|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just when you thought the supposed Gay New Wave had devolved into Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and the latest misadventure from Gus Van Sant, along comes a deft and even deep Gay Romantic Comedy (and this might be the only time those words have been used in the same sentence) to restore one’s faith. C. Jay Cox’s film is even about faith, initially that of Mormon Aaron Davis (Steve Sandvoss), a sweet and idealistic if confused naïf from Idaho on a mission with his three fellow elders to convert the heathens of Los Angeles. They set up camp in an apartment next door to Christian (Wesley S. Ramsey), a buff libertine who goes dressed in bicycle shorts to bring the new boys a welcoming six-pack. He’s promptly rejected. Not so by Aaron, however, who keeps bumping into Christian in the laundry room and feels his rod stirring. Christian, meanwhile, has taken a bet from his hip cronies that he can "convert" Aaron. You can see where this is going, and it does, but perhaps not quite the way you expected. Aaron sees through his religion’s stereotypes about homosexuals, of course, but more important, Christian sees through his stereotypes about believers. Some of the stereotypes are replaced by platitudes, but thanks to a witty screenplay and some scintillating performances (Sandvoss would get my vote for governor any day), Latter Days redeems a benighted genre. (97 minutes)
BY PETER KEOUGH
|