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

Almost Normal (2005) Written and Directed by Marc Moody

Terry: So let me get this straight: in your world, men like being with women?
Brad: That's what they say - until they drink a six-pack.

Brad Jenkins (J. Andrew Keitch) is a 40 year old college professor.  He has a loving family, a great best friend in his sister in law Julie (Joan Lauckner) and he is fairly miserable.  Brad is gay, and alone, and getting bitter about it.  One night stands go disastrously awry, and when one of his students Steven (Adam Jefferis) seems to be flirting with him; it picks him up.  But no, he is trying to set Brad up with his dad, who just came out of the closet following a divorce.  So when Brad goes home for his parent's 45th anniversary, he is feeling pretty sorry for himself.  Nor does a trip down memory lane with Julie and the year book help.  All he really wants to be is be normal for a change.

A drunken car crash later, and Brad wakes up in the mid 80's.  He is a senior again, and the world has definitely undergone some revisions.  Everyone is gay.  His mom (Virginia Smith) and Louise Baker (Mary Douglass) are a couple.  His dad (Brad Buffum) and Halbert Baker (Steve Balsarini) are a couple.  Both families raise him, on alternate nights.  School is a real revelation with cheerleader walking hand in hand, and pairs of boys necking in the halls.

It's heaven, right?  Well, everyone thinks Brad's just a little crazy; no one more so than Julie Erwin, new transfer student.  But for all his talk of events and life choices not made yet, Brad still attracts the attention of his high school crush, Roland Davis (Tim Hammer), star quarterback.  Now it's heaven, right?

Wrong.  Because now Brad finds himself attracted to Julie!

This is an exceptionally well made little indie flick.  Heavy on the philosophical questions, and obviously intended to make people think, it none the less succeeds at being entertaining as well.  It hits a really nice mixture of comedy and drama, without either overtaking the other, which is usually the kiss of death to these sorts of efforts.  There is very little difficult about the set design, etc.  They do a nice job of keeping the 80's period.  But I really want to acknowledge the makeup artist Tania Greene who performed a minor miracle aging everybody for the first part of the movie.  I honestly had no idea that his age was artificially enhanced.

And I think it is a great lesson, both about the silliness of discrimination, but also a message about what it takes to be true to yourself.  It doesn't matter if you are in a world where everyone is just like you, or if you are the odd man out; you have to stand up for what you know is right.  Only then can you be happy.

I loved this clever little film.  Check it out.

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