Trick (1999) Reviews

• Boy meets boy. Oh boy!

  budmassey2001-06-18

  It's hard to imagine a gay themed film where the main characters aren't drag queens, don't have AIDS, aren't bitchy, catty, flamboyant, tragic or shallow. As it turns out, gay people, like non-gay people, can be all those things (and aren't we all tired of it) and so much more. In fact, the most distinguishing characteristic of gay people is that, for the most part, they are virtually indistinguishable from non-gay people. Isn't it about time a movie just allowed its central gay characters to be a couple of cute young guys whose casual meeting teeters over the course of a hilariously frustrating evening on the verge of becoming more than a one night stand? Gabriel, played by Christian Campbell, Neve Campbell's older brother, is a shy, aspiring composer with dimples to die for. Mark, J. P. Pitoc, is an outgoing journalism student who earns money as a go-go boy and has the body to prove it. Pitoc and Campbell, who appear together again in the "Thank You, Good Night", gel beautifully as the put-upon would-be lovers. In a world where meeting and having sex can be a rather common and often all too impersonal event, they meet, and like most people their age, they want to have sex. But the story that gently unfolds is not at all common. It's tender, funny, and much more romantic than it sounds. Tori Spelling, it hurts me to even write this, is terrific as Gabriel's oh-so theatrical friend. She maintains a drama in her life that can be endearing, but is often times more annoying, the latter which Ms. Spelling portrays with great comic success. The rest of the cast is fairly unremarkable, with two notable exceptions. Steve Hayes is brilliant as a friend from Gabriel's theatre class whose hilarious "Como te gusta mi pinga" is the funniest cabaret number since Priscilla. Clinton Leupp as drag queen Coco Peru, delivers a delightful bathroom soliloquy that will have you in stitches. Even more amusing is the fact that Miss Coco looks distractingly like Ms. Spelling's character, right down to the overabundance of drama. Trick is an uplifting and life-affirming look at being young and gay and almost in love. Surely you were at least one of these things once.

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• This is beautiful!

  m671652001-11-02

  I was a little wary of a movie about two guys trying to find a place in New York city where they can be alone and have some sex. A comedy? I thought it could be very boring. I'm so glad I went to see this one! It is funny and romantic, and it ends in a smart way, and I can only say: Thank you, guys! That was fun!

• Sparkling romantic comedy is a sure-fire hit

  FargoUT1999-02-06

  Gay romantic comedies seem to fall into two different categories: either they deal with AIDS specifically, or they don't. TRICK falls into the latter category. Films in the former category tend to be too heavy-handed to be good (save JEFFREY and LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!). Here, screenwriter Jason Schafer focuses not on AIDS whatsoever. In fact, it is never mentioned once. Instead, we watch as two men (wonderfully played by Christian Campbell and John Paul Pitoc) try to have a one-night stand. The only problem: they have no place to go. As these two men desperately try to find a room, fate interferes, allowing them to get to know each other before consumating the relationship. Tori Spelling is terrific in a supporting role, but it is the two leads who must manage this film, and they do with astonishing realism. It's a modern-day, gay fairy tale. It's the type of film that makes you laugh, cry, and feel good in the end. Hollywood could learn something from this small independent feature.

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• The sweetest movie, hands down, that I have ever seen.

  gmscny2001-10-16

  As soon as you finish watching it, you'll want to rewind it and watch it again. The sweetest, most refreshing movie I have seen. Something about it (maybe the thoroughly funny and romantic love story) leaves with the greatest feeling in the world. And I go around for hours after I've watched it singing "Enter You". Funny, engaging, sweet, romantic, and (I know it's the same word the critics used, but they were absolutely right) magical!

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• The Go-Go Boy Of His Dreams

  bkoganbing2007-11-16

  Trick is a story of a late 20 something gay kid played by Christian Campbell who has been going through a breakup and after a bit of a drought is not having any success. Right now he'd settle for a one night stand of hot passion. Especially after seeing J.P. Pitoc up on the stage of that gay bar doing the bumps and grinds, it's the man of his dreams. Fate is seemingly kind to him when he leaves the bar and he winds up on the same train as the object of his affection. Pitoc gets off at the same stop, eye contact is met and it's off to Campbell's place. Which he shares with his straight roommate Brad Beyer and has a female friend played by Tori Spelling who just bounces in whenever she needs to use or borrow something. When they go to Pitoc's world, Campbell is a bit put off by the partying world of the go-go boys. Will they ever get down to the slap and tickle? Despite the emphasis on sex and one night stands, Trick is really a delightful romantic comedy with a gay twist. Tori Spelling by dint of her name recognition from 90210 is top billed though she's really in a supporting role. She's very funny in the role of the gay man's best straight woman friend who really wants to dominate the lives of the gay people around her. Also a bit sad. Both Christian Campbell and J.P. Pitoc have gone on to some substantial careers on the big screen, small screen, and on stage. Pitoc made his film debut here in Trick. Both of them are cast well and I do love the eternal theme of the film that people can be quite a bit deeper than original impressions may make.

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