Drinks, Dinner and a Romantic Comedy
Monday, April 21st, 2008Tonight involved drinks, dinner and a romantic comedy. See I do date. I just date my best friend, we split the bill, and take seperate cabs home.
After a couple drinks, but before going to see the movie, Jen and I had dinner that included this bit of conversation while talking religion:
Jen: See, and that’s where they lose me. Once you get this idea that you’re superior to other people, that you have the only correct answer, once you establish systems of superiority–
Me: Oh, I believe in systems of superiority. I totally think I’m superior to other people.
Jen: What?
Me: I think I’m smarter than most people in this world. I’m more capable, intellectually, than most of the people I’ve met, anyway. And it’s not just because I’m genetically coded to be smart, but because in a world where chaos reigns, enough untraceable factors have come together to make me smart. And so, if there is a problem that is best solved by an intellectual solution, I believe that I am better suited to offering a sound intellectual solution than the average person, and that makes me superior.
Jen: Yes, but your system of superiority doesn’t involve a magic fairy or invisible being telling you you’re better than everyone else because of your skin color or what you eat on Fridays…
About 10 minutes later it dawned on me that anyone listening to our conversation would think we’re a bunch of assholes. Like I care what they think…
Anyway, we went to see Kiss the Bride, the new gay flick everyone is buzzing about. It was about what I expected in some regards: uneven acting from leads who were probably cast more for how their asses would look in the obligatory naked scenes than dramatic range, low-budget props, kooky side-kick characters, broad situational comedy based on mistaken identities and drunken revelations, etc.
What delighted me was that the writing itself (Tyler Lieberman) was so superior to the production. Witty, clever, and aside from some rather clunky exposition in the first 15 minutes, spot-on. Tori Spelling was great, as was Amber Benson as the bitter sister-of-the-bride (the anti-Tara from Buffy). The scene involving the rehearsal dinner speeches was comedy gold. So were the strip club confessions from the spastic groomsmen (including my other boyfriend Steve Sandvoss–but don’t tell James Marsden I’m cheating).
Sadly, if the dramatic moments between the two leading men had been as good as the comedy, this would be a great film. As it is, it’s a cute movie. The lead roles are carried Philipp Karner and James O’Shea – both of whom are delightful to look at, but as Paula Poundstone once said (regarding ‘actress’ Darryl Hannah): “It’s the walking and talking that are the problem.” This is coming from the guy who usually cuts actors a lot of slack if I want to find them naked in my bed some night (did you see my reviews of Stop-Loss and Jumper?).
One other point of issue. I’m getting gorram tired of gay flicks using bisexuality as a punchline. I don’t care how clever you think your “bi now, gay later” joke is, it’s tired and it’s offensive. Stop it.
The great thing about dating this way is that you need not fear the inevitability of the sex getting boring.
And Jere, you don’t love men, you just love Matt. On the bed. In the shower. Under the kitchen table. At the club. Behind the sofa.