The upcoming Adam Sandler/Kevin James film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, about a pair of firefighters who pretend to be gay in order to collect domestic partner benefits, is perhaps the most high-profile gay-themed “mainstream” film of the summer. It's set to open on July 20th.
The film's premiere is scheduled for July 12th, which happens to be the opening night of the 25th anniversary of L.A.'s largest gay and lesbian film festival, Outfest.
Yet, according to The Advocate there have been no attempts by Universal to tie the film with the fest:
Said Outfest executive director Stephen Gutwillig: “It's both one of the biggest nights of the gay calendar for Los Angeles and one of the biggest nights for the gay Hollywood mafia.”
As gay marriage and domestic partnerships are a potential hot button issue, some will surely wonder if it's the movie's treatment of gay and lesbian subject matter that has caused the studio to schedule its premiere on a night when Hollywood's gays will all be at the Outfest event.
In Entertainment Weekly‘s April Summer Movie preview, they did note that filmmakers took time to show the film to GLAAD:
“While Sandler's coarse, goofy style may not seem right for such a hot-button issue, the studio's taken the time to screen the movie for GLAAD and listen to their comments. ‘The movie has . . . some of the expected stereotypes, but in its own disarming way, it's a call for equality and respect,' says Damon Romine, a GLAAD representative. Dan Aykroyd, who plays the fire chief, seconds that opinion. ‘It's a move about tolerance . . . Sure, there will be a little controversy, which hopefully will help sell tickets. I don't see the gay community getting upset about it.'”
Chuck and Larry go up against gay Hollywood [the advocate]
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