Eating Out (2004) Reviews

• Not Exactly 'Parfait'

  NJMoon2005-09-14

  EATING OUT is a good looking film. It's young stars are hunky, sexy guys who look great on camera and turn in credible performances. The gal pals are a gay man's fantasia, however - as one character says "a reality show without the camera crew". The film manages to neatly hide it's low budget roots. After a few establishing shots of Tuscon, we forget the rest of the film is basically house-bound. The centerpiece of EATING OUT (the title has nothing to do with finding a good restaurant) is a phone sex scene that manages to be quite sexy despite it's extended length. The film's biggest disappointment (and disservice) is it's idiotic dialogue. Characters speak in a "Clueless" slang that is both annoying and unreal. The fatuous dialogue turns the likable cast superficial. It might be cute to occasionally say 'parfait' for 'perfect' and 'Fabio' for 'fabulous' but when every line contains something like this, it gets annoying. There are also a lot of 'jokes' and 'one liners' (a truly appalling one about being HIV positive) that don't contribute much. If this is Oscar Wilde, he's slumming. Turn off the volume and just watch EATING OUT - then it'll be nearly parfait - maybe even downright Fabio.

• Not that bad!

  wyldboy722005-06-21

  I saw this movie even after reading all the horrible reviews. Expecting the worst, this movie really isn't that bad! It's a funny, light, fluff comedy. Everyone seems to have hooked-up with everyone in this tale of boy-wants-girl-who-wants boy-who-wants-boy. It's reminiscent of the teen comedies of the past decade, but with a gay twist. There are a lot of unspoken elements to the plot that add to the Ralston's of the gay world - such as the flamboyant "straight" boy who's girlfriend doesn't catch on. Caelb's oversexed ex-girlfriend is hysterical and under-used. The much-hyped phone sex scene is very well done and will make most audience members (gay or straight, male or female) squirm their seat - and likely the reason this movie isn't rated. If you are going for the full-frontal male nude scene of Ryan Carnes and Scott Lansford, don't blink or you'll miss it! If you are looking for a fun way to spend 90 minutes, check out Eating Out. And stay for the hidden scene after the credits!

• Funny Comedy of Errors

  wells3032004-06-13

  I just saw this movie on the last day of the 2004 Newfest in NYC. It won my highest ratings of the festival. Structurally it is based on all the classical lovers comedies of Shakespeare or Wilde. The dialogue is funny. The film is well cast and well acted. The audience was laughing more than at any other of the ten or so screenings I sat through during the festival. Synopsis: a straight man, Caleb, who is striking out with girls takes a tip from his gay roommate to pretend he is gay in order to score better with women. Trouble starts when he is 'outed' to a party of people and then becomes the object of a feral sex hunt by both gay men an fag hag women who want to 'turn him around.' Ridiculous situation after another ensue culminating with an emotional and hilarious 'outing' at a dinner party to his parents. Just as the ruse seems to overwhelm him, there is a resolution and happy ending for all (sound familiar?) I hope this one makes it to wider release. I agree with the 50% of viewers that gave it a 9 or 10.

• Hot guys, but I wouldn't want to be their friends....

  heszyfilm2005-12-27

  Warning: Spoilers Two parts of the movie really irked me: 1) When Gwen is trying to seduce Caleb, she says something about him trying "normal" sex first. For someone whose best friend is gay, that seems like a pretty homophobic thing to say, as if gay sex is not "normal," but straight sex is. 2) After the horrible things Gwen has to say about Kyle at the end, Caleb (who earlier professed how much he cares for Kyle) doesn't even bat an eye and still wants to be with Gwen. Gwen is a bad person, the acting is bad, the story weak; it's only good for admiring Ryan Carnes' and Scott Lunsford's hot bods. Just rent it and watch with the sound off.

• Well worth seeing

  chriseason2004-06-09

  I must say I can't understand some of the other comments I've read about this film - even some describing it as "homophobic"? Now that's just bizarre! "Worst movie ever"?? I hardly think so. Clearly this person hasn't seen "Die Mommie Die". OK, so the production is a little amateurish, a little studenty, but when you don't have a Hollywood budget what do you expect? The people who have left negative comments all seem to be taking it a bit too seriously - reading hidden meanings and over-analyzing the screenplay when you have to remember that this film is simply a piece of light-hearted entertainment - "a load of camp old nonsense" as Julian Clary might say. I found this a thoroughly enjoyable film (and so did 99% of the audience at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival judging from their reactions) and would happily see it again. I thought is was rather amusing and would gladly recommend it to anyone and everyone. Enjoy!