Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!

You have to hand it to Todd Stephens: just two summers ago he makes an instant gay cult classic with Another Gay Movie. Then, as he begins production on the highly anticipated follow-up, three of the four actors from the original Sex and the Cityesk foursome bail out (their replacements are immediately introduced and all is well in the world, err film). Not to mention all the generic issues with independent movies (financing) and sequels (topping the first movie).

Mr. Stephens must be a very resourceful man, because as crass and over the top the original was, Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! provides just as many laugh out loud/”cringe and look away” moments as its predecessor. Having its world premiere yesterday at the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, the packed crowd at the Castro Theatre was in for an offensive treat for Pink Saturday.

Set (and shot) in Fort Lauderdale, the story follows the horny boys as they embark on spring break and a contest to see who can get the most booty by the end of the trip. Nico, Griff, Andy and Jarod prove to be up for the challenge (no pun intended) and debauchery ensues.

Nico, played to perfection by Jonah Blechman: the only actor to return from the foursome, steals the show. The script was clearly skewed to exploit the fabulousness of Nico, which may have been underutilized in the first film. Scott Thompson and Stephanie McVay also return as the wacky parental figures that kept us in tears in the original.

The rest of the recipe seems like typical sequel fare: the supporting cast is bigger (including Rupaul and Lady Bunny) the cameos are sillier (Amanda Lepore starts us off as a stewardess for Transamerica airlines) and the porn star ante has been tripled. And considering Matthew Rush was my favorite cameo in the original, that’s not a bad thing.

Don’t let the out of place storyline (the boys, originally looking to hook up, end up preoccupied with true love) or abundance of reality tv stars throw you off (Will Wikle of Big Brother and Jim Verraros of American Idol lend a hand): this is raunchy comedy taken to the next level. And if Perez Hilton, who plays a very misguided version of himself, can’t get you falling out of your seat laughing, this may not be your genre.

They say sequels tend to be bigger, longer, and uncut (although usually not talking about penises). Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! delivers with sex, shirtless boys galore and much more. The film opens in theatres this summer.