Testosterone

Testosterone was only very, very loosely based upon the novel of the same name, and if you are a died-in-the-wool James Robert Baker fan, you'll be somewhat disappointed by the differences. That said, the movie is excellent in its own right.

The characters are quirky and although the viewer doesn't truly realize it until the last moment, each and every one of them has his or her own agenda which is ruthlessly pursued throughout. You'll find yourself wanting to watch the movie again just so you can fit the actions into context once all is revealed.

The central character of the film, Dean, strikes one as a typical I-want-immediate-gratification-shallow-American who is glued to his American Express card (note to potential machete wielding jilted lovers: don't pay for your machete with your credit card) until near the end of the film. He doesn't seem to care how much he is disrupting the lives of those he encounters or how much he inconveniences them. Granted, he's love lorn and trying desperately to find Pablo, who he believes to be the love of his life that has been spirited away by his evil mama for purposes best known to her.

Finding a lost lover in a Spanish speaking country when you have problems ordering a beer there, tends to be problematic. You end up relying on the kindness of strangers. And Dean finds no shortage of strangers that are more than willing to help him. If they are, in fact, being kind is something you'll discover when you watch the movie.

The cast is generally attractive and there is a fair amount of appealing flesh on display, but you'll find yourself more interested in the intricate plot within a plot within a plot by the latter half of the movie. Forget the fraction-of-a-second full frontal of the undies model as a selling point. There is more, less contrived, nudity on offer, and frankly, you really won't care once you become enveloped by the film's tensions.

I won't go into the plot, because a great deal of the fun of the movie is watching it unfold. I will say that you should watch every last minute of it, even when you think it's over. There is a surprise at the end that will make you rethink a lot of what you thought you already knew.

Enjoy the movie!

TESTOSTERONE as directed by David Moreton based on a novel by the same name by the late (and much lamented) James Robert Baker is a major breakthrough in Hollywood cinema. This is a film about gay romance and passion treated like a major feature film instead of a low budget, art house only, shadowed `alternative lifestyle' movie. What a relief to see a story that is not sugar coated or desultory or tragically bleak: gay characters of all types people TESTOSTERONE and there is not a stereotype in the film.

Essentially the story concerns a passionate two-week love affair (very cleverly introduced in the titles by comic book type characters - a suggestion of the class act that is to follow) between Dean (David Sutcliffe in a major role at last!) who successfully creates comic books and Pablo (Antonio Sabato, Jr. in a wonderfully open, nude, passionate physical performance) who is a sex addict.

Pablo `disappears' one evening while out for cigarettes and Dean's stable, successful, and sexually satisfying world suddenly explodes. Dean's search for Pablo results in a frightening encounter with Pablo's mother (the always terrific Sonia Braga) who haughtily tells him Pablo has returned to his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Dean hops on a plane to Buenos Aires and begins his search for Pablo, encountering a waitress Sofia (Celine Font, an excellent actress) and a strange `stalker' Marcos (a brilliant and sensual Leonardo Brzezicki) who Dean later discovers are brother and sister. Marcos comes on to Dean and there is more steamy passion at hand until Marcos tells Dean he is an ex-lover of Pablo. Dean is helped by a bellhop Guillermo (another terrific introduction of a fine looking Latin actor - Dario Dukah), by Sofia, by Marcos (who has agenda all his own) and ultimately by Pablo's mother who has returned from Los Angeles to her home in Buenos Aires.

At this point some `truths' are uncovered and a taste of revenge and intrigue begin to enter an otherwise comic mood: the ending unwinds in a way that should be seen, not related (`All's fair in love and war').

All of the actors are first class: it is so refreshing to see real professional male actors unafraid to be filmed in nude sexual encounters between men. Jennifer Coolidge as Dean's boss Louise adds enormously to the quality of comedy. The cinematography is lush and atmospheric and the musical score by Marco D'Ambrosio has the undertone of lilting tango rhythms that propels the story well. A FIRST CLASS FILM that deserves a wide audience, an audience that will please not only the large gay contingent eager to see their stories treated seriously but also the general who love excellent caper films laced with comedy and style.

This movie is Gigli BAD. I'm trying to imagine in my mind why talented women like Sonia Braga and Jennifer Coolidge would take these roles? The script is poor, the acting is bad, the ending is just plain dumb.

I expected to see Antonio Sabato Jr in a starring role, but he's in the first minute of the film and then he appears in the very end. I think he was trying to do an Argentenian accent but it sounded very amateurish. Like any gay man, I've been in love with Antonio since Janet Jackson's "Love Will Never Do" video. I mean, I wanted to like this movie, but....

The things that happen in this movie, are not beleiveable. Dean goes looking in Argentina for his boyfriend Pablo (He pronounces it Pahh-blow, grrr)who has up and left him with no explanation. He tries to get Pablo's mom (Sofia Braga) to help him find Pablo (Antonio Sabato), but she won't. So he asks a waitress "Sofia" across the street if she has any info. At first she claims not to speak English and declares the store is closed. Then we find out she is fluent in English and she wants to help him. He meets a Hot and Sexy "fan" Marcus, oh yeah Dean is a comic book writer, and they end up getting it on...until Marcos spills that he knows Pablo, they used to "F*** for 2 1/2 years." The movie just gets worse and worse. Marcos wants to kill Dean, we're not sure why. Dean ends up kissing Pablo's mom in a wierd break in, he also ends up kissing Sofia...WHAT?! I would have fast forwarded this movie, except there is no "Closed Captioning."

If you're crazy about Antonio, rent this movie, if not SKIP it.

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