The Curiosity of Chance (2006)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Very funny feel-good film. Follows a gay young man's experience of life in high school and the various problems that comes with adolescence and being a transfer student. Contains bullying, drag and lots of comedy. Chance Marquis is a new transfer student at Brickland High. As well as becoming the school's bully no.1 target, he strives to find his identity through visiting a gay drag club and crushing on his next door neighbour. After numerous mishaps Chance realises that he must stick to his own motto : expressing one's individualism, even if it means completely stepping out of his comfort zone. I found this film brilliant :) I love Chance's cocky attitude and eccentric personality; it adds life to the film. Chance's friends add humour to the film and the setting is perfect. Needless to say the acting is sublime.

While this movie has a gay lead character, it is not an in your face flamboyant movie. I say that only to point out that anyone can watch and get something from the moral theme of this movie. It is a must see for anyone gay, and also for anyone who has ever been a misfit or an outcast. It is funny and endearing with a plot that is full of heart. The movie follows the basic message that everyone should find and make peace with who they truly are. Its not always an easy journey, and sometimes there are obstacles and people who are determined to get in your way and bring you down. The finale is a fantastic song, shouting out the anthem of standing up for who you are. The actors all do a great job, and the drag queens positively steal the show. Give it a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Easily the best thing about "The Curiosity Of Chance" is that the Devo song "That's Good" accompanies the opening credits.The rest of the film is really quite lame, barely entertaining, and highly forgettable.The screenplay is far too apparently contrived and self-consciously striving to appear witty - and it is delivered with a distinct lack of passion or conviction.I don't like that the main protagonist is a cruel smart-arsed vile little body fascist and yet he's presented as someone whom we ought to feel empathy for as he struggles for non-judgmental acceptance.Chock full of tired gay movie clichés, there is particularly unforgivable opportunistic and abusive stereotyping in the portrayal of the school principal - who is targeted relentlessly for our supposed amusement as an overweight woman with no self-awareness of her body odour problem.Noticeably placed eye candy in the form of actor Brett Chukermen is diminished by the fact that Brett doesn't move outside of the range of facial expressions which are almost trademarked "Jake Gyllenhaal".I really can't see any reason to recommend this film to anyone - not even the Devo intro saves it.

There seems no earthly reason to set this film at an "international" high school (is there even such a thing?) in the 80's other than to provide some weak visual and aural humor. But funny accents and funny clothes do not a good film make. Curiosity apes the real thing: "Edge of Seventeen" - all to no avail. Stick with it long enough the leading man (as usual in high school flicks, nobody looks like a teenager) somehow manages to push through the arch, unbelievable dialogue and predictable plot to find some sense of truth. In the end, the title character may get to live happily ever after - or maybe he just wants us to think so.