More offensive stereotypes

Rating: 6/10 (17 January 2004)

I love Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. And I love the part of the movie
that is about them only. But the gay characters have got to go. As a
GLBT person, I was totally offended by the conventional gay stereotypes.
Could Cuba Gooding Jr BE any more fey? Seriously, I've had it with gay
characters in film and on stage who are sensitive and somewhat trouble
artists who act as mere conduits for the straight love story. The fact that
Simon Bishop cared so much about his face after he was assaulted also
bothered me. The most troubling is the subtext of his artistic expression.
Drawing attractive, potentially sexual, young men leads to danger, physical
and emotional harm, and maybe death. But drawing someone of the
opposite sex, such as the scene where he draws Carol, is liberating, and
unlocks the secret of his artistic self. In the end, Bishop gets to be alone, and another gorgeous, young woman hooks up with a scraggly, old man.
Yes, I hope everyone has noticed that this film just wouldn't work in
Hollywood if a beautiful young man hooks up with some old hag. Women
aren't allowed to age - another bit of subtext I hate. *sigh*