Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
—<br />
SUNDANCE REVIEWS<br />
RELAX...irS JUST SEX ^^^<br />
Starring Mitchell Anderson, Jennifer<br />
Tilly, Lori Petty and Cynda Williams.<br />
Written and directed by P.J. Castallaneta.<br />
Produced by Steven J. Wolfe, Megan<br />
O'Neill and Harold Warren. No distributor<br />
set. Comedy. Not yet rated. Running<br />
time: 108 min. Sundance screening category:<br />
American Spectrum.<br />
Yet another gaycentric romantic comedy<br />
presented courtesy of the Sundance Film<br />
Festival, P.J. Castallaneta' s "Relax. ..It's<br />
Just Sex" boasts an impressive cast, some<br />
jjerceptive and witty dialogue, and a tone<br />
that veers from light to dark and back again<br />
with conviction, if not always convincingly.<br />
Vincey (Mitchell Anderson) is a gay<br />
playwright who's a failure at the long term<br />
relationship thing. The tightly knit circle<br />
that is his extended family is a peer group<br />
that looks like America. There's Javi<br />
Rogero (Eddie Garcia), his HIV-positive<br />
gay Latino compadre. and Javi's straight<br />
brother Gus (Timothy Paul Perez). There's<br />
his best friend Tara (Jennifer Tilly), who's<br />
desperate to have a baby by a willing Gus,<br />
though the two of them are having trouble<br />
defining the exact nature of their commitment.<br />
There's African-American Sarina<br />
(Cynda Williams) and Britisher Megan (Serena<br />
Scott Thomas), lesbian longtime companions<br />
on the verge of a bust-up, and<br />
Robin (Lori Petty), the very butch other<br />
woman, waiting in the wings. And then<br />
there's Buzz (T.C. Carson), a gay African-American<br />
artist who Vincey has a<br />
crush on, but who doesn't like him back,<br />
you know, that way.<br />
The "One from Column A, Two from<br />
Column B" casting takes some getting used<br />
to; in his earnestness to make sure no<br />
sexual or racial minority will feel slighted<br />
watching his movie, Castallaneta has assembled<br />
an ensemble that has the same air<br />
of unreality which permeates most<br />
children's television programming. It's as<br />
if Castallaneta brought these undeniably<br />
appealing folks together because he thinks<br />
it'll be good for audiences to see such<br />
harmony across all conceivable lifestyle<br />
differences. And he's right, it is refreshing.<br />
It's just that as a microcosm of Los<br />
Angeles living, it plays a bit like science<br />
fiction at times.<br />
There's an ease and naturalness to the<br />
performances, however, which pulls<br />
things together, if only after awhile. But<br />
just when things are getting cozy,<br />
"Relax. ..It's Just Sex" takes a harsh if<br />
riveting ideological turn, as Vincey and<br />
Javi are the victims of a grimly believable<br />
"fag bashing" from some hetero thugs.<br />
Rescued at the last minute, a distraught<br />
Vincey sodomizes one of the muggers at<br />
knifepoint—an act which so disturbs his<br />
friends, it threatens to drive their community<br />
of opposites apart.<br />
Though primarily gentle and knowing in<br />
tone, "Relax. ..It's Just Sex" is unabashedly<br />
a film with a political axe or two to grind.<br />
Castallaneta extends the welcome mat to<br />
general audiences, but he is unashamedly<br />
down for the cause of gay liberation. The<br />
price of admission to "Relax. ..It's Just Sex"<br />
is to come with a sense of humor, and to<br />
bring along an open mind. Ray Greene<br />
Marble Company Presents!<br />
Exclusive New Products<br />
for Showest 1998<br />
Confused?<br />
Cinema Sound Systems<br />
* CENTER-SURROUND PROCESSOR<br />
* DRIVE-IN STEREO PROCESSOR<br />
* DISTRIBUTION AMP SYSTEM<br />
* FM TRANSMITTER FOR ADA - FM 3001<br />
X-Ticket<br />
Sensible Cinemas Ticketing System<br />
Affordable PC-based Management<br />
with Thermal Tickets<br />
www.marbleco.com Website Catalog<br />
Visit us at booth #616 for more information.<br />
Don't be.<br />
The Marble Company has provided the best value in booth<br />
supplies for more than 35 years.<br />
Let us save you time and money by providing all of your booth needs.<br />
* SANKOR PROJECTOR LENSES 1^ SPUCING AND CUE TAPES<br />
* CT-35 SPLICERS MARBLE X^CEL* XENON BULBS<br />
* EXCrTER LAMPS REFLECTORS<br />
* LENS CLEANER, FILM LUBE & OILS * AND MUCH. MUCH MORE<br />
IBMARBLE COMPANY<br />
INCORPORATED<br />
P O. Box 1 60030 • Nashville, TN 372 1 6 • 6 1 5-227.7772 • 800759-5905 • FAX 6 1 5-227-7008<br />
Response No. 296<br />
Response No. 296<br />
April, 1998 (R-35) 189
Change language