Eating Out: All You Can Eat (2009)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

First of the Eating Out movies series I have seen and so far the best of the lot. Simple but workable storyline about a guy named Casey who has a crush on a hot hunk (Zack) who has just broken up with his boyfriend and is looking everywhere but in the right place (which would be? the witty Casey). Casey has just moved to town and started work at Nail Me nail salon for his new best friend, Tiffani, who tries to help Casey hook up with the hunk, Zach. Along the way, Tiffani's ex-boyfriend Ryan, a straight male stripper, gets pulled into the mix of trying to hook up Casey and Zack (including a funny 3-way sex scene). In the end, all works out well. Funny and irreverent with great one-liners delivered by Tiffani (Rebekah Kochan) and a great performance by the stripper boyfriend played by Michael E.R. Walker. The story even comes off as a caring exploration of what is true love. (I actually liked this movie better and had more laughs than any of the Seth Rogen movies). For mature audiences as frontal nudity by the hot hunk Zack and the stripper Ryan. Fun for a bored evening.

Young, cute, thin and gay Casey (Daniel Skelton) lusts after hunky Zack (Chris Salvatore). With the help of friend Tiffani (Rebekah Kochan) he makes a profile online and uses the pics of her str8 stripper ex-boyfriend Ryan (Michael E.R. Walker) to lure Zach. Zach falls for "Ryan"...but the REAL Ryan show up.The plot is completely predictable and the events like this would never happen in real life. Also most of the comedy falls flat. But, I liked this! It's quick (only 80 minutes including the credits), it has a friendly "feel" to it and the cast is rearing to go. Kochan has been in all three of these "Eating Out" movies and she's fun...if a little over the top. Skelton isn't TOO nerdy as Casey (I mean that in a good way). Salvatore is incredibly handsome. He's not all pumped up but he's so good-looking you won't notice! His acting is just OK. Walker IS all pumped up and incredibly good-looking as Ryan...but his acting seems a little unsure. Also there's impressive full frontals of Salvatore AND Walker! So it isn't good but I liked it. I give it an 8.

I was in the audience for Eating Out (Part One) at the LGBT Frameline film festival and, frankly, would have walked out if I hadn't been trapped in the middle of the row. That having been said, I really enjoyed this sequel to a sequel of a sequel. The downside is that either the acting is still facile and sophomoric (the fatal flaw in the earlier film) or the direction was lacking. The upside is that the snappy one-liners are now really zingy one-liners, which may indicate that the problem was with the direction and not the cast. Confessionally, the nudity was a huge(okay, pun intended) plus. Michael E.R. Walker, in a supporting role,does double duty. If you want a deep,thought-provoking film that probes the gay psyche, this is not your film. If you would like to laugh (a lot) and, yes, be titillated, you won't go wrong.

The story was not new at all and the dialogue was not executed perfectly (some jokes could have been funnier if executed better, some of the story more believable...), but this movie has other qualities that redeem it. Ryan (Michael) did quite well in this movie. He shows promise as an actor (and isn't hard on the eyes). Zack (Chris Salvatore) is not only (REALLY) attractive and likable, that's him signing over the credits and he's got some talent. I really hope to see both of them go further. And... without spoiling... the, let's call it "couch" scene is pretty hot.Tiffani gave a good contribution. I feel like Tandy was under-utilized. The lead was a little too... low-key. But likable.As a quality story... this movie does not make it. Predictable and it was not executed well enough. I also hate speeches (not to imply there was one at any point in the movie, that is just a random comment, perhaps). But this wasn't an attempt at art and it was enjoyable.As a place for new talent to emerge... that may be where this movies finds its success. I think the best thing to come out of this movie would be more work for Michael (Ryan) and Chris (Zack).