Friends and Family
Release Date:
TBA
2003
Limited release
A couple feature film newcomers make their debuts with this comedy – director Kristen Coury and screenwriter Joseph Triebwasser. The movie is a cross between La Cage Aux Folles/The Bird Cage and the popular HBO series The Sopranos.
The story is about a gay couple named Stephen (Greg Lauren) and Danny (Christopher Gartin). They met when they were both members of the Army Rangers. When they left the military, they eventually became bodyguards for New York City mafia boss Victor Patrizzi (Tony LoBianco). The couple runs into a predicament when Stephen’s parents decide to come to town for a visit.
The problem isn’t that the two are gay; the parents already know that. Stephen’s parents think that the guys run a catering company instead of being mafia enforcers. The gentlemen recruit members of the “Family” to be their employees. Since these guys are your stereotypical New York mafia hoods, they also enlist the help of gossip columnist to show make them presentable and pull off the charade.
The early reviews of the film have been pretty positive and say that there are many side-splitting scenes, culminating at a big banquet that Stephen and Danny are supposedly hired for. The film had its world premiere at Outfest in July 2001 and has been moved from its original theatrical release date of November 29, 2002. Hopefully the distributor will pin down a definite release date soon. (Marty Doskins/BOP)