There seems to be a common theme in reviews of this film. Are the characters true to life or not? Are they cliché or not? Well, they're both. Let's not forget: clichés are clichés for a reason! My problem with this film is not whether or not I will be tripping over Michaels at the local gay bar or should I live in fear that I may bump into a Harold (because having just watched the film, I have to tell you I'd rather eat dirt than have to sit five minutes with that insufferable turd) in the 'gaybourhood' but rather that the whole thing seemed forced. The actors did a splendid job with what they were given but the dialogue is overly melodramatic. The direction is heavy-handed. These things companied with the maudlin 'telephone game' that is the second half of the film force the whole project to collapse under its own weight. I appreciate that the film stood for something in it's day and it doesn't fall into the two worst pitfalls of gay cinema (see my review of Poster Boy) although that's mostly due to the era; however, the film borderlines on the ludicrous in the last half. The beginning- not so bad.
Review of The Boys in the Band
