Film review: 'Relax ... It's Just Sex'
Opening with a hilarious monologue by lusty romantic Vincey (Mitchell Anderson) about the pros and cons of swallowing his lover's semen, "Relax ... It's Just Sex" plays shamelessly to its intended gay and lesbian audience. But the raucous, omnisexual ensemble comedy boasts a few bravo performances, including Jennifer Tilly as a dramatic "fag hag."
On Thursday, writer-director P.J. Castellanta's second feature opened Outfest '98, the 16th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, to a packed house at the Orpheum in downtown Los Angeles. A gala party followed outdoors behind the gorgeous but sweltering 1926 movie palace.
"Relax" is overlong, and much of the screenplay is predictable as Castellanta tries to cover a lot of ground, including the horrors of gay-bashing and the wrenching pain of a mother losing a baby. Gays, lesbians and straights comprise an extended family centered on Tara (Tilly) and her boyfriend Gus Timothy Paul Perez). She wants a kid and he's feeling pressured, and they set the pace for most couples in the film with a loud, spontaneous screw in the kitchen before one of several group gatherings.
Gus' movie-quoting brother Javi (Eddie Garcia) is HIV-positive. He is destined to meet and fall for Buzz (T.C. Carson), a handsome, articulate black artist with radical theories that antagonize others. Particularly up-in-arms are Dwight (Gibbs Toldsdort) and Diego (Chris Cleveland), a perfect gay couple made fun of regularly by the grumpy Vincey.
While Vincey is always unlucky in love, he doesn't deserve the beating he receives in an alley. But when he's rescued by the gang, led as usual by the fiery Tara, he turns into a sexual avenger and nearly melts down in the aftermath.
On a lighter note, the breakup of longtime lesbian couple Megan (Serena Scott Thomas) and Sarina (Cynda Williams) when the former starts dating a man is not a matter of life and death. Voluptuous Sarina connects with very butch Robin (Lori Petty) in a fairly normal romance, but Megan remains part of the group, causing tension.
Seymour Cassel, Paul Winfield and particularly Susan Tyrell have terrific bit parts in a sprawling film interspersed with black-and-white video interviews of the principals.
Much of the humor is calculated to shock, but it's not always the freshest material. The movie is competently directed, but the offbeat soundtrack is often distracting. Thankfully, the performances make one relax and enjoy the film's many good points.
RELAX ... IT'S JUST SEX
A Forefront Films/
Sneak Preview production
Writer-director: P.J. Castellanta
Producers: Steven J. Wolfe,
Megan O'Neill, Harold Warren
Executive producers: Eli Kabillio,
Cevin D. Soling
Director of photography: Lon Magdich
Production designer: Timm Bergen
Editor: Tom Seid
Costume designer: Sharon Lynch
Music: Lori Eschler Frystak
Casting: Shevonne Durkin
Color/stereo
Cast:
Vincey: Mitchell Anderson
Tara: Jennifer Tilly
Buzz: T.C. Carson
Gus: Timothy Paul Perez
Megan: Serena Scott Thomas
Sarina: Cynda Williams
Robin: Lori Petty
Javi: Eddie Garcia
Dwight: Gibbs Toldsdort
Diego: Chris Cleveland
Running time -- 108 minutes
No MPAA rating...
On Thursday, writer-director P.J. Castellanta's second feature opened Outfest '98, the 16th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, to a packed house at the Orpheum in downtown Los Angeles. A gala party followed outdoors behind the gorgeous but sweltering 1926 movie palace.
"Relax" is overlong, and much of the screenplay is predictable as Castellanta tries to cover a lot of ground, including the horrors of gay-bashing and the wrenching pain of a mother losing a baby. Gays, lesbians and straights comprise an extended family centered on Tara (Tilly) and her boyfriend Gus Timothy Paul Perez). She wants a kid and he's feeling pressured, and they set the pace for most couples in the film with a loud, spontaneous screw in the kitchen before one of several group gatherings.
Gus' movie-quoting brother Javi (Eddie Garcia) is HIV-positive. He is destined to meet and fall for Buzz (T.C. Carson), a handsome, articulate black artist with radical theories that antagonize others. Particularly up-in-arms are Dwight (Gibbs Toldsdort) and Diego (Chris Cleveland), a perfect gay couple made fun of regularly by the grumpy Vincey.
While Vincey is always unlucky in love, he doesn't deserve the beating he receives in an alley. But when he's rescued by the gang, led as usual by the fiery Tara, he turns into a sexual avenger and nearly melts down in the aftermath.
On a lighter note, the breakup of longtime lesbian couple Megan (Serena Scott Thomas) and Sarina (Cynda Williams) when the former starts dating a man is not a matter of life and death. Voluptuous Sarina connects with very butch Robin (Lori Petty) in a fairly normal romance, but Megan remains part of the group, causing tension.
Seymour Cassel, Paul Winfield and particularly Susan Tyrell have terrific bit parts in a sprawling film interspersed with black-and-white video interviews of the principals.
Much of the humor is calculated to shock, but it's not always the freshest material. The movie is competently directed, but the offbeat soundtrack is often distracting. Thankfully, the performances make one relax and enjoy the film's many good points.
RELAX ... IT'S JUST SEX
A Forefront Films/
Sneak Preview production
Writer-director: P.J. Castellanta
Producers: Steven J. Wolfe,
Megan O'Neill, Harold Warren
Executive producers: Eli Kabillio,
Cevin D. Soling
Director of photography: Lon Magdich
Production designer: Timm Bergen
Editor: Tom Seid
Costume designer: Sharon Lynch
Music: Lori Eschler Frystak
Casting: Shevonne Durkin
Color/stereo
Cast:
Vincey: Mitchell Anderson
Tara: Jennifer Tilly
Buzz: T.C. Carson
Gus: Timothy Paul Perez
Megan: Serena Scott Thomas
Sarina: Cynda Williams
Robin: Lori Petty
Javi: Eddie Garcia
Dwight: Gibbs Toldsdort
Diego: Chris Cleveland
Running time -- 108 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 7/13/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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