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

Prom Queen (2004) Directed by John L'Ecuyer

Marc Hall: I like other guys... men...
Emily Hall: Yes, I know, I know.
Marc Hall: You... You know?
Emily Hall: Marc. Your hair. It's blue. And you have a poster of Celine Dion on your wall. We know.

This is the highly fictionalized version of the Marc Hall case, a real land mark in Canadian civil rights.  Marc Hall (Aaron Ashmore) is an out high school student.  He makes no bones about his sexuality, and with a very few exceptions, he is accepted.  Marc is planning on going to the prom, and therefore turns in his permission slip to bring his boyfriend Jason (Mac Fyfe).  But Marc's school is Catholic.  Not just a school in a Catholic neighborhood, but a Catholic School, and his request is turned down.  But when Marc's gal pal Carly (Tamara Hope) says she won't go to prom if he is not allowed, it is a little snowball at the top of a very big hill.  Marc has to tell his parents he is gay in order to enlist their help; see the quote above.  His mother Emily (Marie Tifo) and he go to see the Principle (Dave Foley).  No way, no how, no exceptions.

Meanwhile, his grassroots support is growing; Beau (Trevor Blumas) is highly motivated to get Marc in so he can go to the prom with Carly.  He enlists his friends and the geeks among them set up a website.

The school board evades him the first week; he didn't make an appointment.  This was a mistake.  By the second week, the media is involved.  And then Lonnie Winn (Scott Thompson) a gay rights lawyer steps in, things only spiral further out of control.
His parents love him.  They are not comfortable with his homosexuality.  Neither is Jason, really, not the celebrity that goes with the case.  Is this about Prom, about Marc, or about Civil Rights?  Will he earn the right to go to prom, and not have anyone to go with?

This movie is very drama light.  It had to be to get on Canadian Television.  It almost comes across as After School Special; The Gay Episode.  It was an interesting choice, and it probably shallowed out the characters a bit, but it is still a watchable, teachable little movie.

There are a lot of cute boys; they gave Aaron Ashmore horrible blue hair, but at least it compliments his eyes.  Mac Fyfe is cute in a scruffy sort of way, and Trevor Blumas is adorable.  They have fairly cute personalities; a bit flip, a bit sulky, but basically really sweet kids.  I never knew any of those when I was growing up.  Neither were there any of those among the twins friends.  (Well, maybe one).  Still, Ashmore made the most of a weak script and gave it as much sparkle and bite as he could.

The opposition suffered the same stereotyping; Principal Warrick was reduced to a running joke (No Exceptions!)  Lonnie Winn was a bit of fame vampire, primping for the case and the headlines, more concerned about the case and his career than Marc.  That is probably accurate of the barrister in question, but it did not leave Scott Thompson much room to maneuver in.  A better performance was turned in by Fiona Reid as School Board Chairwoman Lucinda Pilcher.  Her careful, condescending bigotry wrapped in good manners and church double talk (We love and support Marc, while condoning the act) is superlative.  Also a good performance dependant on very little dialogue was Marc's father, Audy (Jean Pierre Bergeron) He doesn't say much, even when he tries.  He doesn't want his son to be gay; but you take what G*d gives you, and you are grateful.  And he is.  There is a wonderful scene where he is drinking coffee, and looking at his toolbox, and Marc comes in, and he says with warmth and pride, "You will be the first of us to carry a briefcase."

The movie is very light on the drama and trauma that can go on in these cases.  There is only one kid who is actually mean to Marc at school.  I would have loved to attend THAT school.  No one egged their house, or made death threats on the phone.  But it does hit the central theme; does a Church have a right to abrogate the laws of the land?  Marc Hall said it best:
"In the end, all I wanna be is at my prom with my boyfriend, my friends. To be treated with respect that I deserve and should expect. As a gay man, the Charter of Rights guarantees me that respect, that level of dignity. And all I can say to that... is thank God."

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: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older