I recently saw a late night presentation of this film, and it *is* a very good movie. The main character, Jeff, is a young popular college student who is struggling to deal with what's he's known all his life: that he's gay.
He musters up the courage to come out to his mother (Marlo Thomas) and asks her for help. Though his mom is unnerved by the revelation, she tries her best to remain supportive in front of him—despite insisting that he seek therapy to "fix" the situation. Jeff's father (Martin Sheen), meanwhile, is another story. His son being gay is more than unnerving to him, it's devastating. So devastating that he can barely face his son, and deliberately avoids him. As a result, this seemingly close-knit family begins to unravel...it then becomes obvious that there may have some other unresolved issues that they never dealt with.
As Jeff continues to seek counseling, and even attempts to go out on a date with a woman, he eventually realizes that his homosexuality is something that he can't change, and begins to accept himself (and even goes as far to defend another student at his school is harassed for being gay.)
Perhaps the most provocative moment in the film is when Jeff and another young man, who goes to the same school, both find themselves in a local diner in the midnight hour. After making conspicuous eye contact, and nervous small talk, they wind up being intimate (though it's only implied, not seen). Now he KNOWS that he's gay, and that there is no turning back. When Jeff then tells his parents that he is no longer going to therapy, and confesses to having been with another man, all hell breaks loose; resulting in an ugly shouting match between father and son, with mom caught in the middle.
Though the over the top melodrama and angst, as well as the quest to cure this kids gayness via a psychiatrist, may seem a bit dated by today's standards...fortunately the film ends on a positive note, with Jeff fully accepting his homosexuality and finding a boyfriend.
Overall, the movie is very compelling, wonderfully acted, and will tug at the heart.
He musters up the courage to come out to his mother (Marlo Thomas) and asks her for help. Though his mom is unnerved by the revelation, she tries her best to remain supportive in front of him—despite insisting that he seek therapy to "fix" the situation. Jeff's father (Martin Sheen), meanwhile, is another story. His son being gay is more than unnerving to him, it's devastating. So devastating that he can barely face his son, and deliberately avoids him. As a result, this seemingly close-knit family begins to unravel...it then becomes obvious that there may have some other unresolved issues that they never dealt with.
As Jeff continues to seek counseling, and even attempts to go out on a date with a woman, he eventually realizes that his homosexuality is something that he can't change, and begins to accept himself (and even goes as far to defend another student at his school is harassed for being gay.)
Perhaps the most provocative moment in the film is when Jeff and another young man, who goes to the same school, both find themselves in a local diner in the midnight hour. After making conspicuous eye contact, and nervous small talk, they wind up being intimate (though it's only implied, not seen). Now he KNOWS that he's gay, and that there is no turning back. When Jeff then tells his parents that he is no longer going to therapy, and confesses to having been with another man, all hell breaks loose; resulting in an ugly shouting match between father and son, with mom caught in the middle.
Though the over the top melodrama and angst, as well as the quest to cure this kids gayness via a psychiatrist, may seem a bit dated by today's standards...fortunately the film ends on a positive note, with Jeff fully accepting his homosexuality and finding a boyfriend.
Overall, the movie is very compelling, wonderfully acted, and will tug at the heart.