User reviews

I'm well into my mid-30s, and grew up during the age of Reagan and AIDS, which I mention in critiquing this wonderful film, as the lone value of growing up during the 80s was that EVERYTHING became political, and such a setting does teach the value of context.

And in this light, this is a baby-boomer film, the product of a generation older than myself. It's also a moving human drama - a great piece of American indie film that deserves something greater than 'niche' marketing - expressing the history of a movement and the people behind it (in some ways at least) as a living thing, not something read from a history book. Setting up the story as a romantic comedy of sorts, THE TRIP includes classic themes (road movies, which themselves are often modern recastings of ever-valid mythology) as it sweeps from the pre-Watergate 70s to the late 1980s. Incorporating news footage and topical references (seen previously in films as trite as FORREST GUMP, or as brilliant as WEST BEIRUT) marks the passage of time, and offers the maturation of gay politics and philosophy as an ever-present backdrop, and the very short - and touching - final scene, in both symbolic and literal fashion, makes clear the aim of a film like this: to entertain, but also communicate the lessons and truths of a culture across generations. THE TRIP does this beautifully, never falling into didacticism, and it's faith in honest humanity never wavers.

Some remarkable performances - Julie "I Like 'Em Big & Dumb" Brown makes a hysterical appearance, and Alexis Arquette's supporting role is entertaining as well. As a director, Swain is solid in his control of the material, and has a knack (reminiscent of John Sayles) for giving ordinary human settings meaning and not overlooking small details. Like Sayles, he's very un-flashy, preferring a sweet intelligence that lingers long afterwards.

The director and cast of "The Trip" deliver a powerful emotional love story about a pair of unlikely partners. In spite of the ups and downs of the relationship, both the protagonists and an excellent supporting cast deliver great comic relief. The backdrop for this love story is the developing gay rights movement, beginning in 1973; however, almost anyone with a heart should be touched by this film.

I honestly didn't like the ad for it, it didn't look like my type of film. A friend of mine was coming over and he had the movie in his car. I thought, I could go for a gay movie tonight, so I asked to watch it. I found it enjoyable and fun. My roommate said that both of us laughed a lot (he was upstairs) and I found that funny. I guess that means it was good! I remember enjoying the movie and thought that it didn't have much to do with the cover. I thought it would be some soft core porn and be about cowboys and stuff. I was not into that and yet I did what people say "don't judge a book by it's cover." Oh well, here's for giving it a shot and finding that the character Alan (Larry Sullivan) is a HOTTIE!

Having seen virtually every gay-themed film that has ever been made and having received A+ grades in all the film studies courses that I took in college, I would like to weigh in on the excellent unique first effort that is "The Trip" written and directed by very talented newcomer Miles Swain. You already know the basic plotline, timeline and substance of The Trip if you have read IMDB's information. My overarching impression of this film is that it feels real and from the heart as it shows us the relationship between two very different gay men as they age through the '70s and '80s, living their lives both together and apart amidst the ongoing struggle for equal rights for gay persons. They say opposites attract and that is very true here for lead characters Larry and Alan who clearly grow to love each other very much. The focus of this film is on the complete persons who are Alan and Larry, not just their sex life, as in so many gay-themed films. Although AIDS unfortunately affects their lives, it does not affect their enduring love, and the director has rightly said that "This is not an AIDS film". It is a delightful, moving, comedy/drama/historical record with universal themes of trusting the power of a faithful love, the importance of honesty and courage, and being true to yourself in the face of a world seemingly always against you. The film is now available on DVD with great extras from TLA Video and is very reasonably priced. It is a *must have* for any quality collection of gay-themed films.

The only reason that I rate this film a ten is because the rating scale on IMDB doesn't reach 227. The Trip isn't just a film - it's an extraordinary, a true gem about everything that matters in life - people, relationships, pride in one's self, matters of the heart and soul. The film shows what can be achieved when millions aren't poured into special effects and high-priced superficial "talent". I saw The Trip on the last day of the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2002. The timing was truly fitting, because it was a fantastic grand finale to a festival which included many other fine films. The Trip, however, was by far, the best of the festival and, in my opinion, walked away with the award for Best of Everything in all Categories. The film follows the relationship between two men starting from 1973 continuing into the 80's, giving an opportunity for many political and social commentaries having to do with the times, including Anita Bryant and Ronald Reagan, and gay rights. There was also much opportunity to fill the film with with many truly hysterical fashions and one-liners inspired by those times. These qualities make The Trip a wonderfully balanced film with both genuinely funny moments along with many warm, heart-teasing scenes too, particularly because the characters are so constantly involving, as is the superbly written storyline. The cast is outstanding, to say the very least. Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun are excellent, both simply amazing as the lead characters, Alan and Tommy. Steve Braun is so charming as Tommy, and Larry Sullivan easily steals everyone's hearts - including mine - as Alan - he's truly wonderful. To portray a Republican with as much heart and vulnerability as Alan displays is no small accomplishment, and Larry Sullivan does this with commanding skill. Sirena Irwin and Alexis Arquette are terrific in supporting roles, but it is Jill St. John who steals every scene she enters as Alan's mother, reminding us that she should be seen More, More, More! It's rare that a director displays such talent and skill in a film while, at the same time and in equal parts, shows such joy and love for his craft. Only a truly talented director could accomplish this, making his hard work appear so effortless, resulting in the most fun an audience has had in years. Please see The Trip if you have the opportunity - don't let it pass you by. And to any distributors that may read this - please take notice of this movie. Please help this truly wonderful film to be seen by everyone as it should be.

We have seen this before; it is known as "a very special episode," or at least it is when it pops up on TV sitcoms. It is when the comedy suddenly gets serious or the comedy disappears completely so that a sermon and platitude can be served up. It happens unfortunately in even the best of sitcoms; actors who obviously are intelligent, talented and charismatic, comfortably playing characters who are interesting and ingratiating, suddenly have to pander to some misbegotten need to "get real" and educate the viewer. The jokey attitude and contrived situations that somehow are acceptable in a comedy, become transparent when applied to the attempts at dramatic honesty. Even a bad sitcom can be funny, but there is nothing worse than a bad "serious" sitcom.

At first it seems as though THE TRIP can slip by solely on the charms of its two protagonists. One is Alan Oakley, a pleasant, nerdy, somewhat goofy, wannabe writer, who claims to have a purely journalistic interest in exploring "the homosexual lifestyle," since he also claims to be both straight and a Republican. He crosses paths with Tommy Ballenger, an idealistic, no-nonsense gay activist who wants to explore more than just Alan's lifestyle. The story begins in 1973 when everyone is on shaky ground when it comes to gay protocol. Thus, whether he knows it or not, Alan is something of a tease in the way he pursues Tommy's friendship, and a lustful Tommy is left uncertain if he is being the prey or the predator in this vague game of cat and mouse.

Despite an amateur sitcom-like script by writer/director Miles Swain, the story draws you in, thanks largely to the chemistry between Larry Sullivan as Alan and Steve Braun as Tommy. Their mating ritual is sweetly awkward and it amuses, even as it is apparent that their coy flirtations are far from spontaneous. THE TRIP seems to be charting a course along the familiar road of a typical opposites-attract movie romance, albeit from a gay perspective, but Swain seems as uncertain about his intentions as Alan does about his homosexuality.

So the film breaks down into three episodes and the story jumps ahead in time and makes desperate attempts at being serious, first in 1977 during the Anita Bryant years and then again in 1984 during the early outbreaks of AIDS. The clumsy attempts at being a romantic comedy ("It's my parents! Quick hide in the closet!") fall by the wayside as THE TRIP makes even clumsier attempts at political statements. Telling their story against the panorama of the gay rights movement is a great idea, but like those "very special episodes," THE TRIP unsuccessfully tries to shift from funny to poignant, but hasn't built up the necessary supply of good will to justify the demands on the audience.

As THE TRIP goes from sitcom to soap opera to unbelievable melodrama, Alan and Tommy find themselves at the mercy of convoluted plot twists that just don't make a lot of sense. The film can't pull off trying to have it both ways, being seriously sentimental and outrageously funny; as the road gets bumpier, Swain's sometimes desperate attempts at humor just aren't enough to absorb the shocks.

Good traveling companions certainly can help. Most are broad clichés (Jill St. John as Alan's boozy mom, Sirena Irwin as the kooky fag hag, Alexis Arquette as, once again, a swishy party boy, etc.), but Sullivan and Braun sidestep the stereotypes and play nicely realized characters. They both have a flair for comedy and even overcome the heavy-handed drama well enough to make you care. Sullivan in particular gives an endearing performance as a man who isn't quite prepared to be swept up by love or social revolution. He more than anything else makes THE TRIP worth taking.

"The Trip" is one of the best romances I've ever seen. After a seemingly endless barrage of horrible gay films, I was actually taken aback by how good this film turned out to be. The story features well written, witty, and humorous dialog that moves the plot line believably through the years that the story encompasses. The performances are uniformly good, but Larry Sullivan is a real stand out as Alan Oakley. His performance lends credibility to the character he is portraying as he grows through landmarks of history (gay historical landmarks in particular). After purchasing this film on DVD, I did an Internet search and was disappointed that this gifted actor has not done more films. Wake up Hollywood! Sullivan is pleasing to look at, talented, and has a certain magnetism that draws the viewer into the story. The enormity of his appeal is hard to describe, but I have no doubt that the right vehicle would make him into a major star. Other stand outs in the film are Steve Braun (who reminds me a lot of a young Brad Pitt) who does an excellent job as Alan's gay activist lover, and Sirena Irwin as Beverly (a woman just slightly ahead of her time). Veteran actors Ray Baker and Jill St. John give substantial supporting performances, and Julie Brown gives a memorable quirky cameo performance as an 80's Madonna attired receptionist. Alexis Arquette plays "Michael" a slightly stereotypical funny slut (a year working as a bartender in a gay bar taught me that there are many people who are this "over the top" in real life). Overall, I recommend this film not as an excellent "gay" film, but as an excellent film in general.

Although earnest and well meaning, "The Trip" eventually falls victim to a series of preposterous plot turns and derivative rip-offs of other movies. Set in the 1970's and early 1980's, a romance develops between gay activist Tommy and closeted Republican writer Alan. Opposites do attract, and the appealing leads, which are played by Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun, have chemistry and try hard to make the absurd seem convincing. When Alan's book, which is critical of gay rights, is published without his consent, the work undercuts Tommy's political activism. However, the two men, who have been together several years at this point, never discuss the matter or work toward a solution. Evidently, their relationship takes a back seat to everything else, which, in this film, includes even the proverbial kitchen sink. Without revealing too much of the convoluted plot, a "Thelma and Louise" spree unexpectedly develops in Mexico, Alan's mother breaks in on a dinner party and takes to looting the silverware, and an airline ticket clerk turns into a Medusa when Tommy coughs during check-in. Do not even ask how these segments fit together.

Director-writer Miles Swain had too many ideas swirling around simultaneously. Instead of focusing on the evolving relationship between Tommy and Alan, Swain wanders all over the gay landscape. Fortunately, he does find some amusing characters, especially a spacey Valley Girl, wonderfully played by Sirena Irwin; her initial encounter with Tommy is one of the film's best scenes. Jill St. John also has a great time as Alan's free-spirited mother, and she enlivens every scene she steals. Unfortunately, Alexis Arquette fills the requisite dizzy-queen stereotype, and his over-the-top performance eventually grates.

Swain evidently never decided if "The Trip" was to be a comedy, a romance, or a political discourse, because the film rambles into each genre without developing any focus. While the movie is generally entertaining, especially for undemanding fans of PG-rated gay-romances, Swain's work is less than the sum of its parts. Although actresses St. John and Irwin walk off with the honors in a boy-boy romance, Sullivan and Braun hold their own when on their own. If viewers can suspend disbelief for 90 minutes, they may be modestly entertained. However, whatever their feelings about the film, everyone will keep "The Trip" near the TV just to replay the priceless scene when Anita Bryant received a pie in the face.

A captivating small film dealing with the relationship of two gay men over many years and the surrounding upheaval of the gay movement. Many wonderful supporting performances contribute to the overall goodwill of the film. Sirena Irwin is a sketch as Beverly the trend jumping Greek chorus and Jill St. John an absolute scene stealer as Alan's boozy wise mom but the entire cast even in the smallest roles are splendid. The musical score is also loaded with excellent choices which really set the right tone for each scene. It all boils down however to the chemistry and performances of the two lead actors which are strong and makes you really like and root for the characters throughout their journey.

The story is contrived, and the ending is a bit heavy handed. However, overall, this was a fun movie and enjoyed watching it. The characters were likable and I could relate to Alan's dilemma (trying to reconcile his two worlds). If Miles had used some more realistic plot devices, I would have related this movie much higher. Although, I look forward to more movies from Miles Swain and Larry Sullivan.

I have been hearing great things about this film for some time. I heard it's been selling out at almost every festival it has played in so I wasn't gonna take any chances. When it came to Texas I bought a ticket the day they went on sale. I have never seen an audience respond like this before. People were laughing their heads off one minute, and crying the next. This film has something for everyone. When it comes to your town, go see it!!!!

Let's face it. it's a good film, obviously shot by people who 'know' about it (and with this I refer to the gay issue, with writer-director Miles Swain), but unfortunately it won't be seen by many people. it is quite a small movie, sweet, full of effort and hilarious, but the bad thing about 'The Trip' is that it was made for gay people only. Or are you going to tell me that straight men and women are going to enjoy seeing these two characters developing their love without feeling themselves sick? please do not take this wrong, I really liked this movie, but perhaps if people were more open-minded it could have been wide-released, even when it is an independent movie. it went stuck for that, and for being a gay-issue comedy. Anyway, a small master piece.

Given that ALL of the other reviews of this movie (114 of them!) have been positive, this review will probably be dismissed.

IMHO, this movie joins "Broadway Damage", "The Fluffer", "Latin Boys Go To Hell" and a few others in a growing list of independent gay movies that just went wrong. The story was contrived and at its worst had a plot twist right out of "Dynasty". Its recreation of the 70's and the sexual politics of time were pretty shallow. The two leads were cute as a button, but Larry Sullivan's acting was forced and not believable. And Alexis Arquette's character was downright embarrassing, setting back the cause of fair portrayal of gays in film at least 20 years. Lower production values can sometimes be forgiven in independent films (why do they seem to be the lowest in gay indie flicks?), but not when the rest of the film comes across so poorly. The script and dialogue caused quite a bit of unintended laughter at the screening I attended, and the intentionally comical scenes, a few involving Jill St. John, seemed tacked on for camp value and didn't fit in with the tone of the rest of the film.

I'm generally a fan of independent films, but I've been disappointed by far too many of the gay-themed ones, most of them for some reason made in the USA.

I attended a screening in SF, but found myself unable to speak while the director and two stars were standing before me. So now that I've found my voice again, here goes: While he falls short of achieving his goals, I believe it is because he has set the bar too high for himself. It seems he wanted to do so much in this film, that it was impossible for him to say everything that he wanted to. I am sure that making a film about gay men can be difficult. We want the love story of "Beautiful Thing", the comedy of "Trick", the hunky cast of "Broken Hearts Club", and the tear-jerker sadness of "It's My Party". Mr. Swain tries to do, be, create all of these things in one package. He came respectably close to doing it.

I enjoyed the film, it felt contrived in places, which may have had as much to do with the editing as it does with the fact that this is Mr. Swain's first film. Given time, his voice and vision will mature, and I can't wait to see what happens as it does.

See this film, we need more like it.

This was the closing night movie of the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and it should have opened the festival (would have been a better note to open on than Britney, Baby, One More Time.)

This is the kind of well-written, well-acted and gorgeously filmed movie that deserves all the lauds it receives. Definitely my favorite movie of the festival, as I laughed with tears in my eyes. I'll be owning this one day.

Having the director, star, and producer there for a Q&A was just icing on the cake. More power to them - and GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

THE TRIP

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Stereo

The relationship between a free-spirited gay activist (Steve Braun) and a conservative closet-case (Larry Sullivan) is tested to breaking point during the political turbulence of the 1970's and reaches a bittersweet conclusion during the Reaganite 80's, when AIDS begins to decimate the gay community.

Miles Swain's warm-hearted comedy-drama ploughs a far-reaching furrow through two decades of gay liberation. As the opposites who attract each other against their better judgment, Braun (EVERYBODY'S DOING IT) and Sullivan (FORBIDDEN CITY) are perfectly matched, and both young men are profoundly altered by their burgeoning love for one another, while an eccentric supporting cast spins a magical web around them, including former Bond girl Jill St. John (DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER) as Sullivan's daffy, kleptomaniac mother, veteran character actor Ray Baker (WHAT LIES BENEATH) as the scheming politician who covets Sullivan for his own bed, Sirena Irwin (TV's "Stripperella") as a bubble-headed blonde who is forced to step aside as the two main men in her life begin to fall in love with each other, and the ubiquitous Alexis Arquette (I THINK I DO) as an activist more interested in bedding guys than changing the world. The fads and fashions of ages past are exploited to the hilt by costume designers Kristen Anacker and Cherie Sevilla Granger and art directors David Touster and Donna Willinsky, while the changing political landscape is charted through a series of contemporary news clips (including the glorious moment when Anita Bryant was ambushed during a live TV broadcast!). Best of all, the romance between Braun and Sullivan is depicted with heartfelt sincerity, making their final scenes together all the more tender and poignant.

For all its good intentions, however, the movie is weakened by a significant flaw: Despite Swain's clever screenplay (loaded with fruity one-liners), his depiction of Braun's activism is both underwritten and underplayed, resulting in a narrative imbalance which fails to convey the zest and forcefulness that characterized the gay liberation movement of the 1970's. Braun does his best with the material - he and Sullivan give fine performances in their own right - but his character lacks the sheer dynamism that might have elevated proceedings to a whole new level of achievement. Despite its flaws, however, THE TRIP is one of the most romantic gay films to emerge from independent US cinema in many years, and is heartily recommended. Lovely music score by Steven Chesne.

The Trip concerns a journey of life between two gay men who at the end of the film do actually take the road trip they long planned.

Meet Alan, closeted gay Republican who is an aspiring writer. He's so very deep in the closet he's even written an anti-gay tract that he's submitted for publication.

Meet Tommy, a newborn in a bumper crop of gay activists. There were a whole lot of those in the early seventies when these two chance to meet and fall in love in 1973.

Four years later Alan's had a whole change in attitude, a lot due to Tommy's influence. But that manuscript has been sitting at the publisher's office and now with the Anita Bryant campaign against a gay rights law in Dade County, Florida the publisher sees the time is right to publish. It's published anonymously, but when Tommy finds out about it the relationship is history.

Love does win out though it comes a bit late for a happy ever after ending.

Larry Sullivan as Alan and Steve Braun as Tommy are an attractive pair of lovers as ever hit the gay cinema. Their story is the story of the GLBT community's efforts to organize and get our rightful share of the American dream. The film is helped out with news reports of the various things that happened to America and to us in a dozen year period.

One thing I liked about this film very much is that if there is a chief villain it's another gay and rich Republican who manipulates events and people so he can gain Alan for himself. It's the Roy Cohn syndrome, that somehow the things that happen to the rest of us just don't affect you because of your connections and wealth. Roy Cohn found out that wasn't the case and this gentlemen will probably learn it as well. Ray Baker plays the part of the manipulative Peter, a gay that gays can truly hate.

Also note the presence of Jill St. John as Larry Sullivan's mother. Hard to believe she's in her sixties. She's come a long way from being a Rat Pack broad, it seems a lifetime ago.

It's a movie that moves, emotionally, physically and spiritually and it don't get better than that.

I absolutely fell in love with this film it was funny and sooo romantic and was everything I look for in a movie for gay men and their followers! The film was compelling and the romance between the two leads was the best I have seen in a very long time. Also Jill St. John was great and raised the question where has she been! However, to me the film changed and at the end of one of the most wonderfully romantic films, I was watching one of the saddest I have ever seen. All I can say was that a great film left me hugely depressed and I wondered why can't their be a happy ending for any gay films that deal with romance as well as this one did? This is film not real life and when you make a loving couple so lovable together what the director did was wrong. Sorry if you disagree but these are my feelings! P.S I was so upset by the end I had a nightmare and I never get them from films!

the movie is so realistic and so sad. I think it shows problems people have being gay but also the troubles in a relationship of any kind. so its a two fold layer of plot. it also is so well done if you view it from the human psychology perspective. the last bit is very emotional. but also has a lighter side to it specially when that lovely mother comes into the movie. very inspirational indeed. it is nice how the protagonist has so much pain to handle in the end. however he manages well by writing a book. which again does two hings one is to preserve there love forever but also in a way that redeems his earlier book. this one he wrote from the heart not from his mind.

OK, I'm most likely in the minority here, but i was not a fan of this movie. I liked parts of it, I liked the whole gay activism theme of the movie, i very much enjoyed that, along with the occasional view of real life footage, and i thought the acting was quite good. However, i didn't think it was a good movie. I think the only time it got to be a good movie was the final 20 minutes, when they were on the road trip. If the entire movie had been like that, two exes on a road trip reuniting, i might have enjoyed it a bit more, but i just didn't enjoy it for some reason. I don't think i can really put my finger on why i didn't like it, i just didn't. It seemed a little too predictable i guess, a couple of things weren't explained very well, and i guess i would have liked to have seen a bit more of Alan (or Andy, i'm not very good with names) and his coming out process. It just seemed like 'yep, i'm now gay!'. I would have liked to have seen it explored a bit more, his mindset while he was writing the book. Anyway, that's just my opinion. An OK movie, just not one i'd watch again