Broadway Damage (1997) User Reviews

Fairy Tale Endings

[NJMoon · 7/10 · 4 December 1999]

"Broadway Damage" is a sweet confection spun around the the classic gay triangle: the lovable Hunk, the fag hag Chunk, and the best pal Lunk secretly in love with the Hunk. More corn syrup is ladled on thick when Hunk and Chunk move in together in modern Greenwich Village, no less. Apparently set in the present, "Damage" feels like the kind of screwball romantic comedy that Hollywood never really made. You half expect the cast of "Wonderful Town" to come marching down Sheridan Square humming a showtune.

Combing the obits finds them a bohemian squat lately owned by a deceased young actor - they've hit the real estate jackpot! No one mentions, however, that their good fortunes are probably due to the tenant's death from AIDS. In true fairy tale style, the dive is transformed into an ultra cool pad in one brief montage segment. (You know how talented those fellas are with decorating!)

Despite some modern kinks (Hunk's love trouble, Chunk's job trouble, and Lunk's Hunk jones) flick never can get too serious about much. And dialogue never really cracks like genre demands. Fade out is just as we'd expect. And no one suffers much damage - on Broadway or elsewhere.

LGBT and adjacent...fun story.

[ksf-2 · 8/10 · 24 August 2023]

It's good. Sometimes it doesn't go well when the same person writes and directs a film; in this case, it makes for a cute, fun, story. A group of friends search for fame and fortune ( and work... and apartments) in new york, in the 1990s. Marc and cynthia find a grubby apartment in the village. Robert is secretly in love with marc. But marc is in love with the new neighbor david, who has his own secrets and issues. And they all obsess over "hair in face", the muscle dude who walks around the neighborhood, but only talks to his dog. Cynthia has a shopping addiction, but no source of income. We watch as they all audition and interview for jobs. And relationships. Cynthia is determined to work at a magazine, and comes up with creative ways to try to get an interview. One weakness was that in NYC, a huge number of people in the gay community were lost to hiv/aids in the 1990s, but it's barely mentioned in the film. Can these friends all work out their various issues together, and find happiness? Written and directed by victor mignatti. He has won a couple film fest awards. This is currently showing on the tubi streaming channel. Good stuff!

Maybe............."The Grand Gesture"

[arizona-philm-phan · 21 September 2005]

C'mon, World, wake up and REdiscover this little gay gem of a movie. There are so many out there that easily deserve their 0- or 1-Star; surely this little pearl deserves more. Yes, 1997's "Broadway Damage" is probably one of the most underrated and least known "gems" of gay filmdom........why not discover its delights yourself? So, just what is it about this production? Well, hey, there's no weird, dreary storyline; it's lite and fun......with guys who are not afraid to kiss. Yes, Michael Shawn Lucas (as Marc) has a body "to die for" and, c'mon, when he's also as earnestly sincere and sweet as he is, who wouldn't wanna wind up with him. And it would be very hard to forget Aaron Williams (as Robert), playing an endearing "little puppy" of a guy, who'll bring down Marc in the end. In fact, both male leads wear their sincerity on their sleeves----kinda refreshing to think there might still be guys like this out there.

Above all, if you can't stand the sunny sincerity of a Broadway musical (but without all the singing), then stay away from this cuz it definitely tries to be sincere.......and succeeds at that in spades. Along with this there's really great cinematography: brite and colorful (how'd they do it with what must have been a piddl'in budget?). Hey, and there's that soundtrack to fall in love with, too. How Director Victor Mignatti put all this together, with no more money than he likely had, is anybody's guess and is a minor (scratch that), major miracle. How does a guy like this then just disappear from directing for the next 8, 9 years? Sad, sad, sad.

In closing, one thing to possibly question is if maybe, just maybe, Director Mignatti should'a rethought the title. "BD" might resonate more with NY City-ers, but his own within-the-movie phrase: "The Grand Gesture" might have had more meaning to audiences at large (would the latter, as a title, have drawn in more viewers/buyers who'd fondly remember this film?). Ah, well, Monday morning "after-thought-ing" is always easier, isn't it? Besides, any way you look at it, Marc and Robert are gonna wind up being one of the favorite couples you'll meet in your home film library from time to time.....I betcha.

PS: You know what? I'll even betcha this movie is one that other favorite film couples, such as Aaron & Christian (see Title 1, below) and Cedric & Laurent (see Title 2, below) would wanna have in their home video collections.

(1) "Latter Days" / (2) "Just A Question Of Love"

A perfect jewel of a film

[pyotr-3 · 10/10 · 25 January 2000]

This film is a most delightful example of what filmmaking can do without a ton of money. The talent displayed in this film is extraordinary, from the music writing to the acting to the manner in which it is filmed. Start to finish it is a pure delight. I rented it for a week and have watched it 5 times so far!

We need more films like this which provide us with real stories but an optimistic and loving view of the world. The romance in this film is the best I can recall ever seeing. BRAVO to all involved in making this magnificent film!

Most brilliant Indie film of the 1990's

[pyotr-3 · 10/10 · 9 January 2005]

This film is a breath of fresh air in so many ways. It makes you feel good, and the production quality is stunningly brilliant for a low-budget film. You don't even think of the film budget when you watch it because everything is so completely first-rate, including the photography, editing, original music, and the wonderful performances.

"Broadway Damage" is a lovely old-fashioned romance, but since it involves two men, you haven't seen this film before no matter how many romantic comedies you've seen. This film's adorable main characters are people you would love to know, and due to the excellent decision to film this on location in actual buildings in Greenwich Village, you really feel like you have just stepped into the lives of the main characters.

The story is a typical romance, but it has so many fun and charming moments along the way that you just hate to see the film end. The original music by Cindy Soltoff is absolutely reason enough to watch the film. Hugh Panaro, who has gone to great fame on Broadway since this movie was made, plays the hot object of one main character's affections... until it is learned that he isn't what he seems. But alas, a happy ending is around the corner anyway, and the ending is just so beautiful and charming, that you really don't care if you may have figured out how it all ends. I didn't figure out the ending, but I know people who did. All of us were totally charmed by the ending irregardless of whether or not we figured it out ahead of time. We need more joyful endings like this one. It's a shame they are so rare.

Light and fluffy

[robert-85923 · 5/10 · 23 April 2019]

There's not too much in this film which is challenging or thought provoking. It is light and entertaining - there are a few small laughs - a few musical numbers (although not enough to justify the title) and a few gentle plot twists.

It is a bit clichéd gay - you could say gay for straight people. Intimate moments are very tame and usually only hinted at. It is certainly safe for your maiden aunt.

Acting, and cinematography are handled in a workmanlike, but unremarkable way. The lead, Michael Lucas, is good to look at but the director rarely takes advantage of his physique.

Scripting is the film's achilles heel. It can be ponderous and dreary. While other parts seem rushed and unfinished. Too often dramatic tension is wasted particularly in the closing scenes.

Not a great film but not awful either.

A Heartfelt Gay NYC Time Capsule

[warren-parr · 9/10 · 8 July 2019]

I lived in Manhattan from 1978 to 1986 and these were characters inspired by many of the creative aspirants filling the streets, shops, bars, cafes and yes, air shafts and fire escape landings, during that era. Guess you had to be there to get it!

The Cinematic Cliché Lives!

[Franco-LA · 3/10 · 3 February 2008]

I saw this movie at a film festival when it first came out and, after skipping over it at the local library for the last nine months, finally borrowed it on loan to see what my younger roommate would think of it and to view it again myself, nearly a decade later. It certainly features game performance by the three male leads, but the real triangle here is that of the gay male hunk, the plus size, clueless fag hag and nebbish gay guy.

Unfortunately, what a number of viewers apparently found funny in Mara Hobel's character of Christina, I simply found mostly tiresome and repetitive. From her scene walking in to the divey apartment "Fabulous" to her scene walking in to roommate Marc's bedroom after he first has sex to her nervous breakdown or crying during the "grand gesture" to the whole cluelessness of her New York existence - it just was about four feet too much over the top and ruined what little good there was in her character or her performance. What was her degree in? Basket Weaving? She took that special class for the championship NYU football team in Ballroom Dancing? In 1997, she graduated from college without knowing how to find a semi colon on a key board?

But so as to not seem like I am aiming all my daggers at Ms. Hobel, the idea that the "bad" good would turn out to be (a) a liar; (b) a user; or (c) a hustler were not only predictable but telegraphed not just a mile away, but a drive through the state of Texas away. Likewise, that the nerdy nebbish (Woody Allen without the fixation on the adopted children of his mate) gay guy -- who, unfortunately for him, was ten years ahead of the gay geek hotness era we find ourselves in -- and in any event, hot gay geeks are not Broadway musical fans much less piano players, would be in love (in classic Hollywood romantic comedies from the 40s and 50s fashion) with the gay hunk best pal and, ultimately, the hunk would (for no reason at all, without any real basis, after turning him down because the neb was clearly not the hunk's type, and after lusting in love with a guy who's only real thing in common with the neb is that they both have a musical background? You might as well say that the hunk fell in love with them because they both breath air.

This film does have some charms and again, with a different writer and director, some different casting choices, a tighter script (it went on too long, meaning some entire characters could have been cut out), might have made more of itself. You could cut the entire Cynthia story down to 5 minutes and not make her a roommate and make Marc's apartment a studio and have a much tighter and probably more interesting movie in the process. Perhaps then you could spend a little more time in the relationship between Robert and Marc to justify why they end up together at the end, other than rom com conventions of the Hollywood 40s and 50s and bad Broadway musicals of every era, say they must.

A fun and sweet little movie

[ML368 · 1 January 1999]

Two friends, a young gay man and his straight girl friend share an apartment in Manhattan and try to deal with life in the big city. Mara Hobel is very funny as the fag hag friend and the movie is light and comical as it explores the characters lives and loves. Seeing the film in a packed house of gay men in Manhattan made it clear that the filmmaker was pretty on target as the audience laughed with recognition through most of the film. A very fun movie!

How cute is this movie?

[dan9241 · 9/10 · 12 April 2000]

Two years ago, in high school, I did some community theater shows in a theater that was also used by the actress Mara Hobel as part of her acting school for children (in suburbs outside of NYC). There was a big bulletin board showing pictures of Mara's film work, including of course "Mommie Dearest," (she was Baby Christina) and a movie I had never heard of, "Broadway Damage." I didn't see it until a few months ago, and being a student at NYU, I was able to play "spot that building" since much of the movie was filmed in NYU's surrounding neighborhood. But on to more important things: Regardless of where I grew up or where I live now, this is one adorable movie. When it was over, I felt like I wanted to hug the world. And it's great when movies have such a positive effect on you. Watch this one with people you love. 9/10

My kind of film!

[gwillacker · 10/10 · 10 November 2001]

There can't be too many gay romantic comedies. I like this genre, and I like seeing gay characters in this type of film.

The casting was right on the mark. The only thing I found a little weak was Aaron Williams' (Robert's) singing. But his acting made up for it. He portrayed the hopelessly hopeful romantic perfectly. Mara Hobel as Cynthia almost stole the show, with her emotions running the complete scale from one extreme to the other. Michael Lucas played Marc, and was able to slowly and subtly reveal Marc to be something of a romantic himself, which was not what we thought when the film started.

This film is a very affirming one for gay men, and I would love to see many more like it. Bring 'em on.

beyond boring

[salmineo · 1/10 · 13 July 2004]

I really wanted to like this film. But the bad acting, horrible script and horrific directing made me hate it. And LONG! It's bad enough when a movie "seems"to drag on because it's so bad. Well, this movie is worse as it is BAD and clocks in atjust under 2 hours. This film makes "The Titanic" seem like a short. This could have been such a great little film too. But it is just too tedious and too poorly executed to qualify for even a movie to fall asleep to. "Attack of the killer tomatoes" seems like an oscar winner compared to this stinker. If you want to see a great gay themed movie, skip this trash and go rent "Edge of seventeen" or "Trick." I am not kidding, this film is alful.

Love this yummy little Gay Comedy!

[clive-13 · 10/10 · 22 December 2004]

What can I say. With the number of newer "Gay Cinema" films being released there are some that are just down right FUN! This is one of them. No serious or ominous meanings to glean from this delicious little gem, just sit back and enjoy the silly, and quite funny ride.

There are two REALLY GREAT LINES in this film which I treasure greatly. The lusciously Titian like fag hag in this film is delightfully screwball and says at one point referring to their new apartment..."It's FABULOUS, and I don't use the F word lightly"! How funny is that? She also remarks in a plaintive voice..." Whatever happened to Disco? I loved disco. It had VIOLINS"! How fun! This is well worth a rental anytime. 3 and 1/2 stars out of 4. Clive2

Broadway Damage

[CinemaSerf · 5/10 · 14 November 2023]

"Marc" (Michael Lucas) and his best pal "Robert" (Aaron Williams) need to find somewhere to live, so check out the deaths column in the papers and find an unoccupied apartment. "Marc" moves in with his friend "Cynthia" (Mara Hobel) and what quickly follows is a rather weak comedy will they/won't it romance. "Marc" espies a musical neighbour "David" (Hugh Panaro) and after a coffee in the stairwell he falls hook, line and sinker. His new amour already has, however, a boyfriend "Chuck" (Jonathan Walker) and, of course we know from the start that "Robert" has an huge crush on his friend but has no idea how/if to take it forward. The love triangle, ménage-à-trois thing has some amusing legs at the beginning but they quickly run out of steam and the film resorts increasingly to annoyingly over-scripted stereotypes about love, lust, frustration and commitment amongst young gay men. The presence of the "Cynthia" character seems specifically designed to irritate - she brings nothing at all the dynamic aside from get in the way of what plot there might have originally been while the film was on the drawing board. It's like two or three episodes of "Will and Grace" clumsily bolted together only without the wit or characterisations. I wouldn't bother, sorry.

A Gay Valentine!

[guil12 · 4 November 2001]

This is a sweet movie, yes, sweet movie about gay love, gay friendships, gay life and finding the right guy in your life. It took me back to the days when I went through this, myself, while living on the West Side in New York. I, too, had a girl-friend, a bit overweight by the name of Cass Elliot [Mama Cass before success]. Mara Hobel reminded me of Cass, except Cass didn't go back to Baltimore, where she was from. Hobel had some wonderful moments [funny and sad]. The boys did well for themselves. The gorgeous Michael Shawn Lucas [Marc] and his romantic tryst with Hugh Panaro [David] seemed doomed from the beginning. It was the key case that gave him his walking papers in my diary. Yet Panaro gave the role lots of depth without making him just a sleeze-ball. Some tenderness in him and such a body, oh my. I'd ask him in to share my bed. But the line, "Let's be lovers for just one night" went out in the 60s. When was this movie filmed? Then there was dear sweet Robert [Aaron Williams] who without those glasses looked really cute. Sort of a good looking Gilligan [from Gilligan's Island]. That book store clerk was crazy to turn him down. His scene where he wrote the song for Marc [and by the way, it was a gorgeous song and I'd love to have a recording of it] but then denied it when discovering Marc with David was touching. Yet, when he finally sang the song for him, my heart went out to him. And still he was denied. Ugh! But, love wins out in this and thanks for that goes to writer/director Victor Mignatti. Mignatti is a romantic, thank heavens, and gives us this special Valentine of love. Victor, if you ever read this critique, where can I get a copy of that song that Robert sang?

Broadway Damage, my opinion

[builderdream · 9/10 · 8 February 2010]

For starters, you must have a good outlook on low budget indie type films to even enjoy this film at all. I personally loved this film for a couple of reasons. First of all the comedy the fag hag in the movie is a whiny bitchy fat glamorous chick with a tacky fashion sense that is admirable. The story line is a bit awkward but it's just another tale of romance, two gay room mates that are "friends" masculine hot one falls for boy next door while the Broadway boy gets jealous of boy next door, things fall apart with the jock and the boy next door and the two room mates fall for one another while the fag hag, like all many other try to play match maker. I loved it :D

"LOSER" movie

[nycruise-1 · 4/10 · 19 December 2010]

You know it's bad when you watch this movie over ten years after its original release and nobody - but NOBODY - recognizes the actors in the film.

We might as well be watching Louise Fazenda.

To boot, this movie is filled with actors who SHOULD be stars in front of a gay audience.

Unfortunately, Mara Hobel of "Christina"/'Mommie Dearest" fame turns out to be just another overweight faghag (oh dear - is that being redundant?), while Hugh Panaro as the "gay fantasy" turns out to be just another "show tunes queen."

The other two "leads"? Well - one has a great body but neither ever went anywhere in terms of show business careers so why even comment???

That is MY review of this TRAINWRECK.

This movie aspires to be a Romantic Comedy but, unfortunately, it is neither romantic nor funny.

[lambyfish · 29 May 2000]

The acting, for a low budget movie, is surprisingly not horrendous. The story is coherently told and is shot in an unobtrusive straight forward manner. It's just that the characters are insipid, the plot is predictable, and sitting through it borders on mentally damaging. The characters are written as if they are supposed to be likable, clever, thoughtful, and funny. They are instead, vapid, predictable, shallow and a total waste of time.

good actors wasted in an offensive, stupid movie

[jm10701 · 2 January 2019]

The actors in this movie are uniformly good, even in small supporting roles, but the screenplay, direction and score are stupid and very, very offensive.

This is a romantic comedy, and each of the three main characters is assigned to either romance or comedy until the very end, when everything that came before is thrown out the window so that a completely unbelievable ending can be stuck on. Not that anything that came before was believable -- it wasn't -- but the ending is even more absurd.

Marc is the romance character; Cynthia and Robert are the comedy characters. Marc is NEVER ridiculed. Everything he does is perfect -- his face and body are perfect, his hair is perfect, his workout is perfect, his flirting is perfect, his pickup lines are perfect. And he is ALWAYS taken seriously, as if everything he does is done by a god who bestows favors as he chooses and is sought after, lusted after, followed and worshiped by everybody else in the movie. "What will Marc do?", or, maybe, "Whom will Marc choose?" is the question that drives the stupid plot from beginning to end.

In sharp and extraordinarily offensive contrast, Cynthia and Robert are ALWAYS held up for the audience's ridicule -- whether it's Cynthia's gross overeating and obsessive quest to go straight from college to Tina Brown's right hand, or Robert's goofy clothes and impossible, humiliating crushes on men WAY too hot ever to notice him. There are countless extreme closeups of Cynthia's fat, manic, over-made-up face and anxious, needy Robert in his thick glasses and dorky hat -- accompanied by clownish music that's like the laugh track on an old sit-com.

Compounding the problem is that the actor who plays Robert is a hundred times more attractive and sexier than the actor who plays Marc is. I'd choose Robert any day over Marc -- but the writer and director are determined to ridicule Robert and glorify Marc, so they force it to be that way with heavy-handed wardrobe, direction and music. I didn't buy it for a second. I always wanted Robert; I never wanted Marc.

I was going to give this a few stars just for the earnest and competent actors, but I can't do that. The movie is so offensive that I must give it the lowest rating I can.