This is a forgettable film that masquerades as a romantic comedy when it is really a satire on homophobia. Actually, the storyline is quite clever and there are a number of good sight gags, but the dialogue is uniformly dreadful and lowbrow. The writing is hack and sitcomesque which might explain why they loaded this cast with TV actors.
We are presented with two architects who are vying for a contract that can revitalize their ailing business with a roguish developer named Charles Newman (Dylan McDermot). Charles is married and having an affair with Amy (Neve Campbell), but he is jealous and wants to keep tabs on her. Thinking Oscar (Matthew Perry) is gay and no threat, he asks him to spy on her, implying that it might help him to get the contract. The rest is pretty predictable. They fall in love, but she thinks he's gay so there is no hope. Eventually love prevails (no spoiler here, no-one on the planet could watch this movie and think they wouldn't get together), but not before numerous mistaken gender orientation gags run their course.
This film was obviously presented from a gay perspective as a satire on homophobia. All the gay characters are portrayed as respectable, admirable and wise, while all the straight men are portrayed as rogues, misfits and buffoons. You see skit after skit where homophobia is lampooned. Women can't confide in a man unless they think he's gay, because straight men are just too insensitive to understand. Gays in the closet are bashed repeated with snide remarks. This probably explains why this film was more well received by women than men, since much the comedy really mocked straight men and their fear of homosexuality.
Matthew Perry has made a career out of playing hapless losers with the appeal being that it's funny to see someone who is even more woefully inept than the average viewer. While I don't find this particularly funny, I will give him his due and say that he is a master of the art. He gets high marks for being able to simultaneously evoke laughter and sympathy over his plight. Also, I found his chemistry good with Campbell, and his longing for her was played with a good deal of sincerity and sensitivity.
Neve Campbell is really just window dressing here. Her role is to smile, look cute and sexy and play the love interest. This is not a real stretch for her since she can essential do all those things by just standing there.
Dylan McDermot was pretty dreadful as the scoundrel. In his defense, he didn't have much to work with since the way his part was written he was portraying more of a caricature than a character. It is difficult for an actor to slip into the skin of an absurdity and know exactly how to play it.
The best acting in the film came from Oliver Platt, who played Oscar Novak's business partner. He was funny and played an excellent straight man to Perry's clown. Platt is a veteran and a professional and always brings substance to his supporting roles.
This film has its moments but not enough of them. It is effective social satire and it is mildly successful as a romantic comedy, but it bogs down frequently with too many variations on the same gay theme. Though funny in parts, it is generally just silliness. I rated it a 5/10.
We are presented with two architects who are vying for a contract that can revitalize their ailing business with a roguish developer named Charles Newman (Dylan McDermot). Charles is married and having an affair with Amy (Neve Campbell), but he is jealous and wants to keep tabs on her. Thinking Oscar (Matthew Perry) is gay and no threat, he asks him to spy on her, implying that it might help him to get the contract. The rest is pretty predictable. They fall in love, but she thinks he's gay so there is no hope. Eventually love prevails (no spoiler here, no-one on the planet could watch this movie and think they wouldn't get together), but not before numerous mistaken gender orientation gags run their course.
This film was obviously presented from a gay perspective as a satire on homophobia. All the gay characters are portrayed as respectable, admirable and wise, while all the straight men are portrayed as rogues, misfits and buffoons. You see skit after skit where homophobia is lampooned. Women can't confide in a man unless they think he's gay, because straight men are just too insensitive to understand. Gays in the closet are bashed repeated with snide remarks. This probably explains why this film was more well received by women than men, since much the comedy really mocked straight men and their fear of homosexuality.
Matthew Perry has made a career out of playing hapless losers with the appeal being that it's funny to see someone who is even more woefully inept than the average viewer. While I don't find this particularly funny, I will give him his due and say that he is a master of the art. He gets high marks for being able to simultaneously evoke laughter and sympathy over his plight. Also, I found his chemistry good with Campbell, and his longing for her was played with a good deal of sincerity and sensitivity.
Neve Campbell is really just window dressing here. Her role is to smile, look cute and sexy and play the love interest. This is not a real stretch for her since she can essential do all those things by just standing there.
Dylan McDermot was pretty dreadful as the scoundrel. In his defense, he didn't have much to work with since the way his part was written he was portraying more of a caricature than a character. It is difficult for an actor to slip into the skin of an absurdity and know exactly how to play it.
The best acting in the film came from Oliver Platt, who played Oscar Novak's business partner. He was funny and played an excellent straight man to Perry's clown. Platt is a veteran and a professional and always brings substance to his supporting roles.
This film has its moments but not enough of them. It is effective social satire and it is mildly successful as a romantic comedy, but it bogs down frequently with too many variations on the same gay theme. Though funny in parts, it is generally just silliness. I rated it a 5/10.