Partner(s) (2005)

Powerful

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

I really enjoyed this film, which surprised me, because I expected a predictable "straight guy tries to be gay" plot. The actors are inventive and quick, which helps with a somewhat trifling plot. It's pretty clear where things are going, but you don't really feel taken for a ride, which is rare in this type of film. It's a surprisingly well-acted and quick-moving story that avoided obvious twists and complications--until the last ten minutes, that is, when it quickly falls apart and feels fake. For some bizarre reason the obvious resolutions don't take place, and instead you get a forced and awkward wrap-up. It's a shame to see a decent film ruined like this. It almost seems like someone "up there" ordered a change in the script to make the film bland and boring at the very end. Too bad. It was off to a good start and middle.

I rented this film at a friend's suggestion and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I was anticipating a variation on the "fake gay-fish-out-of-water" theme where a character has to (allegedly hilariously) pretend to be gay for some reason. That is not at all what this film is about. Yes, the lead is mistaken as gay, but he does not suddenly change and act differently, it is the views of others around him that change, which makes the film much more interesting. Not to say that the film makes any huge social commentary, but it also does not portray gays as "others" which was refreshing. At its heart, this simply a well made, funny, heterosexual romantic comedy which has a gay plot which is respectful to people of all sexual orientations. Some may find it a bit light in tone and heft, but I found it exactly correct for a romantic comedy. And best of all, it was actually both funny and romantic.

Because I consider myself a harsh critic, I was really surprised by how much I liked this film. I thought it was just a very well told and well acted story. A good adult comedy about people working at a law firm is difficult to pull off, but this movie does it. I really like Julie Bowen and I'm surprised she played 'the bitch' role so well. Only because I find her to be very likable. The guy that played her assistant was really funny also. Jay Harrington was very good. I never saw him in anything before. I think he's a good comedic lead. Not too 'over the top.' It was refreshing. As I'm thinking back about the movie now, I'm smiling. That's how I know I liked it. It was just a good, smart, and funny film.

I originally tuned in to watch this film purely to see Brooke Langton (Lucy in the film) but was actually pretty entertained by the film. Jay Harrington did a great job and Julie Bowen played a great bitch. Ian Michael Black also did a great job as Jay Harrington's "gay partner."The story was fairly predictable, but there were a couple of little twists that made it amusing. The acting was easy going and not over the top.Of course, the star of the film, in my opinion, was Brooke Langton. She is, by far, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I wish she was in more films.