edgeofseventeen

SYNOPSIS - EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
This gay coming out tale set in the 80's
was a theatrical hit and is considered
one of the best gay movies ever! Sexy
boys, great soundtrack, Lea DeLaria
and raw emotions pack a punch.

REVIEW

What? Another coming out movie? Do
filmmakers still have anything original
to say about that? But Edge of
Seventeen dusts off the coming out
movie and has something original to
say. Sexy, funny and sometimes sad,
Edge tells the story of 17-year-old Eric
(Stafford) in Sandusky, Ohio, and the
trials of tribulations of his coming out in
the summer of 1984. Eric finishes his
junior year at high school and takes a
summer job serving food at the local
amusement park. He shares his work
duties with best friend/sort of girlfriend
Maggie (Holmes) and openly gay Rod
(Gabrych). They flirt (all three)
throughout the summer leading to a
climactic party when Maggie and Eric
are drunkenly making out on the sofa
while Rod opens Eric's zipper and fools
around. All the while this is happening
Angie (the amazing Lea DeLaria), their
supervisor at the amusement park
looks on. She's a total dyke and leads
Eric by the hand through the local gay
spots.

Eric comes out to his mom in a tear-
filled, very real scene and is rejected
by the lovelorn Maggie. Several hot
bedroom scenes, lots of kissing and
some beautiful boys later Eric is a
confirmed fag. DeLaria does a terrific
job as guide. She throws her usual fast
clips right and left, "Why do you fags
all think I'm gay?" Maggie owns the
local gay bar, "Universal Fruit and Nut
Company". She concludes the film by
singing a sultry version of "Blue Skies."
The style and music of the 80's are
crucial to the film. As Eric comes out
he becomes more and more eccentric
in his dressing and grooming habits.
He dyes his hair several different
colors and dresses like Boy George.
The soundtrack includes songs from
Bronski Beat, Flock of Seagulls,
Thompson Twins and the Eurythmics.
Although the film is a low-budget affair,
it has been a winner because the
emotions are real and raw, the film
speaks truths, it doesn’t preach and
it's a totally entertaining.

Scott Cranin