This morning I heard a news report that the gay rom-com “Bros” was flopping at the box office, and the director, producers and stars of the film were blaming it on several things:
The Midwest, homophobic people & straight men in general.
I know its received many positive reviews, but I was curious; did it include a lot of physical action? I did some googling and discovered it had nudity, sex, “lusty kissing”. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to see men doing that with each other.
I AM NOT HOMOPHOBIC. Far from it, I get along with gay men better than straight ones, and have often been asked if I was gay myself. (Well, I prefer musicals over sports and my all-time favorite entertainer is Judy Garland!)
I just don’t enjoy watching same-sex intimacy, be it men OR women. I gave up watching Batwoman on the CW last year, because at the end of every episode, Batwoman had a make-out session with her girlfriend with some heavy-duty smooching. Blecch.
It just occurred to me… I don’t like seeing ANYBODY kissing like that!
But a couple nights ago I watched the new English comedy Brian and Charles, and THESE two men I could watch & enjoy together all day. The movie is funny as it is charming, it’s quirky and original as they come. It’s about a quiet, bearded man named Brian who lives on a small farm in the English countryside. He’s lonely, and spends his time building odd inventions like egg-belts (you know, to carry eggs around) and flying cuckoo clocks so the townfolk can look up to the sky and see the time.
His inventions always fail, but he doesn’t let that deter him.
And then one day Brian finds an old washing machine & mannequin’s head at the local dump, and decides he’ll build a robot. He’s both amazed and delighted when the robot comes to life and gives itself a last name, and the two quickly become the best of friends.
There is one scene where Brian is in the kitchen cooking cabbage, and the robot comes in, stands there for a moment then begins doing a little dance. Brian says “What’s that you’re doing? Is that a jig, Charles? Are you doing a jig because I’m cookin’ your favorite, cabbage?” The robot dances harder. I can’t explain it, but I was laughing so hard I was crying, and the VERY NEXT MINUTE I was wiping my eyes for another reason altogether.
I don’t want to give anymore away, but I WILL say I am choosing this movie as my Favorite Movie of 2022. (In 2021 it was The Batman, in 2020 it was Saint Maud.)
If you have a couple minutes, please watch the trailer below. If you have Peacock Premium, do yourself a favor and watch the entire film.
It’s that special. And you won’t see anything more physical than a hug.
Hi Doug, I heard about this movie awhile ago and saw a couple clips. Definitely want to see it, doubly so with your recommendation.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend!❤️
Thank you Robin! Please let me know if you see it, hope you have a good weekend too. :^)
DeleteI don't have Peacock but this is a movie I think I'll need to get somehow!
ReplyDeleteDJan, I hope you can--I know you well enough to think you'd like it! :^)
DeleteKind of sad but charming movie. David would enjoy it. We have Peacock.
ReplyDeleteThere's a couple sad moments, but it's a happy movie Gigi--I think you'd like it as the robot is obsessed with going to Hawaii :^)
DeleteI don't have Peacock but it sounds charming. Knowing that movies are sad makes me hesitant to watch them; I'm an emotional wimp. I don't have any issue with same sex kissing/romance but John definitely does. He's not a homophobe either, just uncomfortable with the physicality. Now I need to ask him if he feels awkward with that much open intimacy from any couple.
ReplyDeleteMargaret it's certainly not sad, I was crying from laughing! I'll be curious what John has to say about watching such physical stuff though. I'm tired of pretending it doesn't bother me.
DeleteI'll pass on Bros but Brian and Charles sounds fun. Don't have Peacock but surely it will turn up somewhere else. Will look for it. Clever premise.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patti, knowing you as well as I think I do, I bet you'd love this movie. I'm telling you, I laughed nonstop for the first half of the movie. I'm sure it will be available to everyone in no time. :^)
DeleteThe older I get the less I want to see overt sexuality on television and movie screens. I remember when seeing Dennis Franz's bare ass on NYPD Blue was a huge deal. That wouldn't even cause a blink of the eye these days.
ReplyDeleteBrian and Charles sounds like a fun movie, though I don't have any streaming services. Perhaps it will be picked up, based on the positive reviews, by mainstream cable television.
Maebeme, what you first said here is exactly the way I feel. I don't know why that is, it just is. Haha I remember Dennis Franz bare bum all too well--darn it! Well this is a very charming movie and I bet it will be available on regular cable very soon. It's really good. :^)
DeleteI think it is a sign of the times. Everything (including sex and intimacy) is splashed about. When anyone says, "No." They are quickly judged and labeled. Such are the times we live in. I'll watch for your movie recommendation, it sounds quirky and outstanding. I love quirky people.
ReplyDeleteWhat great feedback, so agreed. Thanks Susan. :^)
DeleteI think I would like Brian and Charles too, Dug... although we don't have Peacock. I do like 'quirky'. Possibly another streaming station will pick it up. And I agree that I don't mind kissing or hugging, but don't care to watch any explicit sex.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rian and I think this movie would be right up your alley! If I ever see it playing somewhere else, I'll be sure to let you know. :^)
DeleteI see it's a Sundance film. The trailer seems a bit scary. I don't have any cable or streaming, so let us know if it becomes available for poor people. I've had a wonderful life with lots of hot memories, so decent, classy sexy films don't bother me at all. Cheers, Linda in not so boring Kansas
ReplyDeleteLinda, the movie isn't scary it's endearing--and I will let you know when it's more widely available, as it was made for creative thinking, kind people like yourself! :^)
DeleteI'm not a fan of onscreen intimacy either, kissing or otherwise. Back in the "good old days" a kiss was lips touching and the screen fading to black, other intimacy was implied, under the sheets. But these days it looks more like they're eating each others faces and the rest is almost porn. I close my eyes for those scenes. I just don't think it's necessary, no matter what the movie is.
ReplyDeleteWell said River, thank you for sharing.
DeleteI REALLY object to scenes where you know "they" are going to kiss and the camera shows wide open mouths, like feeding sharks.
ReplyDeleteHaha! So true!
DeleteI dislike romantic films with lovely dovey stuff, I don't care if there's a bit of snogging if it's just a small part of the story but not when the whole film centres around that. I like the trailer, and it may be that it becomes available on the British Airways entertainment channel when I next fly to the States. I don't really see any movies apart from when I travel.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe, I thought of you when I saw this movie (because it's English and such). I had to Google snogging, I like that! I plan to start using that. 🙂👍
DeleteLooks unlikely ... but charming. I'd try it out if I had Peacock. Btw, my bugaboo about the movies is the throw-up scene. Yuck! In addition to warning about violence, smoking and nudity, they should include one on vomiting!
ReplyDeleteAgreed Tom, I don't want to see that either--but I think the smoking warning is asinine! :^)
DeleteOH my gosh! He wants to go to Honolulu. Too funny.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about movie scenes. I'm really OK with being gay. As a matter of fact, I also have a number of gay friends. However, I do not enjoy seeing overdone sex scenes with homosexual or heterosexual couples. I'm suddenly seeing a lot of regular TV sitcoms or dramas adding in a lot more homosexual scenes and it feels like they're forcing a message on everyone. Ahhh well... maybe it's an attempt to just get people used to it. I don't know. I guess I grew up in a different generation.
Thanks Kay, this was well said and I'm in complete agreement. And yes, the Honolulu thing was a major part of the movie, I thought of you and Gigi through the whole film! 🙂🌺🌹🌻
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