Partner(s) (2005)

Just perfect...

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The problem I had with this movie is that it's essentially a sitcom premise stretched out to 90 minutes, although fortunately, that spares us the set up/punch line every few minutes route and the laugh track. The story is also predictable and has been done before, at least several times in the last 10-15 years, usually guy pretends to be gay to get the girl, not for career advancement, but I assume this is a rip off, at least conceptually, from the 2001 French film, Le Placard, (aka The Closet).That's another problem with this film: there are some good concepts but they aren't well developed. They discuss how to make the Dave character pass for gay and its nice to see they don't make any effort to change his behavior (i.e. Victor/Victoria's "more shoulder, remember you're a drag queen" or similar from Mrs. Doubtfire) but since they don't develop his character very much, you don't understand why he's into Bette Davis movies and it seems strange he would have a good friend who's gay and would move in with him, but not have any clue about some basics such as what a top or bottom is.The performances were adequate to fine, with some excellent work by a few people. Reichen Lehmkuhl really needs to get a new agent who will get him some bit work where he can keep his shirt on. I also agree that the "gay guys" don't do a good job. Micheal Ian Blank's gay friends at "brunch" (Sean McGowan and Bru Miller) in particular, shouldn't have been mouthing some of their lines based on what they wore and looked like. I kept thinking that the sub-plot with the two make co-workers (roommates themselves) of Dave's would be resolved with one or both of them turning out to be gay, which may have more sense, otherwise I would agree that the time spent on them was excessive after a point.Some good ideas and the execution was technically fine, but it feels unfinished, unpolished and like a first draft, not a feature film.

The thing that struck me most about Partner(s), aside from the fact that it's funny and romantic and features a talented and attractive cast, is "how far we've come." By this I mean that only a few years ago one would have expected a film about a straight man who (for various plot reasons) must pretend to be gay, to have featured offensive gay stereotypes and homophobic comments/reactions by at least some of the characters, none of which is present in this delightful and charming film. Dave's roommate and best friend is a gay man; when Dave "comes out," he is accepted by co-workers and family; he doesn't try to or feel the need to "act" gay; and finally, Dave himself seems to feel no embarrassment or shame in telling people he's gay. In fact, the only reason he wants to come out as straight is because he's falling in love with a woman and pretending to be gay gets in the way. There's a funny subplot involving two male co-workers that plays with straight males' discomfort with "gay stuff," and hints that these two supposedly straight guys may be protesting a bit too much. Though at heart a boy-girl romance, Partner(s) does deal intelligently with issues of coming out to parents, gay sex roles, gay men involved in dishonest relationships with women, etc. The cast is made up of very talented and photogenic mostly TV actors, and though most likely low budget, has very much a big movie feel. If I have one complaint, it's that this is one movie which would have worked better with openly gay actors cast in the gay roles. Since Partner(s) is about a straight man pretending to be gay, the film loses some effectiveness because (with the exception of out actor Reichen Lehmkuhl, who has only a bit part) *all* the actors in gay roles seem to be straight men pretending to be gay, and to tell the truth, I didn't buy any of them as gay (especially Sean McGowan and Bru Miller as Michael Ian Black's gay friends, who registered zero on my gaydar). But other than that, a film which straight and gay people can enjoy equally, and a must see for straight men who could do with a bit more contact with "the gays."

I really enjoyed this film, which surprised me, because I expected a predictable "straight guy tries to be gay" plot. The actors are inventive and quick, which helps with a somewhat trifling plot. It's pretty clear where things are going, but you don't really feel taken for a ride, which is rare in this type of film. It's a surprisingly well-acted and quick-moving story that avoided obvious twists and complications--until the last ten minutes, that is, when it quickly falls apart and feels fake. For some bizarre reason the obvious resolutions don't take place, and instead you get a forced and awkward wrap-up. It's a shame to see a decent film ruined like this. It almost seems like someone "up there" ordered a change in the script to make the film bland and boring at the very end. Too bad. It was off to a good start and middle.

Because I consider myself a harsh critic, I was really surprised by how much I liked this film. I thought it was just a very well told and well acted story. A good adult comedy about people working at a law firm is difficult to pull off, but this movie does it. I really like Julie Bowen and I'm surprised she played 'the bitch' role so well. Only because I find her to be very likable. The guy that played her assistant was really funny also. Jay Harrington was very good. I never saw him in anything before. I think he's a good comedic lead. Not too 'over the top.' It was refreshing. As I'm thinking back about the movie now, I'm smiling. That's how I know I liked it. It was just a good, smart, and funny film.