Zerophilia

I suppose that my summary says it all I had medium expectations for this film. I liked the concept but was worried that it would be played for the wrong laughs and bathroom humor. Instead I, and you will be as well, was rewarded with a sensitive and witty look at how we deal with our own identities.

Luke has to work through the age old question of "who he is" though he is working in some unfamiliar territory.

Pay attention to the dance of characters and you will not be too startled in the end. Though the premise is far fetched the director has managed to pull it off delicately and satisfactorily.

I loved all the leads, but found the character named Jeanine to be the wisest of the bunch.

I always appreciate a body swapping story and, although feeling very budget and corny in parts, Zerophilia is mostly a good time.

It's a coming of age story with a gender bending twist, as protagonist Luke discovers that he suffers from a rare genetic disorder (zerophilia) that causes him to transform into a woman every time he gets... excited. A pretty good hook and one that is explored decently. I do think there was potential to take the concept a lot further though, with scope for a lot more comedy and also a better exploration of gender. Maybe if this film were made today, where gender expression and sexuality are talked about more openly and freely, it could have had more depth. For the time it was made though, I think it did a pretty good job. It could have been quite offensive and stereotyped and it managed to mostly avoid this. It presents a pretty funny, thought provoking, and at times tender message and story, so overall pretty solid.

The performances weren't necessarily the best but they were all pretty serviceable. Taylor Handley / Marieh Delfino as Luke / Luca were both good, navigating the complex emotions of swapping genders and trying to come to terms with their new reality. Gina Bellman was another highlight, as was Alison Folland. The chemistry between the various iterations of each character was actually pretty good too.

Overall I was quite surprised by this film. It does feel very low budget, particularly in the editing and direction, but actually it is decently entertaining. It has a fun idea which it largely executes well, blending comedy, gender commentary, and relationship drama into a perfectly good film.

This film is an affirmative coming of age film for a teenage man with a condition that makes him change sex when he has sex.

The plot is very original and innovative. I have never thought about anything remotely like that before! On the surface, it is a film about an imaginary genetic condition called zerophilia. It explores self discovery and self acceptance. Luke finds out that he in fact like guys, tries to change this but fails. Then he accepted himself as who he is, and starts a relationship with Max. This very much mirrors the sexual discovery of adolescents.

This film brings a positive message about self acceptance, as highlighted in the symbolic scene of Luke given a light blue top for ladies. It's OK whoever you choose to be.

The positive message is portrayed in an entertaining way. I hope this message can reach a wider audience!

I saw ZEROPHILIA on Showtime last night; and, I found it to be is a very unusual and unique comedy, to say the least.

First off, the cast is wonderful and each character is likable. That's only because the acting was so exceptional. Taylor Handley as Luke; and, Marieh Delfino as Luka really pulled this one off. They look enough alike; but, it's the attitude, mannerisms and gestures that really work.

Also, Rebecca Mozo as Michelle and Kyle Schmid as Max are excellent foils to our hero/heroine. In addition, I was absolutely thrilled to see Gina Bellmen (of Coupling fame) in her role as Dr. Sydney – WOW, what a performance!

ZEROPHILIA is easy-going and non-judgmentally in its presentation of gender roles – I mean just look at the title sequence, "Microangelo Entertainment" and "Scambled Egg Productions" – these guys aren't taking themselves too seriously.

This one's an odd one that's actually oddly enjoyable.

"Zerophilia" imagines a world in which a communicable disease exists that causes sexual partners to suddenly change gender.

The change is triggered in macho Heath Ledger lookalike Luke, who promptly transforms into sexy babe "Luca" after a backseat tryst with a gal played by "Weird Science" hottie Kelly LeBrock, whose star has clearly fallen so, so far.

What's charming about this movie is the way the characters so awkwardly navigate their male and female selves. Some humor is tossed in as their friends struggle to deal with these abrupt changes.

The "odd" comes in at, of course, the premise, as well as how expertly the casting director matched the male and female representations of each character. Their physical similarities made the film's low-budget transformation SFX seem like straight-up magic.

It's not as laugh-out-loud funny as you might expect, but is a lot more enjoyable than you might expect, too, thanks to some endearing performances and a sensitive script.