G.B.F. will make you LOL

Trying to capitalize on the latest media craze of gay men as fashion accessories, a trio of prom queen probables (Sasha Pieterse, Xosha Roquemore, and Andrea Bowen) battle over friendship rights to their recently outed classmate, Brent (Paul Iacono). From the color-drenched, blazingly-lit style of a Disney musical it so devastatingly mimics to the seemingly endless supply of bitchy observational throwaway lines (“‘Shley, short for Ashley, was about as edgy as she got”), director Darren Stein’s (Jawbreaker) frequently on-target satire had me laughing enough to keep it interesting.

The MPAA are the ones who have no right to laugh. There is nothing in this film that warrants its R rating. Stein told EW the film’s “sexual references” cost it the more box office friendly PG-13 stamp. Everyone remains fully clothed, there’s zero violence, and not one “fuck” is ever uttered. The hom(PAA)ophobes would have been better off citing cigarette smoking as the reason behind their wimpy decision. Hey, kids: if you want to see G.B.F., buy a ticket for Frozen or some other PG rated piece of crap and sneak in. You’ll love this film!

On a personal note, I forgot to mention editor Phil Bartell in my review of I Am Divine. Phil is one of the few students I taught back in the day whose name continues to appear in film credits with any regularity. You did good, my friend! Phil’s bouncy cutting seamlessly helps propel the film’s equally high-spirited cast and dialogue. With G.B.F. and the success of the Eating Out franchise, Phil is turning into the Thelma Schoonmaker of gay comedies.

Reader Rating: Two Stars

G.B.F. opens January 24 exclusively at AMC Fashion Valley.