Reviews

Was there a contest to come up with the film that could pack in the most cheesy third rate film school moments? That is the only reason I can imagine for this film to have ever been made. The overall concept behind this "story" (if one could be so generous) seems promising - the climax of the war, secret codes, mysterious characters. But the execution is so self-conscious you don't believe a moment of it. Weird isn't always interesting.

Are you tired of seeing films with pretty gay boys wandering through a Freshmen magazine glossy world who are constantly given the opportunity to take off their shirts? Well, I am and therefore this film was a disappointment. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious eye-candy but the boy-meets-boy boy-gets-boy boy-loses-boy storyline is tired and the characters are flat and dull. Will some film maker (other than the brilliant John Greyson) realize that the gay film-going audience wants more, needs more, and deserves more?

This play had significant personal meaning for me in the early 80s and I only recently found a copy of this film adaptation. Like many stage comedies, the translation to film falls flat in most scenes partly due to the absence of theatrical elements (including the audience) but the biggest problem with this version is the casting. With ethnicity at the core of much of the humor, it was less than convincing to have Rita Moreno as an Italian widow, Madeline Kahn as an Irish floozy, and other characters trying to "play" an ethnicity that was not natural for them. But I really liked the ending on this filmed version, and the scene between Francis and his father at the end was very real and touching making this a nice "coming out" film for the whole family.

It is a good thing that I could not get tickets for the screening of "Pecker" at the Toronto Film Festival. I was embarrassed enough without John Waters even being present when I saw the film at my local theatre. There was nothing original about this film and all of the characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. His earlier films were not well written either but at least they dared to show us something new and had an certain honesty even in their campy style. Edward Furlong wins the award for the most wooden and dull title character of the year. Christina Ricci who was brilliant in "Buffalo 66" walks through this picture wondering, as we are, why she ever agreed to do this film (something she should have asked herself before doing Billy Zane's horrible "I Woke Up Early the Day I Died" also). Mink Stole, the only real hope for some good camp, was given nothing to do - yawn. Martha Plimpton's role as Pecker's sister was simply not funny. And the Virgin Mary gag was funny the first time but was repeated over and over like a Saturday Night Live skit that has gone on way too long. I only hope that Mr. Waters will return to the less mainstream and more honest world of life on the far fringe in his next film.

This has to be one of the worst films of all time. It was unbearable sitting through it. I can't understand how and why so many talented actors became involved in this. The plot is thin, predictable, and boring. At the North American premier that I attended in Toronto, more than a few people walked out. There is no dialogue in this film so it is played as a slapstick "silent" film with a modern (and actually quite good) soundtrack. I could not help but be embarrassed for Mr. Zane, who was in the audience, while one gag after another fell flat. The film isn't even bad in a fun or campy way. It is dull and uninteresting. Not much more can be said.

This is a delightful little film that will appeal to a mostly young gay male audience. Others might feel a bit left out and some viewers might be put off by some of the humor and portrayals of straights and Hispanics. But if your a gay male you will probably identify with many of the situations as the main character goes through relationship trouble that we've all been through. Despite its glossy look, the film's characters are rather real and the ending is a pleasant surprise (not a "roll your eyes" predictable ending). There is a fantastic scene between Billy and Gabriel where the tension is played incredibly well. The drag "interludes" are a bit tired, maybe because we've seen it done more effectively in the film "Stonewall". In short, if you are part of the primarily-young somewhat-urban gay male crowd you will find the film entertaining, and if you are a romantic you will also find it touching and familiar.