Honestly, it's seems pretty unlikely but it's a delight! Very entertaining dialogue that keeps the audience engaged. Funny moments, romantic moments, cringey moments, and thought provoking moments. I think this film does a fantastic job at exploring unconventional relationships. One of the few that do it right.
44 Reviews
Adorable, yet unusual couple
saesau18 October 2019
I just want to be friends with Todd and Rory. They are wacky and adorable and even borderline annoying and I love them both. This movie is the type of love story I can totally get attached to. And it's so funny that I need to watch it again, because there were times the audience was laughing so hard that I couldn't hear all the words. Just watch this movie any chance you get.
Gay, straight, or asexual?
gaily_daily8 August 2020
The main character is struggling with whether they're gay or not because they don't like gay sex. In fact they don't like sex at all. This is literally the definition of what being asexual is. This movie was written by people who have no idea there are sexualities beyond bi, gay or straight. It was frustrating to see potential representation of asexuality get shoved into the shadows.
Quirky romance
AscendeSuperius1 July 2022
It's interesting to say the least, yet there's no real label to put on this film. It's not bad, it has a decent idea, fine execution, and it's quirky esque style suits the film perfectly. But sometimes a film just has that 'something feels slightly off' vibe that you can't put a finger on? Yea this film has that too.
A weird movie
omilkov6 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Well, for those of you looking for a comedy, SPOILER ALERT, this is NOT a comedy. This is a drama about a man about a man who doesn't know if he's gay or not, there was one scene that made me laugh in total. The ending was unexpected, also a bit confusing, as the credits rolled, I wondered who the third guy was, I think it was Ryder with a slightly shorter hair, yeah, probably. So, they find a way to work things out in the end, involved a third person, who doesn't have issues with sex and intimacy. That's it. The movie is reeeally different... I wouldn't watch it again.
Boy meets girl. However, he's not just any boy.
Red-12517 October 2019
Straight Up (2019) was written and directed by James Sweeney.
Director Sweeney plays Todd, who has OCD and many, many phobias. Todd's friends know he's gay, Todd's therapist knows he's gay, and--I think--Todd knows he's gay. The problem is that Todd really doesn't want to be gay.
He wants to be straight, especially after he meets Rory, portrayed by Katie Findlay. They are mutually attracted, and the start to live together. But . . .
Although this was a meant as a comedy, I found it poignant. Meeting the right person, when you're the wrong person, isn't really funny. Funny things happen along the way, but the basic premise is sad.
Sweeney does a good job, especially when you remember that he's directing himself. Katie Findlay is outstanding in her role.
Special acting credit goes to Tracie Thoms as Dr. Larson, Todd's ever-patient therapist.
This film had its New York State premiere at ImageOut, Rochester's great LGBT festival. (Remember that both NYC and Buffalo are larger than Rochester. Having a NYS premiere in Rochester takes special effort by the ImageOut selection committee.)
This is a film that will work on the small screen. Yes--it's set in California with views of the ocean, but it's about people, not scenery.
This movie hasn't had a large distribution. It's only been rated by 30 people. The good news is that those people gave it an extremely high rating of 8.1. I think it's even better than that.
Director Sweeney plays Todd, who has OCD and many, many phobias. Todd's friends know he's gay, Todd's therapist knows he's gay, and--I think--Todd knows he's gay. The problem is that Todd really doesn't want to be gay.
He wants to be straight, especially after he meets Rory, portrayed by Katie Findlay. They are mutually attracted, and the start to live together. But . . .
Although this was a meant as a comedy, I found it poignant. Meeting the right person, when you're the wrong person, isn't really funny. Funny things happen along the way, but the basic premise is sad.
Sweeney does a good job, especially when you remember that he's directing himself. Katie Findlay is outstanding in her role.
Special acting credit goes to Tracie Thoms as Dr. Larson, Todd's ever-patient therapist.
This film had its New York State premiere at ImageOut, Rochester's great LGBT festival. (Remember that both NYC and Buffalo are larger than Rochester. Having a NYS premiere in Rochester takes special effort by the ImageOut selection committee.)
This is a film that will work on the small screen. Yes--it's set in California with views of the ocean, but it's about people, not scenery.
This movie hasn't had a large distribution. It's only been rated by 30 people. The good news is that those people gave it an extremely high rating of 8.1. I think it's even better than that.
If you liked Gilmore girls...
gryanhart30 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Have you wondered where you are on the Kinsey scale? Have you ever played the game with the line: "If you love me baby, won't you please smile"? Do you like the fast, smart talk in Gilmore girls? If so, you are like me.
I'm a male, mostly straight. I'm comfortable in the friend zone. And I really enjoyed this film.
Did did the ending imply a long-term threesome? I think so.
I'm a male, mostly straight. I'm comfortable in the friend zone. And I really enjoyed this film.
Did did the ending imply a long-term threesome? I think so.
Sweeney's Todd and the love of Odd Couples
ThurstonHunger11 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Dialog-driven film, perhaps that was sparked by a little sublimation. Couple that with first-film energy, including references to other films and pop culture, and this film flies by with lower-case glee, with the exception of a Truth of Dare scene.
Anyways, the insistent energy of this very indie film propels it. For some reason I felt like James Sweeney who stars in and and has steered this film for years was going to wind up being the scion of some Hollywood celebs. Hard to pin down why I thought that, but looking around a little now, I was flat-out wrong.
I did think the house-sitting employment, which might have come by way of AirBnB scouting, was a nice touch for helping to make the film feel less like a rapid-fire stage play. But really the dynamic between the film's creator and finding Katie Findlay to play opposite him, that just worked for me.
They key to any Odd Couple (or perhaps thruple, as I think the ambiguous ending aims at) is the authenticity of the odd, and less so the audaciousness of the couple. Emotional compatibility may not sizzle on the big screen, but I will always root for it, independent of anatomical plug-and-play concerns.
I feel like this film will get re-worked by a major studio in some form or another, maybe multiple times. A re-write room and corporate sponsorship will iron out some of the awkwardness. Speaking of which, anyone else think Randall Park's dinner table diatribe was to help disguise the obvious Like Father, Like Son vibe?
That in general was a strange scene, perhaps trying to push the notion of procreation? In general, the film even as it flirts with hopelessness and despair, somehow avoids sinking to cynicism.
Anyways, the insistent energy of this very indie film propels it. For some reason I felt like James Sweeney who stars in and and has steered this film for years was going to wind up being the scion of some Hollywood celebs. Hard to pin down why I thought that, but looking around a little now, I was flat-out wrong.
I did think the house-sitting employment, which might have come by way of AirBnB scouting, was a nice touch for helping to make the film feel less like a rapid-fire stage play. But really the dynamic between the film's creator and finding Katie Findlay to play opposite him, that just worked for me.
They key to any Odd Couple (or perhaps thruple, as I think the ambiguous ending aims at) is the authenticity of the odd, and less so the audaciousness of the couple. Emotional compatibility may not sizzle on the big screen, but I will always root for it, independent of anatomical plug-and-play concerns.
I feel like this film will get re-worked by a major studio in some form or another, maybe multiple times. A re-write room and corporate sponsorship will iron out some of the awkwardness. Speaking of which, anyone else think Randall Park's dinner table diatribe was to help disguise the obvious Like Father, Like Son vibe?
That in general was a strange scene, perhaps trying to push the notion of procreation? In general, the film even as it flirts with hopelessness and despair, somehow avoids sinking to cynicism.
A different kind of romcom, and it's good.
JohnDeSando30 June 2020
If you're searching for an explanation of successful millennial romantic relationships, it might be characterized by bisexuality without sex. If you're searching for an unconventional romantic comedy? that's what writer/director/star James Sweeney offers in the brilliant Straight Up.
It's a rom-com whose roots are firmly placed in the Howard Hawke's world of His Girl Friday, where sex is a form of screwball comedy banter, brilliantly pop-cultured and offered by brainiac characters who want sex but accept words as more forgiving: "You called me." "No, I didn't." "Yes, you did." "My butt dialed you." "Well, I think your butt knows what your heart wants." You might also thin of the less biting, but still bright, Will & Grace.
Todd (Sweeney) and Rory (Katie Findlay) meet cute in a library and exchange super-charged dialogue titillating in its wit and emotionally fulfilling like good sex. He is OCD-his whole life is that analytical way-- arranging the books here making her think he's a librarian. He house sits rather than create a home. It's perhaps his OCD that keeps him from a satisfying sexuality, so preoccupied he is with deconstructing life that he misses its joys. He, however, knows he does not want to be alone his whole life.
The difference between Hawkes' dialogue or, say Wes Anderson's in The Grand Budapest Hotel, is that Straight Up relies on machinegunned words, whereas the earlier screwball comedies come out almost gently from sweet origins in the head with smoother delivery (Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, for example).
Besides the smart dialogue, Straight Up offers, for the main characters' insistence otherwise, benign almost sexless love, which seems counterintuitive but ends up between the two principals an almost ideal state. Yet both characters long for love, a universal desire the lasts throughout the modern biracial and bisexual modes.
The comedy lampoons the correctness of our century while it offers a sober commentary on fulfilling relationships that rely on mind over matter.
Listen up you uncertain millennials, it's the mind that matters
It's a rom-com whose roots are firmly placed in the Howard Hawke's world of His Girl Friday, where sex is a form of screwball comedy banter, brilliantly pop-cultured and offered by brainiac characters who want sex but accept words as more forgiving: "You called me." "No, I didn't." "Yes, you did." "My butt dialed you." "Well, I think your butt knows what your heart wants." You might also thin of the less biting, but still bright, Will & Grace.
Todd (Sweeney) and Rory (Katie Findlay) meet cute in a library and exchange super-charged dialogue titillating in its wit and emotionally fulfilling like good sex. He is OCD-his whole life is that analytical way-- arranging the books here making her think he's a librarian. He house sits rather than create a home. It's perhaps his OCD that keeps him from a satisfying sexuality, so preoccupied he is with deconstructing life that he misses its joys. He, however, knows he does not want to be alone his whole life.
The difference between Hawkes' dialogue or, say Wes Anderson's in The Grand Budapest Hotel, is that Straight Up relies on machinegunned words, whereas the earlier screwball comedies come out almost gently from sweet origins in the head with smoother delivery (Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, for example).
Besides the smart dialogue, Straight Up offers, for the main characters' insistence otherwise, benign almost sexless love, which seems counterintuitive but ends up between the two principals an almost ideal state. Yet both characters long for love, a universal desire the lasts throughout the modern biracial and bisexual modes.
The comedy lampoons the correctness of our century while it offers a sober commentary on fulfilling relationships that rely on mind over matter.
Listen up you uncertain millennials, it's the mind that matters
a cuddler if you like the style
ops-5253526 May 2020
Haddaway once said ''is this love'' in a song that i define as one of the best discotheque songs ever made if you want to feel the rythm of the night so just leave it all behind debarge concludes, well bla bla, which it actually is.its a tirade of metaphysical and philosopical or maybe episcopal genderistic verbal elaboration of dick and fanny or dick on dick or fanny on fanny or double fanny on dick and soforth. the mainset of caracters are ryvita dry on the edges, and as they try to break down their walls of innoscence and lack of selfconfidence, it turns out into a pretty witty qurky kind of to be or not to be... straight or whatever movie.
its the new kind of romcom comedy that i usually stay a way from, cause youll have to like verbalistic warfare to enjoy this. apart from that its a well made production ,i liked the camerawork and style which are used extensively to visualize the distance between the culprits. the main actors are beautiful and good at talking, and feels for the humble ocd'er pretty familiar.
going back in time the grumpy old man had a similar way of courting my grumpy old wife, though i must admit she more found me, i was far too dizzy being the hen in a class of 60 student chicks at the nursing academy.though it happened very silent with small paperwritten notes sent across the classroom,and when it really took of even i the muted grumpy old man got water on the mill so i guess everyone can relate to something in this film if you can stand the genre. a humble recommend
its the new kind of romcom comedy that i usually stay a way from, cause youll have to like verbalistic warfare to enjoy this. apart from that its a well made production ,i liked the camerawork and style which are used extensively to visualize the distance between the culprits. the main actors are beautiful and good at talking, and feels for the humble ocd'er pretty familiar.
going back in time the grumpy old man had a similar way of courting my grumpy old wife, though i must admit she more found me, i was far too dizzy being the hen in a class of 60 student chicks at the nursing academy.though it happened very silent with small paperwritten notes sent across the classroom,and when it really took of even i the muted grumpy old man got water on the mill so i guess everyone can relate to something in this film if you can stand the genre. a humble recommend
Not about Gay vs Straight
danxfielding2 February 2023
I disagree with 90% of reviews, this is not about a guy deciding whether he's gay, straight or bisexual. He's ASEXUAL: he doesn't like, need or want sex. However, not a single character in the film is smart enough to figure that out, so we're treated to the incredible frustration of watching people talk about gay vs straight when that's far less important than the fact he's asexual.
Sure that possibility is briefly mentioned a couple of times, but only 1% as much as the comparatively trivial gay vs straight issue. Unfortunately, the director says labels are too limiting so no character is ever allowed to say "asexual" (even though the labels straight and gay are used hundreds of times, even including the title).
The acting of Katie Findley is superb, as is usual for her, so that almost salvages this annoying film, but not quite. The frosting on the cake is a very nebulous, ambiguous, confusing ending... oh perfect. What a frustrating mess dressed up as a gay guy trying to be straight, when really he just hates sex. What a waste of 1 hour & 35 minutes.
Sure that possibility is briefly mentioned a couple of times, but only 1% as much as the comparatively trivial gay vs straight issue. Unfortunately, the director says labels are too limiting so no character is ever allowed to say "asexual" (even though the labels straight and gay are used hundreds of times, even including the title).
The acting of Katie Findley is superb, as is usual for her, so that almost salvages this annoying film, but not quite. The frosting on the cake is a very nebulous, ambiguous, confusing ending... oh perfect. What a frustrating mess dressed up as a gay guy trying to be straight, when really he just hates sex. What a waste of 1 hour & 35 minutes.
Sweet, wicked, joyful and resonating
irgengiorozhen25 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I felt it's an instant classic at the premiere during Frameline festival. Hopefully one day some cinephiles will quote this movie in their heated banters (especially regarding when it's appropriate to use the word 'ironic'). Hard to believe it's the first feature film of the insanely talented director/writer/actor James Sweeney.
The dynamic conversation (plus meaningful and non-distracting camera work, including some theatre-style split screens each focusing on one character; plus choreographical acting that is both natural and visually pleasing) between two main characters defined what good chemistry is in any relationship. I can't think of many comedy examples in which characters appear to be non-exaggerating real-life persons but their dialogues are murdering level funny for 15 minutes straight.
Katie Findlay, who played the female lead Rory, mentioned, somewhere along the line, in the Q&A after the movie premiere, that people may not be to able find everything in their current partner and it might be all right. In this movie, the sex is in exile. The process of dealing with this missing piece is under a microscope, with light-heartedness and shrewd observations (like the part Todd reflected on his dad being extra nice because Todd brought a girl, not a boy home).
The best kind of movie is a mirror. This one is not just for the LGBTQ audience, but the unfortunate majority that can't find Mr./Mrs. Right. You either cherish the loving moments of an imperfect relationship, or sustain a positive attitude to keep looking for the perfect one.
The dynamic conversation (plus meaningful and non-distracting camera work, including some theatre-style split screens each focusing on one character; plus choreographical acting that is both natural and visually pleasing) between two main characters defined what good chemistry is in any relationship. I can't think of many comedy examples in which characters appear to be non-exaggerating real-life persons but their dialogues are murdering level funny for 15 minutes straight.
Katie Findlay, who played the female lead Rory, mentioned, somewhere along the line, in the Q&A after the movie premiere, that people may not be to able find everything in their current partner and it might be all right. In this movie, the sex is in exile. The process of dealing with this missing piece is under a microscope, with light-heartedness and shrewd observations (like the part Todd reflected on his dad being extra nice because Todd brought a girl, not a boy home).
The best kind of movie is a mirror. This one is not just for the LGBTQ audience, but the unfortunate majority that can't find Mr./Mrs. Right. You either cherish the loving moments of an imperfect relationship, or sustain a positive attitude to keep looking for the perfect one.
gender bending.... insecurities...
ksf-29 April 2021
Written, directed, and starring (which is sometimes a danger signal!) James Sweeney. He's Todd, who wants to know his own sexuality. His friends have decided he's gay, but he's still not sure. He meets Rory, who has her own issues. She's having a terrible week. They both are uptight and a little goofed up, which they both freely admit. All Todd's friends are happy to have sex, and to talk about sex, but Todd blames his own lack of sex on his OCD issues. Lots of really fast talking. By various characters. It's good, if you can get past the endless, fast talking, which frequently descends into arguing. Clearly another stall tactic, so Todd doesn't have to perform sexually. With anyone. Todd thinks he might be bisexual. Or asexual. I guess the question is, would he be equally comfortable loving and living with a guy as he is with a girl? If it really IS just the weirdness of body contact during sex that grosses him out, I guess that would be the tell. Love without sex was the plot of about half the episodes of will and grace... they even make a joke about will and grace! There aren't many people who would be happy staying in a relationship without ever having sex. Brendan Scannell (Bonding) is here as Jerry. You'll also recognize comedian Randy Park as Todd's dad. There ARE some really funny bits in here, but there's SO much fast talking and or arguing. I don't have much patience for that. Showing on netflix.
it's not so funny
cdcrb29 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I hope this is not autobiographical,because our "hero" is a real mess. i can understand not being happy with your sexual orientation, but this guy is basically happy being miserable. and worse yet, he won't do it alone. it leaves a very sour taste in your mouth.
A very unusual romantic comedy
Gordon-1130 June 2020
A simple little romance
ottohb-629-8812541 August 2020
Charm and depressing
manolopatronmp9 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I was surprisingly delighted for the colors palette. I hocked on into the Todd's frustations about love and comprehend how he can't understand love. At certain point I can't recognize very well, I started to feel the same problem as Rory, the same lack of fill every gap in my life with Todd but as well as she, I wouldn't. Until I understand that Todd's love is what we need, an intellectual conection and when we love someone we need to support and understand that we are in real life and no in a romantic perfect movie
Delightful
barryjohnjones8 June 2020
Nice, too bad it flatlines
vostf24 April 2023
The premise is a nice blend of originality with the classic boy meets girl and the 'modernist hip too-smart-for-that-material-world'. Not an easy feat but it is set up just right. Then unfortunately it flatlines. You could have hoped that Todd didn't keep whining and started getting to grips with his life and inner personality. But no, he stays the same little spoilt brat that is stuck in some autistic sex rut.
Rory looks much more interesting in comparison but there is some kind of tropism (script tropism I would say) towards Todd and unfortunately it results in her also not being really sure of what she could hope for in a relationship. IMO she should have been less passive and not just commit to Todd's own remoteness. The ending is a step in that direction, but too little, too late.
Obviously writer-director Sweeney could have benefited from taking a step back to reconsider character arcs before jumping in and pushing forward with his vision of the main character's persona.
Rory looks much more interesting in comparison but there is some kind of tropism (script tropism I would say) towards Todd and unfortunately it results in her also not being really sure of what she could hope for in a relationship. IMO she should have been less passive and not just commit to Todd's own remoteness. The ending is a step in that direction, but too little, too late.
Obviously writer-director Sweeney could have benefited from taking a step back to reconsider character arcs before jumping in and pushing forward with his vision of the main character's persona.
Great components fail to form a good movie
OlgaGorelik11 November 2023
The movie Straight Up has a number of great components. It sheds light on OCD in a humorous, but never derogatory way. It wonders if one's sexual orientation that is determined and imposed by others rather than by the person themselves, can be trusted. And, perhaps most importantly, can a committed relationship, that never have and never will include sex, survive? There's great dialogue, clever editing, and good acting. But the components fail to form a good movie. The main character has OCD, which includes fear of bodily fluids, making sex all but impossible for him with either gender. So, his sexual orientation is kind of a moot point. Yet there's so much handwringing about it. His "only friends" bully him on the regular basis, so no wonder he is so lonely and lost. But the movie glosses over that. It tries to be realistic, but not too dark and sad, fails at both, and loses its way.
Cop-Out
gilsrboysen20 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I was hesitant about watching this, but it avoided the obvious tropes of confused-sexual-identity films, and I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the Woody Allen-esque dialogue and rapid fire, Howard Hawksian pacing... Until the ending, which felt like a complete Cop-Out; maybe Rory was even more damaged than I realised, but it was a huge disappointment to see her settle for less than she deserved. I mean, they both settled, but I was led to believe that stuck as Todd was, Rory at least had grown as a person. Instead, we're left with a very bleak, cynical and tragic ending for what is billed as a comedy.
I too was mesmerized by this movie
arenasrosa17 July 2021
There are some movies you see once and you're not ever going to watch again. For me this was in the category of "I want to watch this again right away". It stayed with me for days -- I found myself thinking about these two people and their dilemma of what to call themselves and how to act and how to announce themselves to friends and family because they -- together and separately -- just are not "normal". It was a little heartbreaking too, even amid the goofy fast talking.
Sorta depressing.
tmryyzjqh13 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I understand what the writer/director/star was trying to do with the movie and i loved the witty dialogue and wonderful cinematography but in the end the movie just left me depressed. A gay guy settling for a girl. His father even said he was proud of him for bringing a gf home (father was also racist, the Mexican slander wasn't funny ). Not for me.
Soul toucher
jettaaaha314 November 2020
I dont write reviews a lot. But few of the gay-themed movies just touched my soul. This was one of them. Its more than just the movie. It speaks to audience through real and not-at-all-perfect life of the main characters, their sexuality, intimacy and love which doesnt need to be physical, but it has to be at least true and caring.
I liked the camerawork, I liked the soundtrack, I liked the acting, dialogues, scenery of L.A. and the way I got touched by it.
Best soul toucher I have had for the last few months.
I liked the camerawork, I liked the soundtrack, I liked the acting, dialogues, scenery of L.A. and the way I got touched by it.
Best soul toucher I have had for the last few months.
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