Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

The Mudge Boy (2003) Written and Directed by Michael Burke

"You can't even get into trouble like a normal boy!" -Edgar Mudge

Duncan Mudge (Emile Hirsch) is a boy in mourning.  He is just 14, and his mother, the center of his life, drops dead of a heart attack.  His father Edgar (Richard Jenkins) is a loving, but reserved man, unable to express his emotions, and unable to relate to his sensitive son, who wears his heart on his sleeve.

Duncan is a little odd.  He is very attached to his pet, a chicken named Chicken.  It is odd, because the other hens have names like Jessica, Sophia and Mildred.  But Chicken follows Duncan like a puppy, and rides happily in the basket of his bike.  When Chicken needs calming, Duncan just pops her head in his mouth, an old trick.  If a chicken can't see, it calms down.  It does look funny though.

Duncan is not quite ready to let his mother go.  His father is busily sweeping her belongings into storage.  Duncan is carrying on conversations at the breakfast table, supplying both her voice and his.  Needless to say, this irritates and alarms Papa Edgar.   So does finding Duncan lying in bed in Momma's fur coat.

If Duncan had to exist solely in the bubble of their farm, he might eventually work it out all on his own, but sadly, though rural, they are not isolated, and the local pack of teenagers takes an interest in the Chicken Boy.

One of them, Perry Foley (Tom Guiry) is a tiny cut above.  He feels some empathy for the boy, and offers him some protection.  Duncan responds to this very small act of kindness like a desert cactus responds to the smallest of rains; he blooms.  And Perry blooms in the reflected glow of Duncan's friendship.  The problem here is that they are not always alone; Duncan still doesn't get how to fit in with these wife beaters in training.  Duncan's friendship for Perry turns into attraction, and Perry is not immune to the tender possibilities Duncan offers.  But like so many abused boys, he doesn't know how to separate sex and dominance.  Nor does he know how to deal with that label, "F*g."  However this is going to end, you know there is pain involved.

I found this film difficult, while I didn't have a pet chicken, I could identify with Duncan.  Some critics have said they were unsure if Duncan was gay at all, but just seeking affection.  Nonsense.  The one problem Duncan did not have was feeling his own emotions.  He was very self aware, and that is part of the problem; he had no skill at hiding his feelings, an important skill for the future farm boys where taciturn endurance and no frills pragmatism were valued.  As for the question was Perry gay; well, he was at least bisexual, and nothing he does to Duncan will change that.

This is really a story of the desperate lengths and circuitous routes the human heart will take to get what it needs.  It is powerful, and moving, beautiful, and very, very sad.  The director shows a masterful talent for letting a story unfold at its own pace; nothing is hurried.  He also keeps a tight control on the emotional overtone of the film.  I would dearly like to see him do more.

The actors are brilliant, Emile as the too sensitive Duncan, Edgar as the too hardened father, and Perry as the too confused and volatile Perry.  One other performance that I really liked, and I hope I put the right actress with the character, was the plump little girl who wanted to hold Chicken.  (Meredith Handerhan) Warm, descent, she liked Duncan, and endured the habits of the Future wife beaters pack.  She captured so many girls I knew growing up so flawlessly.  Sadly, hers was not destined to be a happy life.

Nor do I think Duncan's is.  But at least he got what he really needed in the end.  The Mudge Boy, highly recommended.

Gay Movies:

La Mission***Burnt Money***8: The Mormon Propo$ition***In The Flesh***The Sensei***The 24th Day***Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon***ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction***East Side Story***Dorian Blues***Creatures From the Pink Lagoon***Satyricon***Ice Men***Richard O'Briens Rocky Horror Tribute Show***Prom Queen***The Kids are All Right***Between Love and Goodbye***The Mudge Boy***That Man: Peter Berlin***A Single Man***Almost Normal***Outing Riley***Outrage!***Law of Desire***Love is the Devil***Cowboy Junction***Horror in the Wind***Bedrooms and Hallways***Cut Sleeve Boys***Big Eden***For A Lost Soldier***Midnight Cowboy***Redwoods***The Massuer***Boy Culture***Breakfast With Scot***The Fluffer***Flesh***Little Ashes***L.I.E. ***Dorian Gray***9 Dead Gay Guys***Shank***I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry***Beautiful Boxer***Bangkok Love Story***Schoolboy Crush***Shelter***Back Soon***Dog Tags***Theft***The Mulligans***The Velvet Goldmine***Swashbuckler***Smoke Signals
***C'Thulhu***Milk***The Picture of Dorian Gray***Brideshead Revisited***Notes on a Scandal***RocknRolla***Mamma Mia!
***Priscillia: Queen of the Desert***The History Boys***Brokeback Mountain***The Broken Hearts Club*** Yaji and Kita: Midnight Pilgrims ***Surge of Power ***In & Out ***Mambo Italiano ***Touch of Pink ***To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar ***Wolves of Kromer ***Rocky Horror Picture Show ***Taboo ***Deathtrap 


Gay Themed Series:

Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Dante's Cove
Hex
Carnivale Season One
Carnivale Season Two
Rome Season One
Rome Season Two
True Blood
True Blood: Season Two
The Book of Daniel: The Complete Series
Torchwood: Children of Earth
Torchwood: Season One


Gay Animation:

Pirate's Booty***Sensitive Pornograph***Loveless: The Complete Series***Loveless: Hope on the Run***Loveless: Soul of Chains***Loveless: Lost and Found***Embracing Love: A Cicada in Winter***Embracing Love: Cherished Spring ***Stonewall & Riot***Drawn Together Movie: The Movie***Drawn Together: Season 2***Drawn Together: Season 3

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age