nycweboy1

I wasn't sure this would be something other than conventional gay romance, but Eichner is too tough (and too jaded) to let platitudes go unchallenged. This is a sharp, smart, prickly take on sex and love very much in tune with gay life in New York and the very "only in NY" types you can find there. Eichner has perfected an angry, somewhat bitter, but emotionally intelligent character you either love or loathe, but his sharp barbed dialogue has a point - and here, as a cautious, seen it all middle aged gay New Yorker, he gets the mix of tough exterior covering deep vulnerability pretty right. So does Luke NacFarlane as a gym rat poster boy who is every bit as guarded and every bit as unsure of himself. This movie doesn't try to ennoble or pretty up gay life or gay sex -it's messy, inappropriate, and highly incorrect... but in that way, wildly refreshing. Grindr may not be the best of us... but it is many of us. Add in some clever takes on gay history and inclusion, and some lovely cameos.. and this picture, for me, was a pleasant surprise of genuine feeling and savage banter. I'm intrigued to see what Eichner is capable of.

The "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Wakanda" layering on of endless flashbacks and "ancient legends" gets a bit thick (and sags noticeably in the back half), but overall this addition of an Asian superhero story hits all the right notes, powered mainly by 2 early bravura action sequences (scaffolding on the side of a high rise mirror glass tower is especially well rendered). The performances are solid, if not exactly groundbreaking (Michelle Teoh especially has little new to do), and the direction is serviceable. But the whole thing ends in yet another CGI heavy big bass fight that is just... well, way too predictable. Snazzy post credit sequence teases Dr Strange but also adds more mystery to the 10 Rimgs... which is becoming Marvel's staple out: always teasing better content next time. Even that's wearing a bit thin.