moonspinner55 Review of Big Eden

Big Eden (2000)

For a good, hearty hug, you can't beat the small town folks of Montana!

[6/10 · 23 August 2007]

While "Big Eden" has lots of aw-shucks charm, and a rather surprising amount of male-to-male affection, it features relationships and character quirks which aren't always made clear--and, as a result, its plot gets bunched up in knots. Arye Gross seems rather fatigued and unfocused as a gay, single artist in New York who travels back to his hometown in Montana after his beloved grandfather suffers a stroke; once there, he meets up again with the straight best friend from high school he's harbored a crush on for many years. Nicely-made, nicely-judged movie about getting a gay relationship off the ground, although Gross's heart isn't really into this role (he only comes to life during a dance at the outdoor festival). The straight hunk he's loved from afar (Tim DeKay), divorced and with two kids, is a much more interesting and complicated man than the shy, awkward Native American (Eric Schweig) who is added to the mix, yet writer-director Thomas Bezucha doesn't allow either of these supporting characters to bloom. In the straight fellow's case, Bezucha gives him little bits and pieces of on-screen time in which nothing important gets said, and the Indian is so insecure he comes off as anti-social. Still, the attempt is certainly there, and all the others in this friendly town (full of cracker-barrel wisdom and united mischief) are a wily, fun bunch. The soundtrack songs are exceptionally smart and the woodsy settings are very attractive. **1/2 from ****