The Sum of Us (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
Set in Australia, a straight father and his gay son are trying to find Ms. & Mr. Right in 'The Sum of Us' (directed by Geoff Burton & Kevin Dowling). Not only are Harry (Jack Thompson) & Jeff (Russell Crowe) father & son, but they're also best friends. Their relationship is great - they banter, kid each other and, though they tend to get under each other's skin, their arguments are always light-hearted. Harry knows that his son is homosexual & accepts him because he loves him. He only has 2 things to say on the matter: he's sad that Jeff won't have the fulfilling opportunity of fathering a child. And he wants Jeff to practice safe sex. Despite his good looks & engaging personality, Jeff is actually quite shy, as becomes obvious when he tries to woo Greg (John Polson); a man he meets at a bar.
Greg is shy, as well; and it's only after a lot of skittish conversation that the 2 of them arrive at Jeff's house. Things go swell until Harry walks into the room to greet his son's potential lover. Greg - ashamed to tell his parents his sexual preference - is taken aback by how open Jeff's dad is to his son's homosexuality. The truth is simple: Harry just wants his son to be happy. Still, regardless of Harry's tolerance ... he creates a buzz kill to Jeff & Greg by making his presence known before foreplay. Meanwhile, Harry, who's been a widower for some time, is looking for female companionship. To this, he enrolls in Desiree's Introduction Agency, & is set-up with a congenial woman named Joyce (Deborah Kennedy). The 2 hit it off, but, while both are interested in having a serious relationship, situations arise (concerning Jeff) which put the newly-in-love couple to the test. Melodrama ensues.
Given the wonderful honesty in this story, it should come as no surprise (and that's a shame) that this film wasn't made in America. Gay theme? That means Hollywood would pass on it. Thankfully, Australia's film industry is a little more daring in what they choose to produce. Heck, this film is 17 yrs. old, and America would probably still balk at taking it on. What's refreshing about the plot is that homosexuality is basically a non-issue. In fact, Jeff's sexuality is taken so matter of factly, yet so non-chalantly, that he can even joke about it from time to time (remember, this film was shot in 1994. Not really a joking matter). No, this is a film about love (in any form). And seeing a father and gay son enjoy such a strong, enriching relationship is just a very cool thing to see.
You know, this film ends on a bit of a sad note. But while there is sadness, the script enables us to still feel good about all of the characters, and what lies ahead of them down the road. That's smart. Why can't most films conclude in such a manner? Just because a film is grim doesn't mean some light emotion can't permeate the script … and vice-versa. The performances are simply wonderful. Jack Thompson is exceptional as the warm, encouraging father. And without giving anything away, he has to play his role 2 different ways by the end of the film. Russell Crowe is charming as the self-assured, yet shy Jeff. John Polson strikes a nice chord as Greg. And I really liked the naturalistic portrayal of Joyce by Deborah Kennedy. Such sturdy, unaffected performances are scattered throughout.
'The Sum of Us' is a serious film, but not without some strong punctuations of humor. Situations are dour at times, but rest assured, a joke is always right around the corner. And none of the humor feels out-of-place. Because the movie is based on a stage play, there are moments where the characters break from the action, stare into the cameras, & talk to us (as insightful asides). Thompson & Crowe speak with an ease that makes this narrative technique effective. 'The Sum of Us' is not a masterpiece. But it's a small, very sweet, well acted Australian dramedy that would be well worth your time.
Greg is shy, as well; and it's only after a lot of skittish conversation that the 2 of them arrive at Jeff's house. Things go swell until Harry walks into the room to greet his son's potential lover. Greg - ashamed to tell his parents his sexual preference - is taken aback by how open Jeff's dad is to his son's homosexuality. The truth is simple: Harry just wants his son to be happy. Still, regardless of Harry's tolerance ... he creates a buzz kill to Jeff & Greg by making his presence known before foreplay. Meanwhile, Harry, who's been a widower for some time, is looking for female companionship. To this, he enrolls in Desiree's Introduction Agency, & is set-up with a congenial woman named Joyce (Deborah Kennedy). The 2 hit it off, but, while both are interested in having a serious relationship, situations arise (concerning Jeff) which put the newly-in-love couple to the test. Melodrama ensues.
Given the wonderful honesty in this story, it should come as no surprise (and that's a shame) that this film wasn't made in America. Gay theme? That means Hollywood would pass on it. Thankfully, Australia's film industry is a little more daring in what they choose to produce. Heck, this film is 17 yrs. old, and America would probably still balk at taking it on. What's refreshing about the plot is that homosexuality is basically a non-issue. In fact, Jeff's sexuality is taken so matter of factly, yet so non-chalantly, that he can even joke about it from time to time (remember, this film was shot in 1994. Not really a joking matter). No, this is a film about love (in any form). And seeing a father and gay son enjoy such a strong, enriching relationship is just a very cool thing to see.
You know, this film ends on a bit of a sad note. But while there is sadness, the script enables us to still feel good about all of the characters, and what lies ahead of them down the road. That's smart. Why can't most films conclude in such a manner? Just because a film is grim doesn't mean some light emotion can't permeate the script … and vice-versa. The performances are simply wonderful. Jack Thompson is exceptional as the warm, encouraging father. And without giving anything away, he has to play his role 2 different ways by the end of the film. Russell Crowe is charming as the self-assured, yet shy Jeff. John Polson strikes a nice chord as Greg. And I really liked the naturalistic portrayal of Joyce by Deborah Kennedy. Such sturdy, unaffected performances are scattered throughout.
'The Sum of Us' is a serious film, but not without some strong punctuations of humor. Situations are dour at times, but rest assured, a joke is always right around the corner. And none of the humor feels out-of-place. Because the movie is based on a stage play, there are moments where the characters break from the action, stare into the cameras, & talk to us (as insightful asides). Thompson & Crowe speak with an ease that makes this narrative technique effective. 'The Sum of Us' is not a masterpiece. But it's a small, very sweet, well acted Australian dramedy that would be well worth your time.