Testosterone (2003/2004)
Note: Spoilers.
This is another one of those gay
movies that eventually slips into the realm of the
stereotypical "gay guys always kill each other" plots
that is so silly and ridiculous that it doesn't even
work as an absurdist comedy. It's even more troubling
when a film like this comes from a gay director like
David Moreton, helmer of "Edge
of Seventeen," a decent coming-of-age gay flick
that appeared a few years ago.
To be sure, up until the last five
minutes, "Testosterone" is really an engrossing and
entertaining flick. There's a mystery here that we
are attempting to unravel with the protagonist and
it is a complex and befuddling one at that. The scripter
here, Dennis Hensley, working with Moreton from a
novel by James Robert Baker, has several options for
an interesting and unusual climax, a resolution to
the mystery, but, sadly, the film relies on well-worn
stereotypes and a revelation that refuses to be inspired
or exciting. When the protagonist, at film's end,
goes completely against type and expectation, the
film fails miserably.
For sure, part of the problem is
the lackluster performance of David Sutcliffe in the
lead. This guy is horribly miscast and never once
elicits our sympathy, gains our trust, or draws us
into his supposed loss. We never understand his motivations
and he sort of goes through the film like a character
in a bad graphic novel that searches for something
lost which the audience/reader is never given enough
information to appreciate or understand. In this case
it's Antonio Sabato, Jr. who has a sort of built in
appreciation with his hunky body and killer smile.
But this physique with teeth is not enough to make
us appreciate why Sutcliffe's Dean would go to such
extremes to find him.
There are some really nice supporting
performances here. Leonardo Brzezicki is wonderful
as Marcos. This guy has the best role in the film
and he plays it pitch perfect. Sadly, Sutcliffe can
never make us understand why he wouldn't just forget
Sabato and go for Brzezicki. At least he finally gives
in and fucks him! Who wouldn't? With a sexy, shit-eating
grin, a hot body and a youthful face, Brzezicki is
the hottest hottie to add a pink tint to the silver
screen this year. (And who is that playing the bellboy?
He's hot too!) Celina Font is also quite good as waitress
Sofia, who has more going on than meets the eye. And
Sonia Braga is wonderful as the bitch from hell mother-in-law
to end all mother-in-laws. She has a wickedly good
time here and it shows.
Oh God! And then there's Jennifer
Coolidge as Dean's sarcastic agent Louise. Sure, Coolidge
has played this role several times before. She always
plays that role. But she's smarter and more snide
here than she has ever been allowed to be in any of
her other roles. And she is hilarious. When Dean tells
her over the phone that he'll be back in town the
next day, Coolidge intones with a hilarious droll
and uncaring snippiness, "I'll shave my pussy," before
hanging up. If you aren't on the floor rolling around
in the dropped popcorn laughing your ass off at that
one, you really need to get a sense of humor!
"Testosterone" is a lot of fun and
really engrossing for 85 minutes. Even with Sutcliffe's
lackluster and wrong-headed performance (and could
you please find a razor for God's sake!) at front
and center, the film still manages to be fun and entertaining
for almost its entire run time. And then there's the
ending, which puts the entire film in the shit can.
What a disappointment! This ending is so bad, and
so wrong, and so poorly conceived that the rest of
the film might as well not exist. It turns what was
a forgivable and fun film into a complete waste of
time.
Note:
In English with some Spanish with
and without subtitles.
The novel has the main character
discovering he has gotten HIV from his lover but that
plot point is not in this film in any way.
The film debuted in Toronto in 2003
and began an arthouse run in September, 2004, in the
U.S. via Strand Releasing.
Viewed in Austin at a press sneak
at the Dobie.
