Product: Jeffrey [VHS] (1995)
Rating: 5.0
Amazingly good!
Some of us remember what it was like "coming of age" in the mid 1980s when everyone was terrified of HIV/AIDS, and coming to terms with whether we were going to let our fear ruin our enjoyment of sex and intimacy was not a small thing. This was the first movie I ever saw that acknowledged this, and managed to laugh a loud, hearty laugh.Steven Weber is a gay man who is tired of having sex ruined by "safe". He loves sex, but all of the preparations have spoiled the enjoyment and he swears off sex forever. Since the Gods like a good laugh, they put Steve (Michael T. Weiss) in his path and you can see the sparks flying from the moment they meet. But this temptation does not convince our hero to give up his no-sex lifestyle, that job belongs to Sterling & Darius (Patrick Stewart and Bryan Batt).Of course Steve is HIV+ which completely freaks out Jeffrey. And why shouldn't it? This was every gay man's fear at the time and a not-insubstantial fear in the straight community too. Jeffrey comes to terms with the fact he has let his fear not only ruin his life, but made him act like a jerk to everyone around him. Finally coming to terms with his fear and seeing that it is ruling his life, Jeffrey makes a decision to face his fears and continue living ... and loving.