Did anyone notice a homoerotic subtlety between Duncan and Owen? I first took note from the first exchange of glances they had in the car. But, being this a movie from the United States I knew the relationship wouldn't be developed, maybe if it was an European movie.......
Yeah... you completely missed the point of their relationship. Duncan needed a father figure who respected and built him up and that's what Owen was to him. It was more of a father/son relationship than a romantic relationship.
Also, if their relationship developed into a romance... this would have been a different movie.
OP is right, those gay sparks between Duncan and Owen were flying! It's like when I watch Star Wars, the sexual chemistry between Luke and Han is so fierce, but, being a movie from the 1970s I knew the relationship wouldn't be developed, but maybe episode 7 will be fabulous!
OP is right, those gay sparks between Duncan and Owen were flying! It's like when I watch Star Wars, the sexual chemistry between Luke and Han is so fierce, but, being a movie from the 1970s I knew the relationship wouldn't be developed, but maybe episode 7 will be fabulous!
Wow, seriously?? It really amazes me how much people 'read' homosexuality into practically every same sex relationship shown in pop culture these days, just because, IMO, it's such a politically hot topic. I think perhaps many of you guys are younger (???), though I could be wrong, as that kind of thing wasn't even on our collective radar, until about a decade ago . And on a separate, yet related side note, I'm all for 'gay rights' - but this is an entirely different issue, esp because of the following:
And EVEN IF there were 'sparks' as you say, that wouldn't constitute a 'gay relationship,' anymore than a 35 yr old man and a 14 yr old girl would signify a hetero, romantic relationship. Duncan was only 14, and, therefore, cannot consent to ANY sexual act (fine, if he had a crush, and it was never acted on by the older person, that would be a different story - but we know from the movie that he's attracted to girls). So if any man over the age of 16/17ish, were to act on any romantic feelings he had towards Duncan, it would be an CRIME - act of pedophilia - not a consensual 'homoerotic relationship' (nor a hetero relationship, if the perpetrator were a woman). So unless this movie intended to be about something it obviously was not, which is based on the assumption that Owen is mentally stable and not a child molester, OF COURSE he was was like a father figure/big brother type of - EVEN IF Owen were gay himself!!
In all seriousness, how old are you guys?? This is NOT a put-down - it's just that I don't think people my age (42) even 'go there,' at least comparatively speaking to our younger counterparts, as nobody used to talk THAT much about homosexuality, until about a decade ago. Sure, having been a child of the 70s/80s, I (and most other Gen Xers) certainly know much more about homosexuality (and at a much earlier age) than our parents' generation, as practically everyone was in the closet before the late 60s or so - and that's great progress. However, it seems like the gay lifestyle is not just accepted anymore, but actually kind of glorified to today's youth, via the media, etc.
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When you say, "Ewww,' it's because Duncan is a child, right?? Because that was my whole point in my above post (that it would be an act of pedophilia and not a consensual homosexual relationship, even if there was any attraction - AND acted on, by Owen.
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Yes. I can't stress this enough, homosexuality is NOT synonymous with pedophilia. Most pedophiles are heterosexual and are relatives of the victim.
And yes, men can form deep emotional bonds without it necessarily being sexual. Women do it all the time, but men tend to be uncomfortable with the concept due to the fear of being perceived as gay. Almost of my friends are straight men, including my best friend since high school (I'm 27), and thinking of doing anything sexual with them is completely out of the question (well, except for one, but it's just a crush and he knows it, and everyone I know, male and female, find him extremely attractive anyway, LOL. He's just that good-looking and a genuinely great guy).
The point being that even in us gay guys, we aren't automatically sleeping with someone just because we're talking to them and we both have a penis. It's the same reason why not every straight man is automatically sleeping with every woman he knows and vice versa.
I think it has more to do with ingrained homophobia though. As mentioned, the fear of being perceived as gay. Because there's always someone (like the original poster) who will see more into a relationship than there really is. No matter how irrational it is.
Yes. I can't stress this enough, homosexuality is NOT synonymous with pedophilia. Most pedophiles are heterosexual and are relatives of the victim.
Yes, of course - you're 'preaching to the choir' here, as the above drives me NUTS, as well!! (I'm a hetero female, btw). I do have a graduate degree in psychology and have taught high school health education, so this is the one area (human behavior/relationships) I actually know a lot about. Indeed, pedophilia is more about power and control and sometimes needing unconditional love (who better than a child?) than it is sex. And we see that heterosexual men often molest both boys and girls.
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If this was a European movie it would STILL just be a father/son relationship. You sound both incredibly pretentious and ignorant. Owen clearly relates to Duncan because of whatever happened in his childhood. It also wouldn't be homoeroticism-- it would be straight up pedophilia. This may sound out of this world, but believe it or not, an adult and a child of the same sex (or different sexes, for that matter) CAN be friends. Owen is Duncan's mentor and a foil for Steve Carell's character. You totally missed the point of their relationship AND the movie, which is a real shame. It's a great movie.