Eric Dane and Bradley Cooper Have Secret Gay Valentine's Affair
Back in August I posted some shots of Eric Dane, shirtless and at work on the romantic comedy Valentine's Day. Dane plays a closeted football player in love with Bradley Cooper. But you wouldn't know it from any of the trailers because despite the fact that it's an ensemble film which features many different relationships, the studio apparently doesn't want viewers to be turned off by the fact that the film features a gay one.
AfterElton writes: "We weren't thrilled about the teaser trailer when it came out, because it almost looked like Julia Roberts and Bradley were a couple, but we mostly laughed it off since it was a teaser. The full length trailer dropped over the weekend, and once again, Eric and Bradley don't appear together in it. In fact, [the closest they get] is consecutive frames in the trailer. Romantic, huh? Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift get more screen time in this two minute clip than our boys do, and they reportedly filmed their brief cameo in an afternoon - in fact, that should be all of their time in the movie. From this, you'd think they had equal billing to Julia though."
Watch the trailer, AFTER THE JUMP...
A nice body ruined by ooogly tattoos. A shame.
Posted by: Jane Roe | Dec 28, 2009 11:51:10 AM
Oh gosh how old is "Jane Roe" "oogly" oh gosh...F U.
Why would LGBT go to the moves to see Valentines...when we are nto allowed to marry and the studios treat homosexuality like a sin or worst..>F THEM..lets see how much they make with out us.
Posted by: Bosie | Dec 28, 2009 12:03:12 PM
Maybe it's a plot twist that they want to surprise the audience with?
I hate when trailers give the whole movie away.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Dec 28, 2009 12:14:44 PM
The gay community should not promote or attend any movie that hides or buries the gay couple. We do have a voice and it is accompanied by our pocketbooks. Hit the producers/studios were it hurts most - at the boxoffice. WarpCity.com WILL NOT promote or encourage our gay members to pay to see this movie.
Posted by: The OS2Guy | Dec 28, 2009 12:17:57 PM
Usually the people who make the film have nothing to do with the advertisements/promotion which is handled by a completely different team of people. Of course they play down the gayness in the advertising, as they do with most things, because they realize the homophobia which is still prevalent in our society and are simply focused on maximizing profits. Its their job.
At least its gonna be a hot gay couple though.
Posted by: Wes | Dec 28, 2009 12:21:45 PM
Maybe they wanted it to be a surprise? I was planning to see it & I wish I hadn't come across this column.
Posted by: scar2 | Dec 28, 2009 12:48:46 PM
I don't mind what the trailer shows, the most important for me is that there's a gay couple in a big-budgegt mainstream movie and it looks that there aren't antigay stereotypes in the movie, so stop complaining.
Posted by: Fernando | Dec 28, 2009 1:02:49 PM
I totally agree with Jeffrey and SCAR2. A movie trailer should foster your interest and not tell you everything. Since it's already out there that Eric and Bradley are the gay storyline, it's not some big affront that it didn't make the trailer, it's still in the movie.
Posted by: twood76 | Dec 28, 2009 1:33:45 PM
Patrick, Eric, Hector. This seems like Grey's Anatomy Lite.
Posted by: Jeff in NC | Dec 28, 2009 1:38:09 PM
The real reason to not pay to see this movie is that it is undoubtedly crap.
Posted by: Michael | Dec 28, 2009 4:00:36 PM
Yes, it is supposed to be a surprise at the end of the movie. There's a few parts of the film that aren't alluded to at all in the trailer so that there can be that "poignant" moment at the end of the film where you realize how certain characters fit into the overall interlapping.
Really nothing to get all riled up about....
Posted by: Stock | Dec 28, 2009 4:59:03 PM
Stock, have you seen the movie already? I hope that's not correct, because where would be the romance if we don't know they're a couple until the end of the film? I'd think, if there is a twist, it's that Dane's character--and his romance with Cooper's character--is outed at the end of the film, and he's ok with it, and so is the audience.
Posted by: Joseph | Dec 28, 2009 5:55:24 PM
I saw the trailer when we went to Avatar. And it didn't look like anything I was interested in. I remember saying to myself, "If I saw a gay couple, maybe I'd care."
Posted by: Glenn I | Dec 28, 2009 6:49:40 PM
Let's wait and see how the stars describe the movie when they're doing press junkets and promotional interviews. If they try to gloss over or downplay the gay relationship, THEN it'll be time to grab the pitchforks and torches.
But you can't really fault them, or the producers, for what the advertising people choose to show in trailers. Gotta give SOME credit to the folks who made a gay-themed movie, and to the stars who were professional enough to pursue these roles.
Posted by: sparks | Dec 28, 2009 7:39:37 PM
While I'd LOVE to boycott the movie for whatever GLBT reason, I must see Dane and Bradley getting it on. Sorry, but the slut in me is overpowering any sense of pride.
Also, Brad Cooper is a damn Hottie!
Posted by: Drew | Dec 28, 2009 7:44:42 PM
1) I think that movie looks atrocious, but
2) I'm honestly not *that* offended they don't play up the gay couple. I'd be far more worried about how they actually portray the gay couple. Every movie that mainstream audiences go and see in which a gay couple is portrayed well will help nudge a few more people in our corner.
Posted by: Ryan | Dec 28, 2009 7:47:47 PM
Personally, I think the movie looks dumb. But I'm of the opinion that the more people see real gay relationships portrayed with honesty the better. And frankly, a lot of those relationships are very, very tragic and closeted ones. Maybe it'll change some opinions among people who might otherwise avoid the film, see the characters as people who deserve love just as any other couple in the movie, etc etc...
That being said, I'm not sure what would increase their turnout more... excluding it from the trailer to avoid pissing people off, or including it and inviting a backlash, therefore generating more publicity. Unfortunately it's hard to throw those kinda clips in a short trailer without looking like a niche movie or desperate for the gay audience. :\
I guess I put myself in some of my extended family's shoes. Generally socially conservative, tentatively thawing to the idea of homosexuals as persons deserving of love, rights, et al. If they saw a promo with guys kissing, they'd probably write it off as another 'gay' movie and avoid it. Now if they go, they may think of me when those characters are up there (I've been told I look like Bradley Cooper on many occasions ;) haha), and may open up a bit. I dunno though, I guess it's not something I get too fired up about...
Posted by: Mike | Dec 29, 2009 4:49:23 AM
I just want to say I love towleroad
and the pic of Eric Dane was much appreciated.
Thank you for - er - existing! :)
Posted by: nszane | Dec 29, 2009 10:24:38 AM
I could imagine a plotline that uses the audience's assumptions of heterosexual romance for misdirection - have the audience assuming that Dane and Cooper's unidentified partners at the other end of cell phone conversations or whatever must be women, only to have it turn out they're the couple. It could be done cleverly - although this is yet another middlebrow Garry Marshall crowd-pleaser, so "cleverly" is probably not an option on the table.
And I agree with the other posters about hating trailers that are mini-summaries of the entire movie!
Posted by: Sancho | Dec 29, 2009 12:26:17 PM
That looks like poo, gay or no gay.
Posted by: Andalusian Dog | Dec 29, 2009 12:36:52 PM
I guess I can say I am a little upset that there really is no clue to Bradly Cooper and Eric Dane being gay but I'm glad because now the only reason I am going to see this movie is because of that reason. That is just good casting. It prolly would of been an even better movie if I did not hear of those two being gay and was just caught off guard. At any case like I all ways say, save the best for the movie. Such a hot couple.
Posted by: JD | Dec 29, 2009 1:50:58 PM
Wow. This movie looks like pure drivel. Pure drivel that I will pay good money to see if Brad Cooper and Dane are hooking up.
Posted by: Brandon | Dec 29, 2009 6:02:59 PM
I think the studio has become increasingly uncomfortable with Eric Dane since the tape of him, his wife and another women drugged out and naked surfaced.
Posted by: Jimmy/Boston | Dec 29, 2009 7:10:04 PM
jane's right...tattoos are fuckin' ugly and detroy an otherwise attractive person. but if you're ugly, go for it...it doesn't matter! It's like ugly people and obesity...why not? YOu've no aesthetic reason not to be the biggest fattest pig you can be. And covered in gross tats, too.
Posted by: TANK | Dec 29, 2009 7:25:39 PM
Oh, this movie looks worse than cannonball run, the porky's series, and crossroads combined. That's unwatchable!
Posted by: TANK | Dec 29, 2009 7:27:20 PM