Search - All the Rage on DVD

Fresh and funny

Chaz Smith | Somerville, MA USA | 01/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this DVD on the advice of friends, and it was incredible. Very funny and a very accurate look at gay life in the big city, from the gyms and bars to the dinner parties and first dates. I could recognize so many of my friends in the characters of this film, and I really got caught up in seeing how their lives would turn out. Plus, there are some gorgeous guys in the film, and there are a lot of freeze-worthy shots of them."

Lots of Promise, But No Delivery

James Morris | Jackson Heights, NY United States | 01/02/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"
I wanted to like this movie. I ordered the DVD hoping it was a controversial satire on the superficiality of the gay ghetto, as promised. What I got was a mildly amusing comedy, with nowhere near as much punch as I expected from the premise.



There were problems immediately. Although he has a perfect body, John-Michael Lander as Christopher portrays a character so unlikable, it's not possible to warm to him at all, let alone develop an interest in what happens to him as the plot progresses. Some may find him irresistibly attractive, but frankly I wouldn't have given him a second glance no matter how much he masked what a creep he is - perfect abs and all. A bigger problem to me was the character played by David Vincent. The film's premise - the brunt of the "hard-hitting satire" - is the fact that Christopher's boyfriend is supposed to be the opposite of what we've been "conditioned" to find attractive because (gasp!) he doesn't work out in a gym and actually has love handles (horrors!). He also doesn't have a glamorous job (I mean, really, who knows any gay men like that?) and - now here's the most shocking thing I could imagine in a satire on gay values - he sleeps in PAJAMAS! Now I know a few guys in Chelsea who might find this impossible to believe, but despite the love handles and the pajamas, the "out-of-shape, chunky, under-employed geek" turns out to be the most attractive man in the whole film. Somehow I think that some of the people this film was intended for won't quite get that.



I liked what this picture was trying to say - Christopher is shallow, superficial, vain and annoying, and more or less gets what he deserves in the end. It's not his promiscuity that bothers us, but the way he treats his conquests, refusing to ever have a second date, and finding the most ridiculous faults imaginable in each potential suitor. But the telling of the tale just isn't very interesting, or very funny, and if they really wanted to make it a satire, it should have been far more merciless to maintain my interest.



Maybe I'm just old enough to remember when gay men didn't spend all their time in a gym, staring at the mirror to confirm their own beauty. I seem to recall that when I first came out in the early 70's, gym bunnies were few and far between in the gay male community. In those days, you were either skinny, fat or average, and if people judged you by your looks, it was solely on the basis of whether or not you had a pretty face. The main things we used back then to attract people were wit, charm, personality and intelligence, along with keeping ourselves reasonably well groomed. Now all I hear and see everywhere is stats, stats and more stats - numbers for waists, chests, arms, and thighs, together with demands that everyone have a perfect body, perfect clothes and a perfect career, or forget it. I was hoping that this film might raise some serious objections to such values, but when the final credits were rolling I felt I hadn't really seen or heard very much to either provoke meaningful discussion or challenge these attitudes, which is what I expect a good satire to do. Some may find it quite enjoyable, and feel it delivers on its promises, but I was less than satisfied when it was over.

"

Remember Me?

interested_observer | San Francisco, CA USA | 01/02/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"All the Rage" focuses on the behavior of a successful gay Boston lawyer, while displaying a range of hook-ups, dates, and relationships, primarily in the gay community. Christopher Bedford, a trust and estate expert (played by John-Michael Lander), is a cute, buff Don Juan with a box of phone numbers from all the tricks who get no second opportunity. Christopher has a number of confidantes, including co-worker Larry (played by Jay Corcoran), real estate agent Dave (played by Paul Outlaw), Dave's wealthy lover, Tom (played by Peter Bubriski), and straight real estate agent Susan (played by Merle Perkins). The movie's action is triggered by matchmaking Tom arranging for Christopher to meet unbuff, rebounding book editor Stewart (played by David Vincent) at a dinner party. The group has a certain wonderment when Christopher and Stewart hit it off for a few months. Still Stewart keeps living with a handsome gym bunny quite attractive to Christopher. Eventually this leads to trouble. Almost immediately, Christopher takes home a back-room trick, John (played by Jeff Miller), and gets a surprise when the trick has an additional agenda, forcing Christopher to face his past behavior. After the climax, both Christopher and John are shaken.Playing this (as a tape) has been a guilty pleasure. The dialogue gathers together most of the nasty, insensitive things ones hears (and maybe says) in the course of cruising and tricking. The main character is in the center of this, but the other characters know the story too and play along with each other's illusions. There is no easy way out. The gay couple has communications problems and uses a wacko therapist. The straight woman gets a series of hopeless dates (and also uses the therapist). Christopher gets to absorb the audience's frustrations with unproductive tricking with hunks. There are many skin scenes with many attractive characters. There are several beautiful outdoor scenes in Boston, a favorite city of mine.The movie intercuts several short scenes showing a shirtless Christopher curled up in a chair, speaking his real thoughts. The scenes are shot in black & white as a contrast to the rest of the movie. This technique works well, although his chatter on the ideal body grows tiresome.In general the acting is average, though several supporting characters and cameos were more impressive. I especially liked Jeff Miller's and Paul Outlaw's performances. For me the biggest dissonance was the performance of the lead. Christopher's lines and monologues suggest a vesting in his transaction-driven character. The actor usually delivered the lines in an ironic manner, with a laugh hidden behind the smile, suggesting the character's non-existent inner awareness of the difference between his behavior and his real self. At the end there was room to wonder if he had a revelation or was annoyed at the ripping off of his mask.The DVD version is all right with acceptable extras. There is a commentary by director Roland Tec and actor Paul Outlaw. There is a twenty-minute group discussion on "Men, Dating, and Sex". This is a useful movie. The gay community does not look often at the ethics and manners one member should offer another. This movie asks a lot of the questions, although it doesn't really deliver the answers."

High Production Value-Great Film

David Heath | East Haven, CT | 02/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film looks like a high-budget film-not low-budget independent film. The characters are very believable and the story strikes a nerve with me and many of my gay male friends. I think we have all met people like the folks in this film. We often ARE the people in this film, although we may not want to admit it. I guess the most important thing to consider when buying a film is whether or not it is entertaining enough to keep on the shelf. "All The Rage" is definitely a good time and will also stimulate some great conversation. I'm glad I own it. It's a keeper."