By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Jonathan Lisecki
Starring: Charlie Barnett | Christian Coulson | Dulé Hill | Jenn Harris | Jonathan Lisecki | Matthew Wilkas
Country: united_states
Year: 2012
Running time: 89
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106739/
Bruce says: “In Provincetown I described GAYBY as a gay Judd Apatow film, thinking that was a terse description. I did not mean my comment to be pejorative in any way but it did prevent at least one friend from seeing the film. There is nothing wrong with THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN or KNOCKED UP; they are amusing comedies, above the norm. GAYBY fits well into this company.
“Jenn (Jenn Harris) and Matt (Matthew Wilkas) would be an ideal couple, save for the fact he is gay. Both have been unlucky in the love department. Friends since their school days, she now teaches yoga and he works in a comic book store when he isn’t writing his own comics. Matt is devastated over the loss of his partner, who found another man more to his liking. Jenn can’t get to second base with the men she meets; forget the home run.
“Part of Jenn’s desire for a serious relationship stems from her yearning for motherhood. She can’t just ‘wait around for the right straight guy in New York.’ Matt would be the ideal sperm donor. He agrees to the contribution but is taken aback when Jenn shuns the idea of using a turkey baster to plant the seed. She prefers the old fashioned way. ‘Are you just trying to get some?’ Matt asks. When Jenn questions his ability to perform, he replies, ‘I’m a guy I can put it in anything.’ Later Jenn instructs him as to how it’s done, ‘Get ready. Roll over. Pop it in.’ The first attempt is off to a bad start as Matt readies himself. ‘How’s it going? Can I peek?’ Jenn queries. ‘It might be easier if you didn’t talk,’ he says, then suddenly announces ‘I’m ready!’ with vigor. ‘Don’t impale me!’ Jenn warns. How many times must they go through this before success strikes? As luck would have it, in the middle of their procreating efforts both Jenn and Matt meet someone new and obvious complications arise.
“During the screening I noticed a few nods to THE OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION and CHASING AMY which may or may not have been intentional. Jonathan Lisecki has written a clever script with lots of great laughs that, for the most part, are contextual rather than the frequent sitcom one-liners that ruin many big screen comedies. His humor is a mix of the silly, flippant, intelligent and though-provoking. The talented Lisecki also plays Nelson, Matt’s trés gay best friend. Lisecki developed the script with specific friends and favorite actors in mind. The supporting cast is quite good although most of the characters exist to add flavor. Lisecki has been a fan of Dulé Hill for many years and was thrilled to work a bit of his signature tap dancing into the script for what is a great comic moment. 3.5 cats
“(GAYBY screened at the 2012 Provincetown International Film Festival.)”
Chris says: “GAYBY would make a decent sitcom. I don’t necessarily mean that as a negative criticism; sitcoms, like most other pop culture outlets carry a potential for greatness even if a majority of them rarely aim too high. It’s just that Jonathan Lisecki’s feature film (adapted from his own short) plays like a few episodes of a single-camera television comedy strung together. Perhaps it’s the premise that feels most sitcom-like: two best friends, Matt (Matt Wilkas) and Jenn (Jenn Harris) decide to have a baby together although Matt is gay and reeling from a recent breakup of a long-term relationship. I believe WILL AND GRACE covered this territory years ago, but those characters never went through with it; nor did they try conceiving the old-fashioned way by sleeping together as Matt and Jen do (with often painfully hilarious results).
“Truthfully, the film’s closer in style and tone to a contemporary cable-TV dramedy like GIRLS (whose Adam Driver pops up in a small role as Matt’s comic-book store co-worker). Although Matt and Jenn predictably fall for other people who add conflict to their situation, the film is golden when it focuses on their friendship, particularly in how their decision to mate subtly alters it, for good and for ill. Wilkas’ and Harris’ chemistry feels uncanny as if they really have known each other for years while Lisecki appears onscreen as Matt’s sassy friend—a stock role made delightful by his sharp comic timing. This energy, also apparent in his direction and writing, distinguishes GAYBY from scores of other micro-budgeted rom-com indies; with a little more polish, Lisecki could become an indispensable voice in a genre that could use a few more queer voices with something to say. 4 cats
“(This film screened at the 2012 Provincetown International Film Festival)