The best aspects of the new gay comedy by Patrik-Ian Polk, “The
Skinny” (that is “The Skim NY”) is the tutorial on HIV prevention near the end,
and the plentiful disco music, sounding 80s-ish, but composed by the director
himself.
Four young black gay men (Jussie Smollett, Anthony Bureell
as Kyle (“the thin man”), Blake Young-Fountain and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman) and their lesbian best friend (Jennia
Fredrique) get together in for a wild weekend in New York City a year after
their graduation from politically correct Brown University (remember those
speech codes?)
The characters are a bit silly. One of them says he deletes his Facebook
profile and starts over when he has a new boyfriend. If I did something like that, I’d never
publish (or accomplish) anything.
Gradually, stuff happens, and they wind up going to GMHC to
get counseled on HIV prevention, and to face the question as to whether to take
retroviral prophylaxis given the uncertainty.
By now we’re in the territory of gay soap opera.
I wasn’t aware that Harlem has its own gay pride march and
festival.
The film was produced with Logo and the DVD is available
from Breaking Glass Pictures (as of 12/11/2012).
I got a review copy, which did not have the extras and
seemed to lack details in some of the less well-lit scenes. I hope the commercial copies have that
technical issue fixed.
I suspect some of the music from this film will show up on
disco floors soon.
The official site is here.
Apparently the film premiered in festivals in NYV in June
2012.
Last two pictures: Mine, NYC, near Yankee Stadium, subway, April 2010.
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