By now you've probably been assaulted by the commercials for He's Just Not That Into You that feature the campy gay characters surrounding Drew Barrymore, with one gushing "MySpace is the new booty call!" Offensive much? Dixon T. Gaines at Queerty reviews the film and slams the tiresome characterization of gays as little more than sassy, asexual sidekicks.
In a movie all about love and dating, with a full nine leads trying to navigate the rocky shoals of relationships, there’s not a hint of a gay relationship anywhere on the screen. Though discouraging, that isn’t necessarily a mortal sin. What is a problem, however, is how the few gay characters that are on screen are forced to behave: in the flameyest, lispingest, “fiercest” stereotypes imaginable. If black actors were forced to endure Stepin Fetchit, then this minstrel show of homosexuality can only be construed as Mincin' Jazz Hands.
The main offenders are Drew Barrymore’s trio of co-workers at the Baltimore Blade– a made-up gay newspaper that Barrymore's character works at for– oh, just go with it. Like any economically-minded movie, these secondary characters double as twofers, with a Latino Gay (Wilson Cruz) , an Asian Gay (Leonardo Nam) and a Pasty White Gay (Rod Keller).
These sibilant-free sissies all curl around Drew to hear her latest dating woes, greeting each sad revelation with a different gay cliché rejoinder: “Oh, girl!” “Heyyyy!” and “Oooohhhh!”– all while they suck their teeth, too. And that’s it for these three. They don’t even talk about their own relationships, even as they might relate to dear ‘ol Drew. Nope, they just sit shiva around the sad sack, serving as a sassy sounding board.
Wilson Cruz takes issue with the criticism: "I don't think it's really fair to say that every gay character in every film or movie is supposed to be the defining depiction of who we are as a community. No character can do that. I think that I played him [Nathan] as honestly as I could. I reacted in the film as I would in life, and I don't think I'm a stereotype. We aren't all Tom of Finland. And if we are honest with ourselves, none of us are. Sometimes people look at a character these days and say, 'Well he was effeminate. And that's stereotypical.' Well, guess what, some people in our community are effeminate. And I don't necessarily think that's the end of the world."
Wilson Cruz is absolutely right and this is the exact argument made about gay characters in other movies and television series—Noah's Arc immediately comes to mind. Except none of the gay characters in He's Just Not That Into You exist beyond their scenes with Drew Barrymore. They're merely accessories. "When the three gay characters in a movie are asexual, and exist as the sage bitties for Drew Barrymore, it isn't an accident," Queerty reader Tyler says in the comments. "It isn't a fair representation of our community. It's a calculated script re-write to make the gay's less offensive.
It could be worse. For a movie allegedly set in Baltimore, which is majority black, there is only one black character with any lines. "A waiter with two speaking lines." Sounds charming.
ugh the movie seems awful. i will save my ten dollars
Posted by: BL | 05 February 2009 at 17:39
You know we are not even checking for this movie. I'm sick of all these comedies that feature gays who exist solely to give advice on shopping, hair and men.
Oh and one black character? Please, black gay men (unless they are snow queens) will hardly be in the audience. But Queerty is hardly one to talk.
Posted by: M. Mark | 05 February 2009 at 17:48
Sounds vapid and boring, but what do the white gays care? They usually love to offer advice to Jennifer Anniston and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Posted by: Alan T | 05 February 2009 at 17:50
God bless Queerty for pointing out there is one black character. It's not like there blog does much better, lol
Posted by: Marcus | 05 February 2009 at 17:52
Interesting article but horribly written. Oh and no black characters? I'll pass on the movie.
Posted by: jaysin | 05 February 2009 at 17:54
How in the heck do you "Myspace" someone? Exactly what is that? This movie sounds like bs. Thanks for bringing up lack of black speaking roles...another reason not to see this garbage.
Justin Long is cute but he can't act worth *ish and I can catch the dvd.
Posted by: Ralph Davis | 05 February 2009 at 17:57
Zzzzz. I'm almost glad they didn't have any blacks in this awful film. But where are the go-to black gay actors (hint hint!) when you need them?
Posted by: Marshall | 05 February 2009 at 18:04
NO BLACK CHARACTERS in a movie set in BALTIMORE?????
That doesn't even compute. Chile, please. These queens need to get over themselves. I'm trying to see where they managed to find a gay Asian and a gay latino, very few of those in this city unless they are students at Johns Hopkins.
But I have to agree with ALAN T. Sex in the City basically had one gay after another giving the girls advice, except gay men liked to pretend they actually were Carrie, Samantha or Charlotte. Did anyone pretend they were Miranda?
Posted by: Baltimore Femme | 05 February 2009 at 18:10
i'm just not into this movie
Posted by: BGC | 05 February 2009 at 18:14
Interesting that it's set in Baltimore and one black folk is present
Posted by: Viktor | 05 February 2009 at 18:15
Why do these white producers keep getting away with this? They always make movies and tv shows set in urban areas (NYC, Detroit, Philly and now Baltimore) that never have any black characters. It's really become outrageous. I for one won't be spending my money on this so called movie and encourage other black gay men to do the same. But I am sure all the black gay men who 'don't see color' and 'love them some Justin Long' will be all up in there. Count me out.
Posted by: Shane Moseley | 05 February 2009 at 18:19
I love Wilson Cruz to pieces and know he has rent to pay but ... with the exception of Noah's Arc isn't he almost always the only gay of color in all his films? Surely he sees this as problematic in this film.
Posted by: Chris Cruz | 05 February 2009 at 18:26
WHat a dreadful sounding movie.
Posted by: D. Askew | 05 February 2009 at 18:32
Only ONE black character with speaking lines?
So another MILK?
Posted by: Marvin M | 05 February 2009 at 18:35
What are these white gays upset about? That they were such string supporters of that tired azz 'Sex and the City' and they still haven't graduated beyond Sanford and Mario Cantone? That's life, boys, suck it up. THEY'RE JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU.
Posted by: Greg G | 05 February 2009 at 18:41
In today's movie and t.v. roles, the gay man is currently relegated to the role of non-threatening funny sidekick, for public consumption. America is not ready to accept much more, period. We need to keep pushing for more.
Posted by: James | 05 February 2009 at 18:41
Dear Queerty ...
So very happy to hear your blog is worried about black representation in movies. Perhaps now there will be some black faces on your site? But we're not holding our breath.
PS. And please when "borrowing" stories from Rod 2.0 and other black gay sites, would you ever link or credit?
Muah!
Posted by: Paul R | 05 February 2009 at 18:49
lmao @ paul
you and mark really, really hit it home with that one
Posted by: Quniton M | 05 February 2009 at 18:54
Is this an issue about the lack of represenation of AA gay men, lesbian women and transsexuals or the way LGBT are generally viewed in the Media.
I'm not feeling the whole ''White Gay'' tirade either. The blog mentioned does make a valid point of how LGBT are generally viewed in the media as sidekicks and the butt-in of jokes, as Rod has mentioned countless times.
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 05 February 2009 at 19:09
Never mind my previous post. I guess I should just refrain from commenting when it comes to issues like this...
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 05 February 2009 at 19:15
But I admit, if had money, I would see it to drool over Wilson Cruz, he's a sexy Rican.
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 05 February 2009 at 19:17
Wilson Cruz is so Fine! I would bend him over and plow him until his next movie role not as a gay person which means I'll have him under my "power" forever!!!
Are you listening Cruz?
I'm in LA too.
Posted by: Anti-believer | 05 February 2009 at 19:43
vapid, boring and predictable gay characters. another instance of refusing to present multi dimensional gay characters to the mainstream.
i am surprised the queerty queens are upset. you would think they would be ecstatic to share the screen with drew and kevin connelley. truth be told the gays in these movies normally offer more than fashion or relationship advice. i'm just sayin'
Posted by: Hendly | 05 February 2009 at 19:45
Queerty is an annoying blog for mostly annoying wannabe A-listers. But I will say they are on the money with this one. The gay characters are from central casting.
The lack of black characters doesn't bother me. They werent marketing this movie to us anyways.
Posted by: Tommy Ross | 05 February 2009 at 20:22
I knew I wasn't going to see this when I saw that needy, pitiful behind Jennifer Aniston was in it. YUCK!
Posted by: FREELEO | 05 February 2009 at 20:37