G.B.F. (2013)

Directed By: Darren Stein 
Written By: George Northy 
Cinematography By: Jonathan Hall 
Editor: Philip J. Hartwell 


Cast: Michael J. Willett, Paul Iacono, Sasha Pieterse, Xosha Roquemore, Molly Tarlov, Evanna Lynch, Joanna “Jojo” Levesque, Derek Mio, Mia Rose Frampton, Andrea Bowen, Rebecca Gayheart, Jonathan Silverman, Natasha Lyonne, Megan Mullally, Horatio Sanz

Social warfare erupts when three high school clique queens battle for supremacy: drama diva Caprice, Mormon princess 'Shley and blonde fashionista Fawcett. When unassuming Tanner is outted, he finds himself cast as the hottest new teen-girl accessory: The Gay Best Friend. The clique queens immediately pounce and makeover Tanner into their ideal arm candy, forcing him to choose between popularity and the true friends - including his own B.F.F. Brent - that he's leaving behind. --Now while this film is totally predictable. It is a fun film that is rarely boring. That tackles a serious subject somewhat with tons of humor and with class. Other then a few objectionable words ln a few scenes. The movie is pretty much clean. It's pretty much soft seeing it’s subject and inoffensive. While dismantling a bunch of stereotypes and reveling in others.

I am going to admit not the best film technically, though I will admit to having alot of fun with it.

There are the obvious problems like the actors obviously being way too old to play their parts. The lead being kind of weak as he doesn't seem to have any personality at all. Though I guess with a film where everyone seems to have so much. His is either shut down due to lack of room or dwarfed easily. Then when he tries to become stronger as the story demands it. It still seems more like a whimper then actual strength.

I was hoping that the film would more live up to it’s title and have fun while making a statement, though in the end it seems more interested in trying to dispel stereotypes through humor, though more focusing on the humor rather than dispelling rumors and trying to spread a message of equality.

The film also has a limited budget that makes things interesting yet has a frugal look.

The film doesn't play like a film that is just for it's core audience. It actually play more like a typical teen comedy. That is a bit lowbrow, but stays funny throughout. --It’s easy going attitude and nature is helped by having a recognizable cast play more the adult and parental roles. Though as usual the teenagers look way too old.

It's weakness is in the fact that it constantly feels like a MTV-ish comedy series squeezed into a 90 minute movie where all of it's plot threads are easily solved as there was Barely any depth to them. Which is another weakness the film posesses. The two main characters are the only ones with some kind of depth and thorough storyline. (Which can be noted for making the gay characters more like real characters and the straight characters more being the stereotype and caricature) The other characters while servo a purpose are more caricatures. They aren't that deep and we really don't get to know that much about them even though we are given clues about them being more then what they have been perceived to be. Which is all fine and well if you want a slight comedy, but as this film seems to want to be a comedy with a message. It kind of loses the messages strength. I wish it were more BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER rather than JAWBREAKER.

The film has celebrity cameos (Such as Megan Mullally, is their any comedy she isn't in these days? I say this as a good thing) and a few familiar faces if You watch MTV shows. The whole cast is talented an good looking with top comedic chops to carry off the material.

This film is a total crowd pleaser that left me with a constant smile on my face. It's not entirely special but it is noteworthy. As when I watched it I started off tired and it woke me up. Just as the film itself seems to as it goes along. 

Grade: C+