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203 comments in total

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19 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
Wonderful, unique, effort by terrific cast and crew, 12 DECEMBER 2003
Author: KnowsMovies from Bloomington, Indiana

Having seen virtually every gay-themed film that has ever been made and having received A+ grades in all the film studies courses that I took in college, I would like to weigh in on the excellent unique first effort that is "The Trip" written and directed by very talented newcomer Miles Swain. You already know the basic plotline, timeline and substance of The Trip if you have read IMDB's information. My overarching impression of this film is that it feels real and from the heart as it shows us the relationship between two very different gay men as they age through the '70s and '80s, living their lives both together and apart amidst the ongoing struggle for equal rights for gay persons. They say opposites attract and that is very true here for lead characters Larry and Alan who clearly grow to love each other very much. The focus of this film is on the complete persons who are Alan and Larry, not just their sex life, as in so many gay-themed films. Although AIDS unfortunately affects their lives, it does not affect their enduring love, and the director has rightly said that "This is not an AIDS film". It is a delightful, moving, comedy/drama/historical record with universal themes of trusting the power of a faithful love, the importance of honesty and courage, and being true to yourself in the face of a world seemingly always against you. The film is now available on DVD with great extras from TLA Video and is very reasonably priced. It is a *must have* for any quality collection of gay-themed films.

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17 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
Incredibly entertaining jewel of a film about matters of theheart, 22 JÚLIUS 2002

Author: augiedog (ernspin@aol.com) from Philadelphia PA

The only reason that I rate this film a ten is because the rating scale on IMDB doesn't reach 227. The Trip isn't just a film - it's an extraordinary, a true gem about everything that matters in life - people, relationships, pride in one's self, matters of the heart and soul. The film shows what can be achieved when millions aren't poured into special effects and high-priced superficial "talent". I saw The Trip on the last day of the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2002. The timing was truly fitting, because it was a fantastic grand finale to a festival which included many other fine films. The Trip, however, was by far, the best of the festival and, in my opinion, walked away with the award for Best of Everything in all Categories. The film follows the relationship between two men starting from 1973 continuing into the 80's, giving an opportunity for many political and social commentaries having to do with the times, including Anita Bryant and Ronald Reagan, and gay rights. There was also much opportunity to fill the film with with many truly hysterical fashions and one-liners inspired by those times. These qualities make The Trip a wonderfully balanced film with both genuinely funny moments along with many warm, heart-teasing scenes too, particularly because the characters are so constantly involving, as is the superbly written storyline. The cast is outstanding, to say the very least. Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun are excellent, both simply amazing as the lead characters, Alan and Tommy. Steve Braun is so charming as Tommy, and Larry Sullivan easily steals everyone's hearts - including mine - as Alan - he's truly wonderful. To portray a Republican with as much heart and vulnerability as Alan displays is no small accomplishment, and Larry Sullivan does this with commanding skill. Sirena Irwin and Alexis Arquette are terrific in supporting roles, but it is Jill St. John who steals every scene she enters as Alan's mother, reminding us that she should be seen More, More, More! It's rare that a director displays such talent and skill in a film while, at the same time and in equal parts, shows such joy and love for his craft. Only a truly talented director could accomplish this, making his hard work appear so effortless, resulting in the most fun an audience has had in years. Please see The Trip if you have the opportunity - don't let it pass you by. And to any distributors that may read this - please take notice of this movie. Please help this truly wonderful film to be seen by everyone as it should be.

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17 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
Standout writing and acting make "The Trip" worthwhile, 17 AUGUSZTUS 2005

Author: l-phelan from United States

"The Trip" is one of the best romances I've ever seen. After a seemingly endless barrage of horrible gay films, I was actually taken aback by how good this film turned out to be. The story features well written, witty, and humorous dialog that moves the plot line believably through the years that the story encompasses. The performances are uniformly good, but Larry Sullivan is a real stand out as Alan Oakley. His performance lends credibility to the character he is portraying as he grows through landmarks of history (gay historical landmarks in particular). After purchasing this film on DVD, I did an Internet search and was disappointed that this gifted actor has not done more films. Wake up Hollywood! Sullivan is pleasing to look at, talented, and has a certain magnetism that draws the viewer into the story. The enormity of his appeal is hard to describe, but I have no doubt that the right vehicle would make him into a major star. Other stand outs in the film are Steve Braun (who reminds me a lot of a young Brad Pitt) who does an excellent job as Alan's gay activist lover, and Sirena Irwin as Beverly (a woman just slightly ahead of her time). Veteran actors Ray Baker and Jill St. John give substantial supporting performances, and Julie Brown gives a memorable quirky cameo performance as an 80's Madonna attired receptionist. Alexis Arquette plays "Michael" a slightly stereotypical funny slut (a year working as a bartender in a gay bar taught me that there are many people who are this "over the top" in real life). Overall, I recommend this film not as an excellent "gay" film, but as an excellent film in general.

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11 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Interesting Period Piece, 27 JANUÁR 2004
Author: johnnydiva (johnnydiva@aol.com) from San Antonio, TX (USA)

This movie presents the zeitgeist of gay history post-Hippie through the early-AIDS era. It pans this period in a Forrest Gump-esque fashion: intermixing the romantic plot between the main characters with brief moments from the national plight of gays & lesbians (like the Anita Bryant crusade, Harvey Milk's assassination, losing loved ones to AIDS). As a GenX'er I found this to help personalize something which I have only read about in GLBT history classes. I'm sure it will be "the trip" down memory lane for those guys 40-something and older. Brilliantly written script, excellent acting. If you're looking for a good snuggle movie to watch with your next boy friend, partner, trick, whomever -- this is a must see.

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13 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Funny, moving, stays with you for days, 24 JÚLIUS 2002

Author: mickmcg1 from Philadelphia, PA

This was the closing night movie of the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and it should have opened the festival (would have been a better note to open on than Britney, Baby, One More Time.)

This is the kind of well-written, well-acted and gorgeously filmed movie that deserves all the lauds it receives. Definitely my favorite movie of the festival, as I laughed with tears in my eyes. I'll be owning this one day.

Having the director, star, and producer there for a Q&A was just icing on the cake. More power to them - and GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

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9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Serious and funny, filmed with seventies equipment., 25 OKTÓBER 2004
Author: Remco van Schellen (vanschellen) from Vlissingen, the Netherlands

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

At first sight it's an impossible love. Alan is a Republican journalist with ditto thoughts, Tommy is a gay rights activist. They meet when Alan wants to know more about homosexuality, since he is writing a book about that subject. Even though their political opinions are very different, love flourishes. Alan's book doesn't get published. The two are in a stable relationship that already lasts for a few years, when the book is published after all without Alan's consent. It turns out the book is very negative about homosexuality. The solid relationship bursts.

Some years later. Alan is living with his dominant boyfriend Peter. He is told that Tommy is seriously ill. At first Alan doesn't want to visit Tommy, but his mother and his best female friend persuade him to go. When they meet again it is obvious they are still in love with each other. To let Tommy die at his parents house they drive to Texas. But they will never make it to their destination.

The Trip covers a few years: the story starts in the seventies and ends in the eighties. To create the typical seventies atmosphere, director Miles Swain used film equipment from the seventies. The film gives a nice image of the political situation and acceptance of gays in that period. The story lines about friendship are very well written and played. Jill St. John's roll as Alan's mother is very amusing. The Trip is a serious and at the same time funny film.

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13 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Worth every moment of your time, 3 MÁRCIUS 2004
Author: gregj777 from USA

It is unfortunate that the mass media operate as though those of us who enjoy this film do not exist. So, we instead get, excuse my French, a bunch of crap. If John Kerry can indeed change America for the better then getting this and similar films screened on a mass scale would be worth adding to the list of changes needed. "The Trip" begins and ends innocently touching your mind. It does this first by getting you to care about the characters, to like them or to loathe them, and then by the inclusion of David Mixner (ingenious) and Jill St. John (watch the extra features on the dvd for some of her FUNNIEST work!). Their appearance adds flavor and spice to a fresh young cast including the very talented Steve Braun and Larry Sullivan. I was engrossed in every moment. I believe it helped that many involved were, in some cases, re-living some of their own life moments (read: writer/director/exec. producer Miles Swain). Well made, touching, engrossing. What more could a director- ask for? It almost gives you the same feeling as "Big Eden" but without the scripted ending. Kudos, and thank you Miles.

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10 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
Best film I've seen in years, 9 SZEPTEMBER 2002

Author: JennylovesBJ from Texas

I have been hearing great things about this film for some time. I heard it's been selling out at almost every festival it has played in so I wasn't gonna take any chances. When it came to Texas I bought a ticket the day they went on sale. I have never seen an audience respond like this before. People were laughing their heads off one minute, and crying the next. This film has something for everyone. When it comes to your town, go see it!!!!

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
See this film..., 27 MÁJUS 2003
Author: iskander28 from San Francisco, CA

I attended a screening in SF, but found myself unable to speak while the director and two stars were standing before me. So now that I've found my voice again, here goes: While he falls short of achieving his goals, I believe it is because he has set the bar too high for himself. It seems he wanted to do so much in this film, that it was impossible for him to say everything that he wanted to. I am sure that making a film about gay men can be difficult. We want the love story of "Beautiful Thing", the comedy of "Trick", the hunky cast of "Broken Hearts Club", and the tear-jerker sadness of "It's My Party". Mr. Swain tries to do, be, create all of these things in one package. He came respectably close to doing it.

I enjoyed the film, it felt contrived in places, which may have had as much to do with the editing as it does with the fact that this is Mr. Swain's first film. Given time, his voice and vision will mature, and I can't wait to see what happens as it does.

See this film, we need more like it.

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5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Two for the road ..., 31 MÁJUS 2006

Author: Merwyn Grote (majikstl@aol.com) from St. Louis, Missouri

We have seen this before; it is known as "a very special episode," or at least it is when it pops up on TV sitcoms. It is when the comedy suddenly gets serious or the comedy disappears completely so that a sermon and platitude can be served up. It happens unfortunately in even the best of sitcoms; actors who obviously are intelligent, talented and charismatic, comfortably playing characters who are interesting and ingratiating, suddenly have to pander to some misbegotten need to "get real" and educate the viewer. The jokey attitude and contrived situations that somehow are acceptable in a comedy, become transparent when applied to the attempts at dramatic honesty. Even a bad sitcom can be funny, but there is nothing worse than a bad "serious" sitcom.

At first it seems as though THE TRIP can slip by solely on the charms of its two protagonists. One is Alan Oakley, a pleasant, nerdy, somewhat goofy, wannabe writer, who claims to have a purely journalistic interest in exploring "the homosexual lifestyle," since he also claims to be both straight and a Republican. He crosses paths with Tommy Ballenger, an idealistic, no-nonsense gay activist who wants to explore more than just Alan's lifestyle. The story begins in 1973 when everyone is on shaky ground when it comes to gay protocol. Thus, whether he knows it or not, Alan is something of a tease in the way he pursues Tommy's friendship, and a lustful Tommy is left uncertain if he is being the prey or the predator in this vague game of cat and mouse.

Despite an amateur sitcom-like script by writer/director Miles Swain, the story draws you in, thanks largely to the chemistry between Larry Sullivan as Alan and Steve Braun as Tommy. Their mating ritual is sweetly awkward and it amuses, even as it is apparent that their coy flirtations are far from spontaneous. THE TRIP seems to be charting a course along the familiar road of a typical opposites-attract movie romance, albeit from a gay perspective, but Swain seems as uncertain about his intentions as Alan does about his homosexuality.

So the film breaks down into three episodes and the story jumps ahead in time and makes desperate attempts at being serious, first in 1977 during the Anita Bryant years and then again in 1984 during the early outbreaks of AIDS. The clumsy attempts at being a romantic comedy ("It's my parents! Quick hide in the closet!") fall by the wayside as THE TRIP makes even clumsier attempts at political statements. Telling their story against the panorama of the gay rights movement is a great idea, but like those "very special episodes," THE TRIP unsuccessfully tries to shift from funny to poignant, but hasn't built up the necessary supply of good will to justify the demands on the audience.

As THE TRIP goes from sitcom to soap opera to unbelievable melodrama, Alan and Tommy find themselves at the mercy of convoluted plot twists that just don't make a lot of sense. The film can't pull off trying to have it both ways, being seriously sentimental and outrageously funny; as the road gets bumpier, Swain's sometimes desperate attempts at humor just aren't enough to absorb the shocks.

Good traveling companions certainly can help. Most are broad clichés (Jill St. John as Alan's boozy mom, Sirena Irwin as the kooky fag hag, Alexis Arquette as, once again, a swishy party boy, etc.), but Sullivan and Braun sidestep the stereotypes and play nicely realized characters. They both have a flair for comedy and even overcome the heavy-handed drama well enough to make you care. Sullivan in particular gives an endearing performance as a man who isn't quite prepared to be swept up by love or social revolution. He more than anything else makes THE TRIP worth taking.

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