Tommie, a fairly unattractive young man (by the usual Hollywood standard of gay film characters at any rate) with a dead-end job handing out fliers in New York, an occupation not normally associated with people who use an American Express card as he does, decides to head off to Provincetown to join in the gay life there. Although it's meant to be a summer adventure, many of the background shots of Provincetown imply it's actually late fall or winter and that Provincetown is a ghost town.
The object of his quest isn't entirely clear because much of the film is given over to him traipsing about from guest house to guest house seeking employment as a house boy and, somewhat incidentally, looking for someone with whom to form a relationship. He rejects making any attempt to meet the one guy who everyone else regards as the best catch out there and who, by the end of the film and too late in the summer stay, turns out to be quite a nice, intelligent person. I guess the lesson to be learned is that one shouldn't prejudge others or that one should seize opportunities when they present themselves.
Most of the people he meets, whether gay visitors or locals, come across as weird and display some of the worse gay stereotypes, in some cases verging on the venal or psychotic. At least one gay stereotype
that they all possess a fashion sense
is laid to rest. Tommie's wardrobe often suggests he's auditioning for the lead in a revival of Leave It to Beaver. His pursuits of employment and a relationship are a disaster, but despite lengthy periods of un- or under-employment he has his American Express card to keep him going. I wonder where the monthly statements are sent.
There are some mildly amusing moments, but for the most part the film drags on and on with no apparent point or direction other than to imply that most gays are low-life types and that the people of Provincetown form a colony of weirdos. I'm not sure if the rather preposterous title, Lie Down With Dogs (and you get up with fleas) refers to this subset of humanity, but I'm pretty sure Tommie brought along his own fleas.
Unlike some other reviewers, I wouldn't say it's the worst gay film ever
that's a pretty crowded field
but I can't think of any reason to recommend that anyone bother to watch it. I notice this is Wally White's only venture into film making, for which we can all be grateful.
