Movie Review:The Skinny

In cohesion of celebrating LGBT and cinema alike, I was stoked about the anticipated movie by acclaimed director Patrik Ian Polk's The Skinny. I want to elaborate on my movie experience while it's still fresh on the membrane. Only showing in one theater in Atlanta ,the movie drew out a very expansive crowd full of queers-beautiful! It was like one big living room of gay camaraderie,laughs,tears and smiles. The movie is that of a third installment of Patrik's work (Punks,Noahs Arc:Jumping The Broom) and bared a very attractive cast of familiar faces and peaked dispositions. 

 Taking place in NYC ,the story persists of four college friends -Jussie Smollet bka Magnus (Jurnee Smollets little brother),Anthony Burrel bka Kyle (Beyonce's previous back up dancer..he's the one who dances to the Dangerously In Love prelude),Blake Young-Fountain bka Sebastian (an adorable naive new face whom I couldn't keep my eyes off of),Shanika Warren Markland bka Langston (Kidulthood and 4,3,2,1's UK bombshell with sass) & lastly the ever so comical divo out the clan,Jeffrey Bowyer Chapman bka Joey who all come together for one Gay Pride weekend to catch up,dish and have fun all while experiencing new tabernacles of truth,drama,SEX and gay love.

Sigh.

 I don't wish to divulge the entire plot so I'll just say the feature was very refreshing,daring and interesting throughout.It wasn't better nor worse than Noah's Arc:Jumping The Broom,but entertaining nevertheless. The cast was cohesively wonderful,they all supported each other well and was very charismatic in their entirety.The acting wasn't bad either,believable and seemingly organic in certain scenes(Jussie's acting is really superb from his last relevant stint in Eves Bayou alongside his sister).The movie also touched bases on some very serious relative subjects as well as some comical ones (the douching seminar in the bathroom was hilarious) and was some very emotional events at times as well.

The chemistry on screen was undeniable and the nude scenes and occasional cameos from a few choice pornstars were plentiful (yes lord..for the rest of my days.)

Also,Polk didn't box the characters into the stereotypically homogenized personalities of our said gay society.The movie lacked the overzealous effeminate queen,the dl homothug or the overly butched out lesbian and instead was decorated with ivy league ,smart ,credible characters whom happen to live and embrace the gay lifestyle-which was all appreciated. I was incredibley appeased to see these characters exist and not be polluted with industry cliches.

There was also some familiar faces from the Noah's Arc franchise,Darryl Stephens(Noah) ,Wilson Cruz (Genito) and Jennia Frederique (Brandy) in the movie. Overall ,I give The Skinny a B-.It could stand for a meager amount of improvement,however,with self-funding and the indie replicated sponsors ,it was a heck of a tremendous effort.Only showing in 2 theaters in North America (Atlanta & D.C.),the theaters were abundantly packed on all viewings...I know the showing I went to was flourished with people. I was very pleased to see the outcome,and so was Patrik (he was waiting outside the theater at the concluding of the movie passing out flyers telling everyone of his gratitude as we walked out.)
Click here to watch the trailer.

 Nevertheless,the movie has picked up a great repsonse from critics and sponsors alike and a sequel is in cohorts of hopefully getting greenlit .This sequel is rumored to take place in Atlanta where one of the characters played by Chapman said that MLK weekend was the next time the crew was hooking up again and that you don't know a gay pride until you experience an Atlanta one.So hopefully we'll be able to fall in love with these characters once more .