Issues 101

Rent this movie for the special features! Now, this IS the single worst movie I have ever seen; it looks like it was made with a home camcorder, the acting is terrible, the plot is stupid, the characters are hollow, the script is inane, and the sex is gratuitous and poorly done. But the compelling reason to rent this DVD are the actor interviews in the Special Features, which are like a Christopher Guest movie come to life. The "actors" self-serious comments about their "work" are hilarious, and truly worth the rental. Their unintentionally deadpan delivery, filled with "ums" and pauses, after which they completely contradict the inane statement that came before, are Christopher Guest at his best, only they are real. For anyone who thinks Mr. Guest just makes his characters up, rent this movie. True, the interviews are funnier if you have watched the movie, but that would be such a painful task that you can watch the bonus material by itself.

I just can't think of anything good to say about this film, since I really don't know what it was trying to say or be. If it was supposedly soft-core porn (and there was a bit of nudity and simulated man-on-man sex) then why didn't they just add more sex scenes with good looking actors? The "frat boys" were ridiculously miscast, as they were aging, effeminate, hairy, balding jewish guys (notice; I didn't use the word "actor", since none of the participants here are actually actors). The "plot" of a closeted frat brother really didn't make much sense, since apparently man-on-man sex wasn't a big deal in this particular fraternity. Yes, I get it; that's a big fantasy for a lot of guys...but you might as well save yourself the time and effort and just rent a porno if that's what you are hoping for.

I saw this film on HERE. There is NO "here" here. Filmed on what looked like videotape, this is a new low in gay-themed story telling. Unbelievable on every level. I fast forwarded through most of it, though the "actor" playing Christian was an eye-candy respite. The movie left me with "issues". Why did I ever watch it? Poorly written, poorly acted, poorly filmed, miscast lead, incredible story line - and these are its GOOD points! Caveat emptor. To sum up: an average looking gay Joe goes to college and is immediately inducted into a "straight" fraternity(my gaydar went off the screen)after some preposterous gay hazing. Love blooms, conflict occurs, the green monster appears, all ends happily (questionable), and everyone dances off on the yellow brick road. I can't wait for the sequel.

Yes, I've seen this, and yes, I think it is awful. However, if you want to see what a bad film is and learn what NOT to do, I would definitely recommend this. Kelly Clarkson is among the very few good-looking people in this movie, unfortunately. The best thing I can say about this film is that it made me laugh...one of those laughing at it, not with it deals, you know what I mean. Rent it, and I'm sure you'll go through all the physical motions, including laughter, nausea, diahrrea, anger, disappointment, more nausea, some laughter, and finally, you'll be happy (because it's over).

Unfortunately, this film should be mandatory viewing for film makers, so that they can see what mistakes NOT to make in their films.

Issues 101 has real problems. As a romantic drama it's a failure. Seeing this film only a few hours after watching Andy Warhol's Trash led me to question why Trash is so riveting (albeit in a sick car-crash sort of way) while Issues 101 required real force of will to watch to the bitter end.

Neither film has well scripted dialogue and yet they couldn't be more different in their audience impact. One is fascinating to watch and one is painful to watch.

Somehow in Trash we see beyond the flaws and imperfections and see that there is truth (in this case what it must have really been like to be in a dead end relationship with a junkie in late 60's NYC)

In Issues 101, we see no such truth. The reality of the digital video contrasts wildly with the inane dialogue (lacking in both sense and substance). The result is an insipid film lacking in truth, excitement or interest. The flaws were so off-putting as to keep yanking the viewer back to the `real world' and not allowing for the willing suspension of disbelief that works for most films.

The REAL problem for me with Issues 101 is that it gives me a terrible case of the `might-have-beens.' For the most part the actors were pleasing to the eye and the ideas presented in the story could have been told so much better.

On the surface, a story about a fraternity pledge that somehow gets through a chink in his frat brother's straight façade, the frat brother setting the pledge up with his younger fraternal gay brother to take some of the pressure off, and the jealousy that ensues are all great plot elements. However in this film almost none of it works. The sex with the supposedly straight brother goes way too far without an adequate `gosh was I drunk set-up'. The whirlwind speed with which the pledge and the younger brother get seriously involved happens way too quickly. And finally the pledge causing all these issues is neither handsome enough nor charming enough to make us believe that either brother would be interested in him.

To make matters worse there were scenes that were totally unmotivated and others that were totally unnecessary.

I understand that this film ran out of money near the end and so much was lost in the director's vision but overall what was left is nearly unwatchable and actually painful to sit through.