Jeffrey Review

Jeffrey
Having given up on the dating game due to its variety of biological hazards, Jeffrey (Weber) decides to replace sex with pumping iron, only to find his Adonis-like vision of perfection at a local gym in the form of Steve (Michael T. Weiss). Amid emotions running riot and fears of commitment, he receives advice of assorted usefulness as he struggles through everyday life.

by Darren Bignell |
Published on
Release Date:

12 Apr 1996

Running Time:

92 minutes

Certificate:

18

Original Title:

Jeffrey

Chosen to open the Tenth London Lesbian And Gay Film Festival on March 21, Paul Rudnick's adaptation of his own successful stage show is a sort of When Harry Met Harry romantic comedy, and deals with the heady topics of gay relationships, fidelity and AIDS in a lively, witty and thoroughly non-preachy manner.

Weber is an engagingly bewildered guide to his own personal minefield, and director Ashley neatly links a series of real-time scenes, Jeffrey's fantasy daydreams, and asides delivered direct to camera while all around him freezes. And when the time comes to deal with the genuinely worrying spectre of HIV, it's carefully handled with honesty and realism.

In support, Stewart is good value as his best friend Sterling - although the pink beret and jumpsuit would hardly be standard issue on the bridge of the Enterprise - who believes in true love, going with your feelings and settling down. And Weaver crops up in a peculiar cameo as a straight-talking sex therapist who humiliates her patients by offering blunt, vociferous consultancy in a seminar stage show.

Not to everyone's taste, obviously, but as romantic comedies go, it's well played, sharply written and different enough to count.
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