The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy

A movie released in 2000 about a clique of gay friends in West Hollywood. Starred Timothy Olyphant, Dean Cain, Andrew Keegan and Zach Braff as gay guys. Also featured Billy Porter, Kerr Smith, Justin Theroux, Michael Bergin, Christian Kane and Jennifer Coolidge in ensemble. At the time of its release, I was really surprised that all these dudes signed up to play gay guys. It's been playing on cable non-stop lately. Datalounge, what was your impression of this movie when it came out? 15 years later, how has it held up?

Why on Earth would you have straight men play gay men? That's like having white people play slaves on "Roots" or Adel play "Whitney Houston."

I didn't really care for it at first. Now I think I actively hate it.

I had a friend who spelled Adele "Adel" on two CDRs, R1, and for years, I had no idea who he was talking about.

I haven't watched it in years but I used to like it a lot. If for nothing else then just seeing those Hollywood hunks playing gay men. It's a harmless dramedy and I'm glad it got made.

Haven't watched it in years, but liked it when it was first released. Forgot all the cuties in the cast .... Andrew Keegan, Christian Kane ....

UGH from first view until today on Zach Braff. Ick.

It seemed so upbeat at the time, but now it seems depressing.

Ugh. Another elder gay thread about some old movie.

C'mon! This was 15 years ago. I was like 3!

It wasn't brilliant, but it was fun. As I recall it was the first gay movie I saw in which the sexuality of the characters wasn't the source of great drama. Nobody got gaybashed or was dying of AIDS. No struggles with discrimination or coming-out trauma/drama. The fact that they were gay was simply one of the realities of their everyday lives, as it is for most people.

I didn't care for it at the time (seemed rather twee) and have not seen it since then. I don't remember Timothy Olyphant in it, who I've lusted over in several of his later projects, e.g, Deadwood and Justified, so it might worth a rewatch.

Olyphant, that TV Superman turned right winger and Frasier's dad are the ones I remember well.

Love Timothy Olyphant playing gay.

It's written by that bro who is dating the dude who plays soccerball and the picture on the cover is of a bunch of baseball playing, bros. Count me in, dudes!

r12 I think what you're trying to say is that the movie was written and directed by Greg Berlanti, who went on to executive produce TV shows such as Brothers & Sisters, Everwood, Arrow, and the Flash. He got his start as a writer on Dawson's Creek; he wrote the episode where Jack came out.

Berlanti has been dating soccer star Robbie Rogers for the past two years.

Yes. nobody got bashed or had AIDS, but still the movie rubbed me the wrong way, because the group dynamic was so sad, depressing, pathetic, and toxic. When I saw that movie as a teen I promised myself that I'd rather be a shut in or recluse for the rest of my life than have such a circle of gay friends.

I thought Olyphant was the big weak link in the cast. I didn't believe him as gay for a second and thought his performance was terrible. I actually wondered if he might have been initially cast for the Dean Cain part - I could buy him as a shallow, closeted actor breaking hearts with no concern.

I liked everyone else and enjoyed the movie for what it was. It would have been a natural to adapt to a TV series but I guess Queer As Folk came along about the same time. Andrew Keegan was adorable and charming. Zach Braff was funny but also did a good job transforming to the methed out party boy.

Andrew Keegan was so beautiful back then...

Andrew Keegan was so blue that day

R8 So, it's a fantasy. Because real life for gays, especially back then, wasn't so easy.

At that point, a gay themed movie being released by a major studio was still somewhat unusual. So the film was significant if only for that. Of course, it's entire budget was something like $1 million, so it wasn't a big risk, financially.

It was still unusual for name actors to take gay parts when this movie came out in 2000. So, Dean Cain was certainly taking a big risk playing the part. But Cain also hadn't gotten many parts since Lois and Clark ended, so it was a way to shake up his career.

John Mahoney was old enough that the part wouldn't hurt his career.

The others were up and coming. Something of a risk for them, but Will & Grace had been on for two years at that point, so more and more actors were playing gay parts on that, and the stigma was loosening.

Then why are you on DL, R14?

[qutoe]Andrew Keegan was so blue that day

Do you have his number?

And now he's a whacked out guru/spiritual leader in Venice Beach.

r20, I don't consider Datalounge my circle of friends. If I would that would be indeed sad, pathetic, and toxic for my mental health. Datalounge is like watching Reality TV. You watch it on occasion but you don't live, act, and think like you are on a trashy Reality TV show in real life.

I never bought the scene with The Carpenters music. I mean, I like their music, but could you really become and stay aroused with "Superstar" playing in the background?

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Obviously you are a child who doesn't remember when it was rare to see any gays on television or movies except serial killers.

That we were suddenly able to look at people like ourselves was an amazing thing. Especially in the last five years when the breadth of what is represented has improved.

One of the worst movies ever made.

I am all for movies with LGBT people, but this was cloying, unoriginal and very badly acted.

I love the book 101 Must See Movies for Gay Men especially b/c of the SCATHING review of this shit fest that's in it.

I really liked it. The characters were typical non-stereotypical gay people, which Hollywood rarely gets right. The straight actors really nailed how to play that, which Hollywood actors rarely get right. The movie had a lot of heart.

I feel out on an island in this thread. I neither loved it nor think it's worse than hitler...

I found it mildly entertaining, thought Keegan & Olyphant were gorgeous, and found it a chuckling gag that the straightest character on the sitcom frasier was the one cast in a gay themed film.

I didn't regret watching it, but honestly hadn't given it a second thought in the 15 years since...

OP here. I remember being unimpressed when it was released. Watching it today, I was surprised because I don't think it is too different from how a TV or feature film drama today would depict a group of gay men in Weho. The real clunker was Billy Porter's completely over the top portrayal of a gay stereotype. Made worse by him being the only black man in the cast. Not Porter's fault -- he's a talented actor and I believe he played the part as written. But yeah, I think it suffered because none of the actors came across as authentic. But even today it is no worse than HBO's "Looking."

[quote]the straightest character on the sitcom frasier was the one cast in a gay themed film.

But you DO know that the actor himself is gay, right?

R32: didn't know that. That just adds to the humor of his status on the sitcom. It's also kinda weird he was so awful acting like a femme in the movie. I guess he is straight acting in real life... What a mess

I thought Olyphant was quite good, r15. The film itself was a big MEH though.

I remember liking it. It was just nice seeing some gay characters on screen living their lives without excessive misery.

I have a soft spot for this movie only because it was the first gay themed film I ever saw in theatres. I think I was 18, looking back at it now it wasn't the best movie ever made LOL!

Hated it. Trick is the better movie.

I liked it at the time. Not a lot, but neither did I stop watching half an hour in. But I can't remember a thing about it now. I liked Trick better, too.

The original trailer. It's 15 years old!

Olyphant had his original teefs in this one, if I recall.

I used to see Olyphant in the locker room and steam room quite often at Equinox. Perfection.

[quote] But even today it is no worse than HBO's "Looking."

These are the options?

Olyphant's legs are scrawny and hairy, r41.

But he's awesome overall.

Held up?? It didn't hold up the day it was released.

R7 you should respect your elders. Without people who come before you to fight for your rights you would still be a closeted little boy.

This movie comes out when i was in college, and like many people in this thread, grew up without a lot of a three dimensional (or even two dimensional) LGBT characters in media. When i saw this movie, this is about the first gay themed movie with gay characters who are not perverts, deviants, murders, molesters or noble victims of AIDS and whatever. It shows a bunch of gay guys not living their lives cowering from gay bashers or republicans, but living and confronting issues among themselves, some still pretty relevant (drugs).

When this movie come out, the "best" representative of gays in media is a sexless prude (Will), a flamer (Jack) and a bunch of gay characters written as women (Sex and the City). We did not have modern family, we didnt have Glee, we didnt have Looking. The fact that it looks cliched today is testimony of how far our community has come in terms of our representation in media and civil rights.

[quote] When this movie come out, the "best" representative of gays in media is a sexless prude (Will), a flamer (Jack) and a bunch of gay characters written as women (Sex and the City). We did not have modern family, we didnt have Glee, we didnt have Looking. The fact that it looks cliched today is testimony of how far our community has come in terms of our representation in media and civil rights.

Sweetheart, please. Just because you were from bumfuck Idaho and your mommy wouldn't let you watch anything less wholesome than Seventh Heaven doesn't suddenly make this film good. Just because it didn't have the cliches you mentioned doesn't mean it wasn't rife with other ones. it was badly written, acted and directed and was about as subtle as a lead balloon. For all the films that gay directors make that are supposed to have "forwarded the cause," I'd rather sit through Cruising or The Boys in the Band any time. At least they're well made and well acted, not to mention less offensive.

Oh, and Glee and Looking were garbage, too.

[quote]I'd rather sit through Cruising or The Boys in the Band any time.

Jesus, I wouldn't. At least The Broken Hearts Club doesn't make me want to slit my wrists.

R46 It was a decent film and it is not even close to my favorite, but my argument still stands. It is a step towards fuller LGBT representation and we are better off not worse if someone wants to make a movie with gay characters, however flawed in acting and direction it might be. Let me put it this way: it is the first LGBT film that doesn't make me feel dirty about being gay, unlike cruising or BITB.

Also, I didnt grow up in Idaho, and i never watched an entire episode of 7th heaven.

Oh R47 you are welcome to make something better.

When it came out in 2000, I came out, was in my 20s, and lived in LA...

While this movie was far from perfect, it was a lot close to what I was living than any of the other things mentioned.

I found Will, Jack, and Ellen creepy

I would rather watch The Broken Hearts Club on a loop 24 hours a day than sit through Cruising.

I'd bet good money that R14 is at least fifty-five years old.

'Romantic Comedy' is right in the title so if your lofty expectations weren't satisfied, that says more about YOU than it does the movie. And no I'm not over 55, thank you and your small mind.

Srsly, the fucking elevator music of The Carpenters as background for sex? I'd walk the hell out of that room if some weird queen tried to pull that creepy shit.

There is something likable and watchable about Timothy Olyphant despite the fact that he is quite a wooden and terrible actor. It's very strange.

[quote]There is something likable and watchable about Timothy Olyphant despite the fact that he is quite a wooden and terrible actor. It's very strange.

He's a much better actor today ("Justified"). I think this was one of his first roles.

I saw this movie when it was released..I'd been out about 5 years. I remember sort of liking it, but I watched it on HBO On Demand and realized I'd forgotten most of it.

I remembered Dean Cain and Zach Braff being in it, but forgot about Timothy Olyphant and Justin Theroux. None were very convincing as gay, but Dean Cain was beautiful.

I'd forgotten how much I'd HATED John "Frasier" Mahoney in this. Terrible, terrible, performance.

How was Andrew Keegan a thing? Not cute, awful actor. Just my opinion...obviously others didn't think so.

This film was Lawrence of Arabia when compared to Defying Gravity that came out around the same time.

Timothy Olyphant and Andrew Keegan kissed each other on the lips !!!!!!

Also, I remember thinking it was bizarre that a gay man would be obsessed with Karen Carpenter. But since I've been coming to DL (about 10 years) I have come to understand that LOTS of gay guys obsess over Karen Carpenter.

Rewatched the movie a couple of days ago because of this thread. I enjoyed it then and enjoyed it again this time. Oh, it has flaws and the acting is not fantastic. Was able to see that very clearly here 15 years later. But the overall theme of friendship still touched my heart. And I always liked the Carpenters.

Thing to remember is that in 2000, most gay films were either about AIDS or about coming out. So, a gay themed movie that dealt with gay friendship was new ground.

[quote]It was still unusual for name actors to take gay parts when this movie came out in 2000.

I played gay in Naked In New York (1993) and kissed Eric Stolz on the mouth.

It came our 15 years ago? Goodness, I feel old!

I won't claim it is some masterpiece of gay cinema, but its a comfortable movie - one when you're home on a weekend night, or hungover on the couch on a Sunday and need something light to watch. I've seen it in both circumstances a few times, though not in years. I enjoyed it but again, wouldn't say it is anything more than what it is - a light, comfortable movie.

I like Karen Carpenter's voice but would never choose The Carpenters as sex music or kick some hot guy to the curb just because he doesn't like them.

Totally agree with R64. It won't win any awards, but it is watchable.

When I tell people I hated the movie I always get told that I'm self-loathing. Most people think it's an obligation to like any and all gay themed movies if you're gay.

r68 That reaction is one that is left over from the days when there was very little gay content available in movies. Some 25-30 years ago, gay content in a film was so rare that when a gay-themed movie did open it was an EVENT. You called your friends and got together a group to go to the movie on opening weekend, preferably opening night. It like a celebratory atmosphere at the theater because a gay-themed movie was just so unusual.

And you definitely went to see the gay film opening weekend, because it likely would only stick around for a week, maybe two. .

The idea of disliking the story was a luxury that was not available, or rather not exercised often. Gay themed movies were so rare, you were glad it was there and didn't critique the actual content. It's almost like the movie got an automatic pass simply for having gay content.

All that has changed in the last 15 years or so now that gay characters are all over TV and in mainstream movies. Gay themed movies do get serious critiques. People do talk about disliking movie and discuss the films flaws.

This movie is shit on burnt toast. Bury it back in the grave it was tossed into and let it be.

You're welcome.

LOVED it then LOVE it now!

[quote]When I tell people I hated the movie I always get told that I'm self-loathing. Most people think it's an obligation to like any and all gay themed movies if you're gay.

Those guys obviously must not be aware of the amount of terrible indie gay movies out there. I've been burnt so many times with shitty gay dramas that I don't really bother anymore unless I know the film is seriously good. Obviously at the time of The Broken Hearts Club indie gay dramas were only starting to come out but few years after that there were loads of them.

I personally like this movie but I seriously hate Big Eden which came out around the same time.

I saw it when it first came out. I don't remember much from it except that I liked it and thought it was better than most of the dreck that passed as gay cinema at the time.

R72, I'm with you. I've mostly given up on gay movies. I think Brokeback Mountain and Shelter are the only two gay movies I'd recommend to anyone.

[quote]I'd rather sit through Cruising or The Boys in the Band any time.

[quote]Jesus, I wouldn't. At least The Broken Hearts Club doesn't make me want to slit my wrists.

The reason those two movies appeal to DLers is because they both have stabbing in the back as a central theme. BHC was a fun gay Breakfast Club of a movie.

LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUV TBHC !!!!

Met Dean Cain during the promotion. Seemed nice and gay friendly of course he was pitching a film. He was coming off Lois & Clark and wanted to show he had range. Refused to kiss Keegan so not much range was shown. The Michael Bergin plot was line spot on as far a how the casting couch works the same way for boys as it does for girls.

Would have been better if they had left out the lesbian storyline. Just like QAF should have. Comes off as a sewn on afterthought.

I enjoyed TBHC for what it was & it was the 1st time I saw Timothy Olyphant on screen. I thought he was beautiful.

Has Dean Cain come out yet? No way that guy is straight. I think Chris Kane pings too.

Agrred Bout the lesbian storyline. Having said that- Im glad one of them didnt end up sucking a dick at some point. I feel like EVERY lesbian story goes that route at some point.

I liked the movie. It wasn't epic cinema but told the story of openly gay men living in the new millennium. It was what it was 15 years ago when the country was shell shocked over the Clinton impeachment proceedings and facing the prospect of W. Bush as our next president.

I'm from the school that ANY exposure of gay male images in the MSM is preferable to the forced repression and invisibility up to this point. Cruising and BITB were far too depressing and unrealistic for me to enjoy or identify with as a young gayling facing the world as an adult, when the AIDS epidemic was unleashed upon an unprepared world.

I enjoyed the movie for the B movie escapist fun that it was. Sure, it was filled with predictable stereotypes (the over the top black queen) but being able to watch young, attractive gay men in their own element was a validation back then that gays had turned the corner somehow. All the years of fighting the system and protesting for equal rights and recognition, were finally bearing "fruits."

[quote]This film was Lawrence of Arabia when compared to Defying Gravity that came out around the same time.

I thought I was the only person in America who remembered that cinematic abortion.

I went into it expecting a light gay-theme romantic comedy and was not disappointed. Not every gay movie has to be a monumental event with Academy Award aspirations. At the time, it was pretty unique to have a gay movie where the characters weren't dying of AIDS or dealing with a workplace that discriminated against them. Have only watched it once, and that was enough, but it was a fun harmless movie.

What is a workplace discrimination gay movie?

I can't think of any, unless you want to count Brokeback Mountain. Not the central conflict.

Timothy Olyphant ROCKS, r54.

Watch Go, A Perfect Getaway or Broken Hearts Club again if you don't believe me.

Deadwood and Justified and that zombie movie are good shows -- but they require him to play a wooden character. It's not all he can do.

Quit saying Boys in the Band, Will and Grace and Cruising were the only alternatives to gay content in the year 2000.

Tales of the City set a great example for a non-homophobic, non-tragic show with LGBT characters.

It's better than Broken Hearts Club -- you just need talent. Greg Berlanti and the American Queer As Folk producers are lame-Os with no compelling talent.

I saw Broken Hearts Club from start to finish only once. Since then several times I attempted to watch it again, but gave early up early on or half way through every single time. It's just so fucking depressing (and that from someone who just watched the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why).

[quote]This film was Lawrence of Arabia when compared to Defying Gravity that came out around the same time.

Defying Gravity was an indie feature with no budget or big name attached to it, but at least this one had a happy ending. Why even attemp to compare a studio film with an indie feature? Apples and Oranges much?

I wish Y&R was as good today as it was back then when one character said he was over Y&R.,

Will telling Barry, the gay guy who had just come out, 'Gay films suck...but until the laws change, we have to support them...'

(words to that effect)

I'm older and more cynical now, but when the movie was new, if a guy had turned back the clock so I could blow out the candles on my birthday cake, I'd have thrown the cake on the floor and done him right there.

Nia Long plays a convincing angry woman.

Back in their hayday the speculation was who was the pitcher and who was the catcher on this team ?

Weak film with closeted Republican Dean Cain. I'm glad he's a has-been now.

"Jeffrey" was out way before this movie.

There was nothing wrong with "Defying Gravity" that a hotter lead wouldn't have fixed.

Defying Gravity did just that. It was a very low budget indie that didn't aspire to be groundbreaking gay cinema. It was a sad little movie, but another step in the right direction. It was a little overdone with the lesbian storyline somewhat dragging it down. That and the obligatory downer of gay bashing/AIDS melodrama. I liked East Side Story.

It seems so depressing and ancient now

it was ok...........Michael Bergin was probably at his hottest in this movie.

He’s fun on Santa Clarita diet. And his teeth are now perfection!!

This one of Greg Berlanti's first jobs, right?

If he remade it now half the cast would be bulldaggers playing baseball, the Dean Cain character would be a chick with a dick and the remaining men would all be bi with a heavy lean towards pussy.

The only gay male character would be the Frasier guy and he'd either disappear without explanation early in the film or croak from AIDS.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3TmqOorZ6csm%2BvzqZmraCimq6le5Bub2txYmqDbsDHnmSbqp%2Bgsq95x56Yq6yjYrCtwcFmmGaqn6Kur8DInGScp52asbo%3D

 Share!

• Share on Facebook
   
• Tweet
   
• Share on Google+
   
• Post to Tumblr
   
• Pin it
   
• Submit to Reddit