The Mattachine Family, dir. Andy Valentine, 2023, USA, 99 min. 👎
Thursday, June 15, 6:00 pm, Castro + streaming encore
Two gay men, one a professional photographer and the other a former child star whose career took a nosedive when he was outed in the tabloid press, are wrestling with the question of, Should we have kids? There are many options, from foster kids to adoption to surrogacy, each with its own pros and cons. Meanwhile, some of their friends are wading into parenthood as well.
It’s a premise rich with potential for a dramedy, with some strong acting performances and a few recognizable faces. Unfortunately, the main character (Thomas, the aforementioned photographer, played by Nico Tortorella, pictured second from right) is long on pouting and whining, and short on genuine moments of relatability. Why do so many filmmakers think audiences want to watch a bunch of whiny characters bickering?? By about a third of the way through the film, I had lost all sense of connection to Thomas, and I never regained it. You can certainly find worse ways to spend two hours, but you can also find better. Not recommended.
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