In West Hollywood, young photographer Sean Hayes (as William "Billy" Collier) appears bored with his amorous, model-perfect lover Armando Valdes-Kennedy (as Fernando), who would like to make it a threesome with even younger lover Mark Allen Anderson (as Peter). An aspiring, but unemployed "Polaroid" photographer, Mr. Hayes wants a monogamous, romantic relationship. While out for coffee with straight girlfriend Meredith Scott Lynn (as George, short for Georgiana), Hayes admires model-perfect waiter Brad Rowe (as Gabriel). Hayes is stricken. Later, he meets Mr. Rowe at a shallow party and offers the young hunk a job modeling for a series of photographs he's taking of beautiful young men kissing drag queens...
Not to put this film too far down, but it fails if we're supposed to question whether or not Rowe's character might be gay or bisexual. It could be that what writer-director Tommy O'Haver conveys is Hayes' insecurity and/or fear of rejection. Even the declaration "I have a girlfriend in San Francisco," seems like an invitation. We do want Hayes and Rowe to get together, so the story can be disappointing if they don't. Also, it may be difficult to feel sorry for a guy who slips out of bed with one attractive lover and appears to be headed for another, just because he doesn't get the one in between...
There is not much on-screen sex in "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss", as Mr. O'Haver reveals in the opening. That's not bad in itself, but we know there would be a lot more shown if the story focused on a man and a woman. Consequently, our suspicion that both Hayes and Rowe prefer to be sexually passive (with other men) is sketchy. That seems be their problem. Through most of their hesitating courtship, we wonder why Hayes doesn't take more of a lead. Most of the time, "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" plays like a "gay film". It would have been better as an offbeat film about the appealing characters created by O'Haver. Still, the music and dream sequences add an exceptional charm, both celebrating and lifting us out of the genre.
******* Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998-06-04) Tommy O'Haver ~ Sean Hayes, Brad Rowe, Richard Ganoung, Meredith Scott Lynn
Not to put this film too far down, but it fails if we're supposed to question whether or not Rowe's character might be gay or bisexual. It could be that what writer-director Tommy O'Haver conveys is Hayes' insecurity and/or fear of rejection. Even the declaration "I have a girlfriend in San Francisco," seems like an invitation. We do want Hayes and Rowe to get together, so the story can be disappointing if they don't. Also, it may be difficult to feel sorry for a guy who slips out of bed with one attractive lover and appears to be headed for another, just because he doesn't get the one in between...
There is not much on-screen sex in "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss", as Mr. O'Haver reveals in the opening. That's not bad in itself, but we know there would be a lot more shown if the story focused on a man and a woman. Consequently, our suspicion that both Hayes and Rowe prefer to be sexually passive (with other men) is sketchy. That seems be their problem. Through most of their hesitating courtship, we wonder why Hayes doesn't take more of a lead. Most of the time, "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" plays like a "gay film". It would have been better as an offbeat film about the appealing characters created by O'Haver. Still, the music and dream sequences add an exceptional charm, both celebrating and lifting us out of the genre.
******* Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998-06-04) Tommy O'Haver ~ Sean Hayes, Brad Rowe, Richard Ganoung, Meredith Scott Lynn