Trick (1999) – A Gay Interest Film Review

A Romantic Comedy Starring Christian Campbell and John Paul Pitoc

Aug 31, 2009

Trick, a gay interest film directed by Jim Fall, is a brilliant romantic comedy in which leads Christian Campbell and John Paul Pitoc demonstrate how life can be a song.

Set in New York City, Trick is a fun and surprisingly accomplished gay romantic comedy in which stereotypes are subtly challenged and gay culture put under the spotlight in a campy and brilliantly self-effacing way, allowing actors Christian Campbell (Gabriel) and John Paul Pitoc (Mark) to really sparkle, supported by a deft comedy performance from Tori Spelling (Katherine) as Gabriel's best friend.

Gabriel is an aspiring writer of musicals. After creating a half-finished song and showcasing it at a local meeting for musical theatre enthusiasts, he is challenged by one of his friends, Perry (the wry Steve Hayes), to find the truth about romance in order to write the rest of the ditty and make it really believable.

So what's a young gay single lad to do? Gabriel goes to a gay strip-club. Whilst there he sees the seductive Mark dressed in nothing more than a g-string, dancing for a living. Gabriel is entranced. Later, whilst riding back home on the subway, Mark enters the same carriage as Gabriel, and after some moments of hesitant eye-contact, the two leave the train together, both wanting to hook-up. But things don't go smoothly.

Gabriel tries desperately to find somewhere to be alone with Mark, something that he is little prepared for given Mark's obvious experience, and Mark's attempts to communicate to Gabriel that the longer they are together, the more he is experiencing a romantic connection. But is gay romantic comedy Trick just relying on cliché for laughs, or something more?

Written by Jason Schafer, Trick's script is largely a delight. Solid and playful, it subtly takes gay stereotypes and subverts them. For instance it is Mark, the confident, sexy and sorted one, who pursues something more than just a one-night-stand with Gabriel, rather than the neurotic Gabriel mooning over the local hunk that he can't have, making Trick a slyly clever film.

Direction from Jim Fall is also rewarding. John Paul Pitoc as Mark oozes sex appeal, but rather than overly exploiting this, Trick relies on well chosen, suggestive shots of the character as he cavorts in the club, and then contrasts this with a full on frisking as Gabriel eyeballs Mark as the man sits, apparently sleeping, on the subway train. This quiet psychology adds a sophistication to the film that continues throughout.

Finally, both John Paul Pitoc and Christian Campbell prove to be solid leads that are capable of coping with both the comedy and the emotional aspects of the drama, never upstaging the script but, instead, working well within its flow. But the real standout performance in Trick is Tori Spelling's Katherine, who is marvellous as the film's motor-mouthed, tap-dancing, lactose intolerant impediment to Gabriel and Mark's bedroom plans.

There is an unfortunate styling error in Trick that, although funny, takes the audience out of the story. In a particular night club scene where Gabriel goes to use the bathroom, he is confronted by a drag queen called Coco Peru (the wonderfully acerbic Clinton Leupp). Unintentionally, Miss Peru bares a striking resemblance to Tori Spelling. This distracts from some fantastic dialogue and is a real shame.

Lastly, Gabriel's flatmate Rich (played by Brad Breyer) seems to be only there out of structural necessity, firstly as a partial foil for Gabriel, and secondly to validate a comedy scene in Trick involving Rich's girlfriend and the two male leads.

A Gay Romantic Comedy With a Head and a Heart

In the best possible way, Trick is both a trick and a treat. What seems a simple romantic comedy is so much more. Gabriel just wants a one-night-stand and instead ends up finding that the object of his (and just about every other gay mans') affections, is offering him something more. In short, this is a gay romantic comedy that is as uplifting as it is clever. A definite must see!

The copyright of the article Trick (1999) – A Gay Interest Film Review in Romantic Comedy Films is owned by Steve Williams. Permission to republish Trick (1999) – A Gay Interest Film Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.