Red Lodge is a perceptive look at how marriage equality has affected gay relationships. It's also likely to coax a tear or two from the romantics out there. Wintry Montana proves a photogenic backdrop for the action.
Jordan (Joseph Kim) proposes to Dave (Richard Pierre-Lewis), his boyfriend of two years, expecting an enthusiastic "Yes!" Instead, he gets a, "Can't we just be in love and leave things the way they are?" Hardly the answer our handsome hero was expecting, and not the best timed response either, just before the couple are to spend Christmas with Jordan's kooky Aunt Vanity (Diane Kylander) up in Big Sky country.
Joining them for the holidays are Jordan's "sister" Lisa (Jessica Garibay), also raised by Vanity but enough younger than Jordan that he's had little chance to get to know her, and her nerdy/cute boyfriend Lace (Aric Weber). Add to this a frisky twink ski instructor (Ross Andrew Dibble) and you've got just enough characters for a 77-minute indie.
Supporting cast members are talented Montana locals who acquit themselves quite well on film, though a little of Aunt Vanity can go a long, long way.
Best of all are the two leads, the entirely winning Asian-Caucasian Kim (who goes by Joseph Daugherty these days), and his equally charming African American costar Pierre-Lewis. (And how refreshing to see actors of color as romantic leads!)
Incredibly neither actor is credited on the DVD cover (you have to look at the opening and end titles to find out their names), and Pierre-Lewis doesn't even get IMDb mention, nor does Dibble. Even more outrageous is that this fine film isn't making the LGBT Festival circuit, where it would be a sure audience favorite.
I have an extensive gay indie collection, and Red Lodge tops many festival selections I have seen. And at the price it's going for on Amazon, it costs about as much as a movie ticket and is well worth a look-see.
