The Gayest Hollywood Movie Weekend Ever?
Sorry, I just read these movie reviews of Mamma Mia! …
The script, which is about a young bride-to-be on a Greek island who invites three men (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgaard) who might be her father to the nuptials without telling her mother (Meryl Streep), is quick to clarify what is on its mind. Firth and Brosnan are stranded while waiting for a, er, ferry. Colin turns to Pierce to say, “Bugger!†but instead of replying, “No, thank you,†Pierce says, “My sentiments exactly.†Firth, upping the ante, says, “Bollocks!†Brosnan: “My sentiments exactly.†This kind of saucy flirtation hasn’t been seen at the movies since C-3PO first met R2-D2.
The ABBA songs of Mamma Mia are perhaps not the favored anthems of your local rugby squad or Navy SEAL unit to begin with; few are the countries that have been invaded while Voulez-Vous blasts out of the Hummvee, though if ever we have cause to invade Belgium, Waterloo would seem the obvious choice. Nevertheless, the realization of the songs is beyond camp. This is a musical comedy with terrible jokes (“I grew up.†“Then grow back down againâ€) that is nevertheless hilarious.
A scene in which the groom’s shirtless beach blanket buddies, who are throwing him a bachelor party, peel him away from his bride in order to force him to join their merry band as they goose-step along the dock, while wearing flippers, with maximal flapping of arms, suggests a re-enactment of the invasion of the Sudetenland conducted by the Village People during a weekend on Fire Island. (Stay through the closing credits for more. I am talking about Brosnan in a royal blue skin-tight chest-baring jumpsuit that Liberace would have described as a bit much.)
and Batman:Â The Dark Knight (gayer than Mamma Mia??!!) …
Not that “gay Batman” isn’t redundant. We’ve had our suspicions about the Dark Knight’s proclivities since the heyday of Fredric Wertham. The latest iteration keeps Robin locked away in Batman’s closet (who do you think is, ahem, redecorating Wayne Manor?) and Katie Holmes isn’t around doing beard duty this time. But you’d have be in pretty deep denial not to pick up on the homoerotic hints. “You complete me,” the Joker coos to the Dark Knight, a moment that even Kyle dubs “Brokeback Batman.” Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne does a lot of eyelash batting at his gushing new BFF Harvey (”you sure know how to throw a party!”) Dent, even teasing Harvey about his after-hours activities: “ballet?” (Somewhere, Adam West is smiling). Why is the mayor of Gotham City wearing so much eyeliner? And who are we kidding, aren’t Alfred and Lucius clearly a pair of old queens fussing over dressing up their leather-clad protege? Holy Aunt Harriet! “Mamma Mia!” is no less gay, but at least it’s more or less out and proud.
…and got a hearty chuckle.
I have to wonder if Kyle Smith ever saw the ABBA show on Broadway? The script sounds pretty consistent with the sold-out stage show’s to me. I am proud to say I’m a multiple-Mamma Mia! stage fan (NYC, DC, Toronto & London — twice!).
So for all of you oppressed American gays out there, just know that the #1 and #2 movies this weekend are all about you!
PS — Both of these movies are on GP & PatriotPartner’s list. Of course I can’t remember the last movie we saw in the theater….
-Bruce (GayPatriot)
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Hubby and I are planning to view “The Dark Knight” this weekend.
As for “Mamma Mia,” I saw it live in London’s West End a few years ago, and don’t want to soil those memories with (gasp!) Meryl and Pierce trying to sing on the big screen. No thank you.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — July 19, 2008 @ 1:45 pm - July 19, 2008
The Dark Knight was awesome. Mamma Mia looks dreadful; ABBA, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan–sounds like my idea of hell (besides 4 more years of McSame.)
Comment by Pinky Bear — July 19, 2008 @ 6:29 pm - July 19, 2008
Reportedly Dark Knight director Nolan is up for re-imagining a number of the iconic villains if the new franchise keeps rolling-along. And Penguin just cries-out to be redone as gay…with the Iceberg Lounge as Gotham’s hottest gay club. …Who-else still wears Tails and Spats? I’m mentally-casted John Barrowman as cross between a younger Noel Coward and Cole Porter…he can even sing old showtunes as his ah’hem…”henchmen”…roll their eyes and make snarky remarks.
Comment by Ted B. (Charging Rhino) — July 19, 2008 @ 6:37 pm - July 19, 2008
Batman gay?? Heavens forbid….
If anyone in the Gotham Canon gets re-imagined as gay it’s Penguin….I mean reeeaally…spats and tails? I can see the Iceberg Lounge being Gotham’s hottest gay club and John Barrowman as a cross between Noel Coward and Thomas Crown while his “henchmen” make snarky comments about his hobby of crime.
Comment by Ted B. (Charging Rhino) — July 19, 2008 @ 7:13 pm - July 19, 2008
Which is why he’s always had a thing for the well stacked and curvaceous Selena Kyle.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — July 19, 2008 @ 7:33 pm - July 19, 2008
Oh, hon, WALL-E makes the tri-fecta!
http://www.cracked.com/blog/2008/07/02/wall-e-really-about-an-aging-gay-robot/
“Our story centers on Wall-E, the titular, elderly gay robot. He’s spent seven hundred years collecting interesting trinkets, fastidiously organizing anything that’s out of place, and singing along to old tapes of Hello Dolly.”
LOL LOL Laugh and be strong, ladies!
Comment by Aunt Ralph the Syberyenta — July 20, 2008 @ 9:29 am - July 20, 2008
Don’t forget Wall-E — spends his time neatening up things, collecting tchotckes and listening to Jerry Herman
Honey, it’s a tutti frutti Trifecta !!!
Comment by Aunt Ralph the Syberyenta — July 20, 2008 @ 11:36 am - July 20, 2008
#2 - Some poor girls just can’t help injecting politics into everyday conversations. Makes you wonder how they manage themselves.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — July 20, 2008 @ 6:30 pm - July 20, 2008
Hubby and I just got back from watching “The Dark Knight.” Oh. My. God. Between Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, this movie rocks. Big.
Heath is truly menacing in this role. I can see why it made him go crazy. It is the male version of a Blanche Dubois role - pretending to be insane while you are sane and then going insane on screen.
Just when you think he can’t top himself in one scene, he does it in the next. This guy was lost to us way before his time to go.
Unless a knockout role gets cast between now and Christmas, he should be a shoo-in for Best Supporting Actor.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — July 20, 2008 @ 8:54 pm - July 20, 2008
They don’t. The DNC chekas won’t put up with uppity slaves.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — July 20, 2008 @ 9:13 pm - July 20, 2008
##8-9: Actually, it wasn’t the tired, unoriginal “McSame” reference that I found offensive in the comment written by Pinky Bear (or the new name I have assigned to her, “Good Riddance”). I saw something in comment #2 that confirmed for me that we are actually dealing with unspeakable evil–not just the usual, dime-a-dozen libtard. Here’s the issue for me:
What sick, twisted, nihilistic, sociopathic FREAK doesn’t like ABBA?!
Comment by Sean A — July 20, 2008 @ 11:34 pm - July 20, 2008
7: And is being heralded as one of the simplest, sweetest, most charming animated characters ever created for doing so……
Comment by Kevin — July 21, 2008 @ 5:41 am - July 21, 2008
Saw Dark Knight and Mamma Mia. Dark Knight was awesome and Heath will win tons of awards. Didn’t want to see Mamma Mia, I’m not so much a musical at the movies guy, but the partner wanted to see it so. I’m glad we went, the theatre was full of “family” and it turned into the closest thing to a rockey horror picture show rocker I’ve seen in years. It was fun and a hoot. Glad we went.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvaniua — July 21, 2008 @ 11:38 am - July 21, 2008
Mamma Mia! played a couple blocks away from my former gym (in Times Sq), but I never went and saw it. Then again, I lived in New York for years and only ever saw two musicals. I’m still in recovery from having watched the film version of “Rent” a couple Christmases ago.
Now, “The Dark Knight” I do want to see, but not with all the fanboys. I’ll wait til it comes to bluray.
Comment by Erik — July 21, 2008 @ 1:41 pm - July 21, 2008
I’ll see “Dark Knight,” but “Mamma Mia” does nothing for me. Not because of ABBA - I ADORE ABBA! - but I can’t deal with Streep. Have you ever had the experience of seeing an actor or actress whom you just can’t stand, but you can’t explain why? Streep does that to me - and Kate Hepburn, too, for that matter.
Anyway, wife wants to see DK, so we’re going to hunt for the nearest IMAX theater that’s really showing the movie in IMAX and enjoy.
Comment by Christopher — July 21, 2008 @ 2:05 pm - July 21, 2008
Well it is sure better than La Traviata!
Comment by Beasleybrother — July 21, 2008 @ 5:39 pm - July 21, 2008
#15 - Beas, I think you are referring to “La Boheme,” which is what the play “Rent” was loosely based upon. “La Traviata” has to do with a young rich boy playing around with a woman name Violetta who is almost twice his age and later dies from consumption.
Ironically, the diva who is usually cast as Violetta is about the same build as Rosie O’Donnell. So much for truth in advertising.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — July 21, 2008 @ 5:52 pm - July 21, 2008
#16. Dunno if she’s the size or Rosie, then ‘consumption’ is really ironic.
Comment by The Livewire — July 21, 2008 @ 8:51 pm - July 21, 2008
I was invited to see both the Broadway production of “Rent” and the movie, and I politely declined both times. From what I read about it they should have called it “Deadbeats.”
However, my dad took me to see a local production of La Boheme when I was 16 and I enjoyed it.
Mamma Mia I will probably see (or rent) eventually, but I’ll wait to see Dark Knight until I see Batman Begins first. I was never a big comic book fan, but I remember seeing the first three Batman movies as a child (I don’t have the intestinal fortitude to attempt to watch Batman & Robin).
Comment by Attmay — July 21, 2008 @ 11:58 pm - July 21, 2008
I was coerced into seeing Mamma Mia (the play), which ended up being great… as for the movie version, sounds fun, though it’s awkward to think of ol’ Pierce trying to sing, yeeesh
Comment by movie buff — August 14, 2008 @ 4:38 am - August 14, 2008
Great Movie but the movie is not that good as the PROMO said, After the half it started irritating me.
Comment by Bhushan — August 17, 2008 @ 7:13 am - August 17, 2008