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Compiling a List: Does "Happily Ever After" Apply Here?

posted 10 years ago by ryan-o-west
12 replies | jump to latest

I am determined to stand, resolute, in defense of the gay romance---the kind of movie you can snuggle up with popcorn and a special someone, and live in a fantasy world where suicide, disease and broken hearts simply don't exist. (You know, the world straight people take for granted when they delve into their romance genre.)

I've even begun a list: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls072747928/ (Sure, it's short, but I've only just started---and I'm determined to (re-)watch any movie before I include it, you see, because I take my work seriously.)

So, question: See those two cute guys on the cover? By the time the credits roll, are they living happily ever after? Together? Neither of them dying, addicted to drugs, plagued with abuse or suffering from suicidal ideation?

One day, I swear to you, we won't need to plaster so many caveats onto our search for a happy date-night movie---even if I have to do all the damn work myself!

In the meantime, your help will be much appreciated :) (And spoilers are, of course, welcome: It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for the benefit of others.)

[–] Spectator88 10 years ago

I applaud your initiative as I too appreciate gay romances with happy endings. Free Fall is not such a film although I think a great film and certainly an all time favorite of mine. I very much enjoyed reading your list so by all means keep it going but, having said that, there is no way I'd recommend an e-Cupid over a Free Fall happy ending or not.

[–] ryan-o-west 10 years ago

I very much enjoyed reading your list so by all means keep it going

I plan to, but only so much time in the day! Do you have any movies you could recommend? I'd really appreciate it! (I'm planning to rewatch Boy Culture, as I remember loving it, but can't quite recall the ending.)

there is no way I'd recommend an e-Cupid over a Free Fall happy ending or not.

I hear you, absolutely: I fully expect to hear a lot of people say similar things when I add more "bad" (though, hopefully, never quite terrible) movies to my list, while leaving off superior movies. (Geography Club is a recent example of a movie I really loved---not the best, just one on my mind, but couldn't include because it lacked an unambiguously happy ending. Ditto Summer Storm.)

But (and I get the sense you know this) I wanted to create a list that fills a very specific niche: One where you can pick anything there, and know---without doubt or caveat or fine print---that (1) it's not so terribly acted as to ruin it, and (2) you know that the two guys you're rooting for at the beginning end up happy and in love by the end (though not necessarily with each other---maybe they break up and both find someone new, whatev... heck, maybe they both die but end up together in heaven... anything's possible). It's why I make it a point to loudly spoil the ending at the very start of each review :)

[–] ronfirv 10 years ago

Definitely "A Beautiful Thing".

[–] ryan-o-west 10 years ago

Definitely a classic, and a beautiful movie, definitely. I'm meaning to rewatch it, but---and this is in no way a critique of the movie, my God, it's absolutely brilliant---I think the characters are a bit too young for the "feel" I'm going for my particular list (i.e. movies with a bit of sexiness, in addition to their uplifting endings).

I am, however, going to rewatch A Beautiful Thing, and I may well change my mind! (Not about whether it's a good movie---"A Beautiful Thing" is exactly as its name describes, and it's among the first few movies I recommend to people!)

[–] Spectator88 10 years ago

Some recommendations for happy endings, in no particular order - Plan B, Hawaii, the String, Five Dances, Big Eden, East Side Story, all over the guy, Four More Years.

[–] ryan-o-west 10 years ago

I am shocked and, I won't lie, a little embarrassed to say I've never seen any of those movies, and only heard about half of them!

They're going straight on my must-watch list, and thank you so much for recommending them to me!

[–] dkm1981 9 years ago

****Spoilers Below****

I was so glad to find this post. I too am fed up of gay movies that end on a downer and have also spent much time searching for something that I could watch and enjoy without feeling robbed or angered by the ending. You can find a list of my personal favourites on my profile page, but as that also contains some short films, I would recommend the following feature's, which I don't believe have been suggested yet.

Boys (Jongens) - 2014
The Way he Looks - 2014
Defying Gravity - 1997
You'll Get Over It - 2002

I'm desperately hoping that I will soon be able to add Freier Fall 2 to this list.

Also Edge of Seventeen - 1998 apparently, according to some, ends on a positive note although personally I don't like the ending. You may wish to check that one out for yourself.

[–] shawngreedy 10 years ago

Latter days is one of worst gay movies I have ever seen. The plot is unbelievably cliche and lousy.

[–] zdeblick-j 10 years ago

The Way He Looks is the cutest gay movie I've ever seen with a happy ending. The short 'I Don't Want To Go Back Alone' is just as good, as that's where the movie got kickstarted from. Jongens (Boys) is another adorable movie, Northsea Texas is quirky but charming, Private Romeo is gay Romeo and Juliet but spoiler: both of them live at the end! Were The World Mine is just a fabulous musical style movie with Tanner Cohen starring and he plays a completely different character (well) in Getting Go, a documentary style movie. Getting Go had a good ending but I don't remember if the characters ended up together. But I know I liked the ending so they both live and are happy. Morgan is bad acting but cute, and same for Make The Yuletide Gay. Hope this helped your list!

[–] TwoCagedBirds 10 years ago

I've been watching a bunch of LGBT movies for the past few days on netflix. So far, I've seen North Sea Texas, which is amazing. Definitely watch that. White Frog, which is great. Boys, which was also amazing. Morgan, which was good. Lilting, which is sad, but it was so freaking good, I just. Ughhhh. Its amazing. I suggest you have some tissues handy if you do watch it though, because you will cry. I also saw The Way He Looks, which is now one of my favorites. You have to watch that one.
I just finished Free Fall, which didn't really have a "happy" ending per se, but it definitely ended on a positive note, I think. Marc wasn't in a relationship where he wasn't happy anymore, and while it would have been great if he and Kay got together, it was still such a good movie.

<3 So, I could take the back road, but your eyes will lead me straight back
home <3

[–] Ssilve 9 years ago

You might add Jongens (Boys) to your list.

[–] Ssilve 9 years ago

Nevermind, if you think Ste and Jamie in Beautiful Thing are too young, you'll think the same of jongens. :p