Product: Jeffrey [VHS] (1995)
Rating: 4.0
Way ahead of it's time
When this movie first came out it was met by a sigh of relief by the gay community. Gay themed movies where not a big thing in those days. I also contained a number of credible actors from the painfully handsome Michael T Weiss through to the surprising inclusion of former Startrek Captain Picard. Both were and still are highly respected actors who at that time were taking risks in participating in such a film.In the same way that they took risks in their involvement, the film was amongst the first to avoid a blanket doom and gloom approach to the HIV epidemic and in some ways was refreshingly disrepectful towards the idea of death.The film is well acted and has a fairly large budget, filled with humour and warmth. The central character is not easy to like but at the same time you can't help but empathis(z)e with him. It also is a relief after the inherent morbidness of British gay cinema, which I have grown up with, to see a hollywood take on the same issues.It has dated a little, gay cinema has moved on but it still remains a vital part of any gay mans DVD or VHS collection along with the likes of Head On, My Beautiful Laundrette and the british made, morbid but likeable Beautiful Thing.