07/11/2007
GLAAD Sounds the "All Clear" for Chuck and Larry
GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) continues to put itself out there for I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry, saying the film promotes tolerance more than any use of broad comedic strokes might unwittingly mock the real-life struggle for marriage rights. Given its subject matter (two firefighters pretend to be gay in order to collect domestic partner benefits), there's little doubt that Chuck and Larry would have gays and lesbians involved in such struggles eyeing it suspiciously. One can see it in the comments to posts Towleroad has published on the movie already.
One commenter notes: "Let me see if I can get this straight (literally.) Gays can't marry and are therefore not eligible for the thousands of federal benefits that come with marriage. But these straight guys are pretending to get 'married' in order to get our second-class citizen domestic-partner rights? The entire premise of this movie is offensive. And we're supposed to be grateful that they throw in a few lines 'promoting' tolerance?Jesus, do they think we're that stupid?"
Another, based on having seen the trailers, says: "[They] are filled with what the typical straight person will think is funny, primarily gay stereotyped humor. Despite the fact most gays in America still do not have the opportunity to enjoy domestic partner benefits is not funny, and hopefully this point will come up in the film, but I will be surprised if it does. Somebody else will have to tell me if it does though, because I can't stand Adam Sandler and have no intention of seeing this drivel."
Damon Romine, entertainment media director for GLAAD, has been coming to the film's defense. In a statement to the Boston Herald published today, he agrees with the comments that the movie is punctuated with stereotypes, but says they are used to raise questions rather than offend: "Through this disarming type of comedy, there is this use of stereotypes and slurs, and it holds the mirror up for people to ask, ‘Where does this come from?’ At the end of the day, this is a comedy that actually stresses the importance of family and treating others with dignity and respect. The film actually does send a very strong message. I can’t imagine a studio movie being made five years ago that even dealt with marriage equality and discrimination."
Another Towleroad commenter who claims to have worked on the film sides with GLAAD: "Ok, I've seen this movie (I worked on it) and I'll tell you that everyone's getting too up in arms about it. It's a pretty harmless movie (too saccharine sweet and predictable for my taste) and the only offensive stereotype isn't even of a gay guy (to me, at least.) It goes overboard with the 'accept one another' (I know it isn't PC to say that, but really... it's tremendously overboard with the sentiment) and you can pretty much predict how everything is going to unravel after the first 15 mins. However, not truly offensive (at least to this gay man.) I'm more curious to see how this will play in the Red states..."
Some have suggested that the movie's premiere, scheduled for tomorrow night, was scheduled purposely to go up against the opening night of Los Angeles' largest LGBT film festival, Outfest — a night on which many of the industry's "gay Hollywood mafia" would be unavailable. Others wondered why, when gay-themed mainstream movies have in the past been made tentposts in the festival's line-up, Universal has made no attempt to have anything to do with it.
Of course, as with any product that comes out of Hollywood, it's difficult to please all the people all the time. Perhaps the best advice is to see it and judge for yourself. But this is the first film in a long time that I have noticed GLAAD putting such a preemptive stamp on. And since GLAAD and Universal have touted their efforts at working together on the film so publicly, this may well be seen as a test of how accurately the industry watchdog is living up to its name.
Gay advocacy groups pronounce Sandler’s ‘Chuck and Larry’ A-OK [boston herald]
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Posted 9:12 AM EST by Andy Towle in Adam Sandler, Film, Gay Marriage, GLAAD, John Travolta, News | Permalink
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I love my community. I really really do. But we sure do love to eat our own...or even people who support us.
I've seen the movie. I thought it was hysterical. Even moreso, I thought it was incredibly courageous. Think about it. Here's Adam Sandler, one of Hollywood's most notoriously straight actors, sticking his neck and his career out on the line to say something about tolerance and love...between men. And in doing so, ridicules and humiliates straight men for their homophobia. Did he need to? Hell no! Could he continue to do his adolescent comedies and take them all the way to the bank? Absolutely. Does the film exploit our reactions to and contradictions of every convention and stereotype? Hell yes, like virtually every successful major studio comedy has since the dawn of film. Did 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN incorporate countless crude, straight male stereotypes? Every single one. Did you hear straight men screaming about it? Of course not.
Here's the deal, folks. If you don't like Sandler, you have no position in the debate. If you don't like Hollywood studio comedies, go see an arthouse film. If you haven't seen the film, keep your baseless opinions to yourself.
But if you want to have a fun evening and maybe, just maybe, witness someone sitting next to you experience a first-ever hint of compassion for our community, a gay-piphany if you will, then BUY YOUR TICKET TODAY!
Posted by: David Craig | Jul 12, 2007 4:01:50 AM
Wow David that's great that you've arrived at you opinions from actually seeing the film but if you wouldn't mind keeping it down, we're trying to having our delicate sensitivities offended by conjecture here.
My favourite part of all this drama has to be where CHRISB says, "I didn't realize how opposed to this movie I was until I went to see Transformers and..."
So he goes to see a film that's basically Military-fetish porn, featuring scenes that look like they were directly pilfered from a military recruitment video, and it's all directed at 12-year-olds, and he's offended at the trailer for an Adam Sandler film.
Maybe it's because I wasn't raised in the USA but I found it much more offensive to watch a film that's basically been created to romanticize the military and get teens salivating over it than a harmless Sandler film that'll get people laughing and maybe, just maybe, thinking about issues around same-sex partnerships.
There are about 10,000 dead Iraqis for every one of our Matthew Shepards. Please put your 'injustices' in perspective.
Posted by: Justin... | Jul 12, 2007 9:17:45 AM
Of course GLAAD would give their "all clear" to this movie
Adam Sandler is a Rudy Giuliani supporter.
Neil Giuliano is a republican and acts like an operative for that party moreso than a representative of LGBT.
GLAAD has been serving the interests of the GOP for a while now. that's probably why many feel they've been useless as of late.
Posted by: glaad who | Jul 12, 2007 9:00:47 PM
Once the reviews start coming in, if a lot of critics, gay and straight, are calling it homophobic, I'd recommend downloading it. A camcorder version will be available shortly after it's release. Crappy video quality, but it'd let you see it for yourself, without having to give your money to an anti-gay film.
Posted by: Johnny | Jul 13, 2007 1:31:20 AM
As a fire fighter who does not have domestic partner benefits along with death benefits or pension rights for my partner, I think the premise of this film is completely offensive. And, it must be noted, there aren't many fire departments that do offer these benefits outside of some that serve larger municipalities. What macho fire fighter is going to fight for the right's of a gay man or lesbian to share the same benefits he gets to share with his wife and kids? This movie is absurd and I find it grossly offensive that GLAAD would support a film that mocks one's own lifestyle. How about supporting media that gives a voice to gays and lesbians who continue to be treated as second class citizens while their colleagues that do the same jobs and have the same qualifications are given special rights. GLAAD is the new HRC - a pathetic and disgusting organization that panders to the straights!
Posted by: SGI | Jul 13, 2007 1:40:57 PM