trivass

What a great film! Fantastic!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2002

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Well, this film had me in stiches in a lot of places. The film centres around Jeffrey who, through fear of catching HIV decides to give up sex. Then he meets the man of his dreams called Steve. Jeffrey is relecutant to go out with HIV positive Steve but Jeffrey's best friend Sterling (Patrick Stewart) is determind to help, interfer and even set-up Jeffrey so that he will go out with Steve! With help from a horny priest, group therapy for "Sexual Compulsives" and even a pep-talk from Sigorny Weaver who gives him some long overdue though not entirely helpful advice, Jeffrey realises that love should win over anything! This all ends up being a riot! Though the story does centre around the very depressive and hard hitting issue of HIV and AIDS, it thankfully isn't dealt with as if though there is no hope. It does have a couple of depressive moments to show that HIV and AIDS is a real threat, but this isn't given centre stage. The film has fun, love and joy, with an extremly hopeful ending! Great acting all round, but Patrick Stewart as Jeffrey's gay friend Stering steals the show. He was absolutly fantastic! Worth watching just to see him in a pink beret camping it up with the best of them! A great orginal film that I absolutly adorded! A must see! But get ready for pains in your side and you fear that your sides may split! It is that funny!

10 people found this helpful

filmboychris

hilarious gay comedy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2013

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Jeffrey is an attractive gay man who decides to give up sex and dating because of the AIDS situation, telling his friends that all the fun has gone out of it.
They decide to show him differently - Cue lots of campy action and musical numbers as he goes on a journey to find out that love is not dead after all, even if the man of his dreams may well be HIV positive.

A serious subject is given light-hearted treatment here but in such an exhuberant fashion that the movie is hard to dislike. It takes a lot of talent to pull something off like this, and the writer and cast are more than up to the task.

The disc is very bare bones which is a shame, as I am sure there is a lot to tell about how this film came to be.

rickshayne

Bad quality dvd of a great movie

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2009

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This review is only for the actual dvd, not the movie.
I have caught this movie on several channels throughout Europe, have the US VHS and the UK DVD. This UK dvd is bad. The quality of the picture is just acceptable it is no better than the VHS. There are several scenes where it's really really bad. You can make yourself a good idea right when the yellow titles start.
And then if that wasn't enough, a couple of seconds before the end credits are over, the silly VCI logo comes blasting in, cutting the last seconds of the end titles song.
Plus it's full screen yes. I will try the US dvd and hope it's a different transfer

One person found this helpful

Lumberjack123

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2016

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Item as described at a good price and arrived promptly.

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