Rating:
Director: Darren Stein
Cinema release: 21 March 2014
On Demand Release Date: 22nd March 2014
DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date: Amazon: 7th April 2014
Country of Origin: USA
Cast: Michael J. Willett, Paul Iacono, Sasha Pieterse, Natasha Lyonne, Evanna Lynch, Megan Mullally, Andrea Bowen
BBFC Rating: 12 (tbc)
Tanner (Michael J Willet) and Brent (Paul Iacono) are two gay best friends in high school. Brent longs for the spotlight and believes that coming out will make him instantly popular as this year's must-have teen girl accessory; North Gateway High's very first G.B.F. (or Gay Best Friend). Tanner on the other hand, would rather fly under the radar and finish high school without ever being noticed.
When things don't go according to plan and Tanner is outed instead of Brent, the two boys go from B.F.Fs to instant frenemies. Enter the three most popular girls in school -- queen-of-mean bombshell Fawcett, drama club diva Caprice, and sweet, Mormon good-girl 'Shley, who launch an all-out social war to win Tanner's status-enhancing friendship.
Featuring an all-star cast including Desperate Housewives' Andrea Bowen,
Will & Grace's Megan Mullally, Orange Is The New Black's Natasha
Lyonne and Harry Potter's Evanna Lynch. G.B.F is the gay-themed high school popularity contest coming-of-age teen drama we have been dreaming of ever since Mean Girls hit the big screen. In a colourful, fashion-filled, stereotype-inducing and breaking formulaic story, the comedy wins out. Playing cleverly on parodying those high school dramas, the jokes and the physical comedy seductively mask a story where the ending might be a tad predictable for fans of the genre.
Set in small town, middle USA, the highs and lows of being the only two gays in the village and coming out are explored, adding some depth to what would otherwise be a nice to look at, but vapid jaunt. In particular, relationships with parents, and the complexities of the blurred boundaries between friendships and romance mean the film has something to offer for the young gay teens it represents.
Willet and Iacono's portrayal of the teens coming to terms with what their sexuality means to them are a strong combination and between them show off a spectrum of character that goes much deeper than stereotypes often seen in side-kick gay characters. In fact, the stereotyping is left to the surrounding entourage, cheerleader Fawcett (Sasha Pieterse of Pretty Little Liars fame), stage-performer Caprice (Xosha Roquemore), and religious 'Shley (Andrea Bowen). They are the American high-school archetype of popularity figures, with their ambition, agendas and attitude. However, the actresses all cleverly and deftly convey that there's more going on under the surface of these pretty high school divas.
The humour is a tad laden with gay subtext and might miss some of the mainstream audience the rest of the film is clearly aimed at.
Casting the supporting adult roles with key actors from well known LGBT film and TV was a good touch, in particular the role of Brent's mother, Megan Mullaley and gay-straight alliance staff advisor, Natasha Lyonne, both played with genuine sensitivity and skill, adds credibility to the film overall.
G.B.F.
is out in cinemas and on demand 21st March followed by the Blu-ray/DVD release
on 14th April.
By Katie
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