Trick

Trick isn't much more than a feel-good romantic comedy. There are no great life lessons to be learned. Nothing particularly epic is going on. It's really nothing more than a romantic comedy about two hot boys trying to find a place to get it on. But over the course of the film, you find yourself growing more and more attached to the young protagonists, until in the end your sentimental side may have actually taken over your ecchi side and it's grumbling ache for a good sex scene. And more male strippers! More male strippers!

Ahem.

Trick introduces us to the young writer, Gabriel, who shares a very small flat with his straight roommate. His best friend -- played by Tori Spelling in an appropriately annoying but surprisingly well-acted role -- is an aspiring actress helping him work on his latest musical. Gabriel is a sweet, bright-eyed little uke-looking man who's looking for some life experience and excitement to help him write songs that are true. On a whim, he visits a local gay bar/strip club, and meets Mark, a very attractive, very well-built, very (oh my god) thong-wearing stripper. Later that night, Mark picks him up on the subway, and their attempts to have a one-night-stand lead them on a series of encounters and adventures in the late hours of the city. We encounter everything from vengeful, bitchy drag queens to fascinated fangirls.

This film has many of the typical makings of an Independent film. We see less-than-talented extras, a few cliches here and there, but overall, this is a solid film. The two leads don't fall starry-eyed in love at first sight, but they have a natural, believable chemistry and attraction.

Christian Campbell stars as Gabriel, and plays him as a character with a good mixture of naive idealism and tired frustration. As Mark, John Paul Pitoc slowly creates a character a little deeper than we first expect. Especially since he's introduced (oh my god) dancing on a stage in next to nothing. We expect to be annoyed by Tori Spelling, and she certainly comes through on that one. But the woman manages to be endearingly annoying, and also has the guts to embarrass the hell out of herself. So you have to respect that a little bit. Steve Hayes is either annoying or hilarious, depending on how you look at it, as Gabriel's mentor in songwriting (and maybe relationships), Perry.

Trick is not a movie to rent if you're looking for any sort of hardcore action, but it is a sweet enough film to watch with those who are a little on the fence about whether or not they are comfortable with gay material. Yes, this is really, really gay, but it isn't very naked, and there isn't (unfortunately?) much in the way of sexual content. Musical fans might get a kick out of the Gabriel's quest to become a songwriter. Fortunately, the movie isn't too pushy about the musical aspects.

You don't have to think too hard on this one, so sit back and cheer for the pretty boys as they just try to find some place to be alone.