On Crave – Bros
One of the most genuinely funny comedies in recent memory, Bros is the gay rom-com I waited my entire life for.
Growing up, I never saw myself on TV or in movies – If I saw gay people onscreen, they were dying of AIDS or gay cowboys, stereotypes abound.
Billy Eichner – writer and star here – is neurotic, angry Bobby here, a leading man who pushes for social justice and change, and rejects the notions that gay men should only care about their looks and fashion trends.
But Bobby is jaded, and as he searches for a lover he realizes he has commitment issues all his own. He's matched with happy-go-lucky Aaron, who seems his opposite in every way.
The two begin a romance that's trying and beautiful, as they both must face their own insecurities to be truly happy.
It's formulaic, but it's really hilarious, and Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Guillermo Diax, Jim Rash, Dot-Marie Jones, TS Madison and Guy Branum make up a diverse, queer ensemble for this big Hollywood endeavour.
You owe it to yourself to see Bros, one of the most genuine, hilarious movies – queer or straight-themed – to be made in a long time.
On Netflix – King Richard
Ah, the film overshadowed by the infamous Oscars slap.
Will Smith brings the gravitas, poise and full emotionality at his disposal to the role of a lifetime, and won his first Academy Award for his leading turn here.
As Richard Williams – father of tennis superstars Serena and Venus – this follows the girls' early lives with their dad as their coach and ultimate cheerleader.
It's not a perfect film by any means, but Smith is so darn good here that it's impossible not to recommend it.
Another intense turn from Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as wife Oracene is also pretty fantastic, and Tony Goldwyn, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, and Jon Bernthal round out the impressive cast.
Make no mistake, though, it's Smith's central performance that make this one worth the investment.
On Paramount+ -- Giant Little Ones
Pride month played host to a huge influx of 2SLGBTQIA+ films on the streamer, but one of the most underrated, under-seen ones is this Canadian gem.
Writer-director Keith Behrman – who's from small-town Shaunavon, Saskatchewan – creates a monumentally gorgeous, quiet picture about young love.
Franky and Ballas have it all: The best friends have the affections of all the girls at their school, popularity, and easy lives – on the surface.
But when one fateful night after a 17th birthday party changes their friendship, the two must struggle with their identities, their ultimate feelings for each other, and what they both want from the relationship they have following.
Josh Wiggins – who was also fantastic in indie Mean Dreams – gives a sensitive performance here, as does Darren Mann, who's gone on to roles in TV shows Animal Kingdom and Yellowstone offshoot 1923.
Onscreen vets Maria Bello and Kyle MacLachlan are also great here, even if they don't have roles that offer them the same depth as the leads.
This is a truly underrated little piece of queer cinema, and one of my favourite go-tos during Pride.
On Amazon Prime Video – Cocaine Bear
If you expect anything other than an absolutely ridiculous, B-movie affair out of a movie titled 'Cocaine Bear', you're looking for the wrong movie.
Very, very loosely based on a true story, this absolutely bonkers flick follows a group of strangers – cops, drug lords, tourists and more – who all become prey for a bear in a Georgia forest who has ingested cocaine.
As the criminals look for the cocaine they airdropped accidentally, they stumble upon the black bear that has eaten most of their product. Police are after the criminals, and there's an outrageous host of folks in between.
Comedian Elizabeth Banks – known for The Hunger Games, Pitch Perfect and 1,000 other things – directs this gory little comedy.
Featuring Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O'Shea Jackson Jr. (son of Ice Cube), Margo Martindale, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Matthew Rhys, social media star Scott Seiss, and one of the final performances from the late Ray Liotta, it's a stacked cast. It's also clear they're having a heck of a good time.
It's big, dumb and loud, but oh man, is it ever a great time.
On Disney+ -- Secret Invasion
Now, I'll fully admit I'm growing tired of Marvel and the seven movies a year they put out. I'm especially tired of the relentless TV series output that's come now too.
But I will say I welcome ANY opportunity to see Samuel L. Jackson kick butt, and this is a perfect starring vehicle for him.
It follows Nick Fury – who assembled the Avengers – as he works with alien Talos to try to stop villainous species the Skrulls from decimating earth.
I have to be honest and say my attention level for these Marvel showcases is lowering, but show creator Kyle Bradstreet (also a producer on Mr. Robot) keeps things elevated, high-octane and interesting.
Jackson is plenty of fun to watch, Cobie Smulders, Bloodline alum Ben Mendelsohn, Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Dermot Mulroney, Don Cheadle, and Game Of Thrones vet Emilia Clarke bring tons of talent.
I think there's great potential here, and I encourage you to try it out.
About The Author:
Jordan Parker is a freelance journalist and runs entertainment firm Parker PR. A huge lover and supporter of the local arts scene, he’s an avid filmgoer and lover of all genres.
A 2SLGBTQIA+ professional, he also works doing Events & Fundraising for the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia, and has a passion for giving a platform to queer events and artists.
His writing often skews toward local businesses, productions, events, and covering arts & entertainment. He’s also an avid sports fan and spends every May getting let down by the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs.
Jordan believes in an open-door policy, and welcomes story pitches and questions from readers.
Email: [email protected]
