User Reviews

Over the years, I've had discussion with various gay friends about "gay sensibility." Does such a thing exist, and, if so, how is it defined? One way a term can be defined is by negation--telling what something is not. "Outing Riley" will define by negation very clearly what "Gay Sensibility" is not. This is a heterosexual teen comedy--only it's not the least bit funny, if you're older than 14 and have an IQ higher than 70.

Here's a sampling of this film's "humor": Luke and Connor are in a bar where a horse race is being televised. A woman joins them and asks if they have any money on the horses. "Yes," they say. "On number 2, My Face." So they begin cheering the horse on by saying, "Come on, My Face." Finally, as the race ends the woman realizes she's been made a fool of, shouting out in the bar, "Come on (ejaculate) on my face." Ha, ha! Isn't that just a gut-buster? Another scene--a flashback--shows the father getting exercise equipment for Christmas. He tries out the rowing machine or the slant board (I'm uncertain exactly which it was), and after straining his midsection with a few moves, he expels a loud, explosive fart. If that's your idea of comedy, you'll love this film's "humor." And guess where Connor and Luke arrange to meet Bobby's boyfriend Luke? At a hot dog stand named Weiner Circle. Ain't that just too funny?

We are introduced to Bobby's three Irish brothers and his sister. Oldest brother, Jack Riley, is a priest, and the depiction of his character here makes him a disgusting person, which, perhaps, was the filmmaker's intention, though I doubt it. Jack reveals to his brothers bits of scandalous information that he's learned in the confessional. During a baptismal scene, Jack is paying more attention to trying to hear what his two rude brothers and sister are talking about in the church pews while the baptismal ceremony is going on at the altar. He's hypocritical. He's bifurcated--a priest in the church and rectory but someone else quite different when off the church property. Brother Luke Riley is a pothead and magic mushroom devotee, even though he's married, the father of two daughters, and apparently in his early 30s. And then there's Connor Riley, the overweight internet porn addict--also married and a father.

There isn't an iota of conviction in this film. I didn't for a minute believe that Bobby Riley was gay. Pete Jones remained a straight man playing a gay character. I couldn't believe in Bobby and his boyfriend Andy's love for each other. We see mighty little of Bobby and Andy together, for one thing, and when we do see them together, they are awkward and stiff with each other, incapable of speaking naturally, and certainly not behaving as lovers of several years.

We're to believe that Connor and Luke both come to accept Bobby as gay because they arrange a surprise Coming Out party for him. Nonsense. The priest gives out with the usual Catholic line--the church doesn't condemn a homosexual, just homosexual acts. He says he's still praying for Bobby and hopes he'll make a better choice. This guy is the hypocrite to end them all.

Finally, the only gay moment occurs in a brief ten second (or so) fantasy scene that Bobby has which recalls an Esther Williams water ballet as choreographed by Busby Berkeley. So all is not lost, after all!

I don't think a writer, director, or actor has to be gay to portray gays and their lives successfully. I conclude that Pete Jones is an inept writer and director whose heterosexual sensibility and penchant for gross-out teen comedies was glued unto a story about a gay man coming out.

If you want to know what it's like to come out as a gay or lesbian to a family of religious parents and siblings, I'd recommend the excellent "For the Bible Tells Me So." There's no comedy there, though there are, for the most part, happy endings of acceptance. And, yes, there are comedies about gays and lesbians coming out, but "Outing Riley" isn't one of them.

How did this film get made?

I'm writing this review for people who want to see queer films and who check reviews to see if a film is worth their time.

Definitely skip this one. The premise of Outing Riley is good, and in the hands of a better writer and director there's a good idea for a story here.

But Outing Riley completely fails as a film. The family relationship that is central to the story feels shallow and false. The plot is meandering and mostly consists of the main character's sister constantly nagging him to come out to the rest of his family (and it does come off as nagging, not concern). The attempts at humor are at best flat but generally annoying and more than a few times seem like the sort of thing you usually come across in R rated teen sex comedies, gratuitous boob shots included.

This movie surprised me! In many ways, this film takes the established stereotypes and crashes them against the closet door of our self-imposed homophobia. Are there gay men who do not fit in? Do they deserve to have their story told as any other? Is it possible that there are gay men who love baseball and beer more than a singing diva?

By way of an answer, on the commentary track Pete Jones (Writer/Director) saw how stereotypical the roles of gay men had become in TV and film. At the same time, he wanted to write a comedy and also had friends who were gay guy's guys. While seemingly rehearsed, I feel it to be a genuine revelation of his thought-process for the genesis of the script.

Perceived bad acting aside (you do know this is a low-budget movie, right?), this movie touched me on many levels and I was amazed at the depths of the characters. They were well fleshed out and could have a life outside the film.

*** BEGIN SPOILER *** When he began reading the letter from his father, I cried. Who doesn't want the acknowledgment and love (if not the respect) of their parents? And when his brother's talked about their feelings (and questioned/commented about their brother's "new" lifestyle), they were probably the same questions my brothers asked. This film was as much about the family's reaction as it was about the main character.

My only complaint about the movie was the underwater scene. Up until that point, I was right there! I found it hard to believe that a straight-acting guy like Pete's character would day-dream about this -- even if he thought it was funny and was making fun of it. *** END SPOILER ***

The formula for gay films today is 1) an oddly voyeuristic coming-of-age tale of young love or 2) a man suddenly realizes he has been gay and "comedy" ensues. Both formulas have been done so many times, they seem cliché. If you are a fan of formula, this film is not for you. Finally, if you are criticizing Pete Jones for not having seen a gay film, you may be wrong. He probably saw them and thought "I can do better"!!!

If you ingested the entire Edward Burns film canon and then regurgitated, "Outing Riley" would be the result. I couldn't believe how bad this movie was. The first and most fatal mistake it made was having the protagonist break the fourth wall. I have to admit that for me this is almost always the kiss of death to a movie. The only time I can recall it working was in "High Fidelity" with John Cusack. But, Pete Jones (Bobby) possesses nothing like Cusack's talent or likability.

The script was awful, and the story chock-full of insipid situations and plot points. For instance ***SPOILER ALERT*** Bobby, at his sister's suggestion, comes out to his brothers by showing them a slide show of pictures of him and his lover. When his brothers finally accept him, they throw him a surprise "You're Gay" party. ***END SPOILER ALERT*** Only Michael McDonald gives a performance that could be called professional, but sadly he has no chemistry with Jones. In fact he kind of seems like he's acting in a different movie.

I hope that after this and "Stolen Summer" Pete Jones can't get financing to make anymore movies. But, if he absolutely has to write and direct films, at least let him not cast himself.