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The Broken Hearts Club
I mentioned this movie a few days ago, so I thought I'd do a quick review for today's entry. The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy is as the title indicates, a romantic comedy revolving around the lives of a group of gay male friends who often gather together at a restaurant that is run by father figure Jack (played by John Mahoney, who is better known as Frasier's dad). Some of them work at the restaurant, and they all play on Jack's softball team. Along with Mahoney, the movie has a very impressive cast list including Timothy Olyphant, Dean Cain, Justin Theroux, Zach Braff, and Andrew Keegan. Olyphant's and Keegan's characters, Dennis and Kevin, were my favorites, but Dean Cain was also great as a handsome, cheerfully shallow playboy actor. (Particularly hilarious is the scene where he starts flirting with the catcher on the opposing softball team and gets the guy's phone number by the time he's done.)
Although it's billed as a romantic comedy, and most of the character do go through various romantic entanglements and break-ups, I'd say that the main theme of the story is friendship. The guys banter and bicker with each other in an easy, familiar manner that really makes you believe that they've been best friends for years. And sometimes they argue with each other--at one point towards the end rather seriously and almost viciously. (To be fair, they're under a lot of emotional stress at the time, for spoilery reasons.) But they also love each other like brothers, and when one of them is in trouble, there's no question that they'll set aside their differences and come together to be there for him. So while I enjoyed the romances, what really sold me on the movie was that sense of found families, one of my favorite narrative tropes.
There are a few other things I wanted to discuss about the movie, but I since they involve spoilers, I'll leave some space below for those who don't want to be spoiled.
SPOILERS BELOW...
I should warn that while this is mostly a light-hearted feel-good type of movie, there is a character death at the end, so if that's a dealbreaker for you, then you should probably skip it. I will say that while it was sad, I thought it was handled well, and that the movie ends on a hopeful note, with the guys knowing they'll always be there for each other.
I really, really loved the friendship/blooming romance between Dennis and new addition to the group Kevin, a younger guy who's not completely out and not completely comfortable with being gay. They're obviously attracted to each other, but skirt around the edges of actually doing something about it, and when it does happen, Dennis completely blows it because he isn't ready for a relationship at this point in time. However, after some awkwardness and harsh words exchanged, their friendship manages to survive. At the end of the movie, Dennis is leaving his job at the restaurant to travel around Europe and try to make a career of his photography hobby. Kevin shows up at the going-away party with a date, though he brushes it off as "just some guy I met," and says that he will be here when Dennis gets back. Meaning as a friend, not necessarily as a lover or potential lover, and Kevin's narration at the end of the movie states that he's glad to have found this group of friends who will always be there for him. You get the sense that no matter what does or doesn't happen romantically in the future, their friendship will endure and everything will be OK, but in my heart of hearts, I really want Dennis to come back from Europe mature enough to be ready for a serious relationship and get together with Kevin.
If I had watched this movie before Yuletide nominations, I might have nommed and requested it, darn it! Ah well, maybe next year? A03 does have six fics for this fandom, but seriously, is that all? I can't believe more people haven't written fix-it fic!
Also, Mahoney was really great as Jack, and I loved Jack's relationship with his partner, known to the group of friends only as the Purple Guy (because he always wears purple clothes).
And on a purely shallow note, I couldn't stop thinking that Olyphant is gorgeous. I've been meaning for awhile to watch Justified, but never got around to it. I may have to bump it up on the to-watch list.
Anyway, I loved the film and thought it was both funny and moving. And despite the shipper in me wanting a bit more from Dennis and Kevin, I did find the ending to be fitting for the story and mostly satisfying. (At least it's left open-ended, so that I can imagine they get together someday!)
Although it's billed as a romantic comedy, and most of the character do go through various romantic entanglements and break-ups, I'd say that the main theme of the story is friendship. The guys banter and bicker with each other in an easy, familiar manner that really makes you believe that they've been best friends for years. And sometimes they argue with each other--at one point towards the end rather seriously and almost viciously. (To be fair, they're under a lot of emotional stress at the time, for spoilery reasons.) But they also love each other like brothers, and when one of them is in trouble, there's no question that they'll set aside their differences and come together to be there for him. So while I enjoyed the romances, what really sold me on the movie was that sense of found families, one of my favorite narrative tropes.
There are a few other things I wanted to discuss about the movie, but I since they involve spoilers, I'll leave some space below for those who don't want to be spoiled.
SPOILERS BELOW...
I should warn that while this is mostly a light-hearted feel-good type of movie, there is a character death at the end, so if that's a dealbreaker for you, then you should probably skip it. I will say that while it was sad, I thought it was handled well, and that the movie ends on a hopeful note, with the guys knowing they'll always be there for each other.
I really, really loved the friendship/blooming romance between Dennis and new addition to the group Kevin, a younger guy who's not completely out and not completely comfortable with being gay. They're obviously attracted to each other, but skirt around the edges of actually doing something about it, and when it does happen, Dennis completely blows it because he isn't ready for a relationship at this point in time. However, after some awkwardness and harsh words exchanged, their friendship manages to survive. At the end of the movie, Dennis is leaving his job at the restaurant to travel around Europe and try to make a career of his photography hobby. Kevin shows up at the going-away party with a date, though he brushes it off as "just some guy I met," and says that he will be here when Dennis gets back. Meaning as a friend, not necessarily as a lover or potential lover, and Kevin's narration at the end of the movie states that he's glad to have found this group of friends who will always be there for him. You get the sense that no matter what does or doesn't happen romantically in the future, their friendship will endure and everything will be OK, but in my heart of hearts, I really want Dennis to come back from Europe mature enough to be ready for a serious relationship and get together with Kevin.
If I had watched this movie before Yuletide nominations, I might have nommed and requested it, darn it! Ah well, maybe next year? A03 does have six fics for this fandom, but seriously, is that all? I can't believe more people haven't written fix-it fic!
Also, Mahoney was really great as Jack, and I loved Jack's relationship with his partner, known to the group of friends only as the Purple Guy (because he always wears purple clothes).
And on a purely shallow note, I couldn't stop thinking that Olyphant is gorgeous. I've been meaning for awhile to watch Justified, but never got around to it. I may have to bump it up on the to-watch list.
Anyway, I loved the film and thought it was both funny and moving. And despite the shipper in me wanting a bit more from Dennis and Kevin, I did find the ending to be fitting for the story and mostly satisfying. (At least it's left open-ended, so that I can imagine they get together someday!)
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There seems to be one Howie/Marshall fic, and a few Dennis/Kevin futurefics.
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love, lore
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