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Jeffrey directed by Christopher Ashley |
Rating: ***
Reviewer: Vixen
Is it still better to have have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?
Being Gay in the 1990's presents just as many problems as ever before. When the risk of contracting HIV becomes too much for him to deal with, Jeffrey (Steven Weber) makes a decision to change his life. He can stop that risk forever. The answer is simple. The safest form of sex - no sex at all.
Embracing the concept of a celibate life, Jeffrey heads for the gym to work off some tension, but a few paces on the treadmill and he's already run into trouble; dark, hunky, desirable Steve (Michael T. Weiss), who just wants so much to give him everything he needs. Body to die for, literally - he's HIV positive.
How can Jeffrey cope? Each time he says no, he walks away into an equally life threatening situation, but doesn't see it, even with the greatest mother of mercy ("Terry" herself) there to show him the way. His closest friends are the living, and dying, proof. Patrick Stuart throws himself into the part of interior designer friend, Sterling, with great finesse. Sterling faces the HIV/AIDS threat daily with his lover, an irrepressible dancer from Cats named Darius. Everyone around Jeffrey seems to be able to grab the gusto. It is Jeffrey's job in the film to learn to "dare to lunge for happiness," as the priest played by Nathan Lane says in an effort to push Jeffrey back into contact with the world.
Stick through the over long Gay pride shots, and the camp quiz show foolery. This film is a light-hearted shot at putting across a deeply true message. Life is full of risks. To live a full life, we have to face those risks - otherwise we may as well be dead already!
