Greg Berlanti's film is worthy of a lot of praise in a society where gay men tend to only fulfill certain stereotypes. A character, Howie mentions how he would like to see gay men being represented as something other than the woman's best friend, the hustler, the aids victim or the sex addict and this film does tend to try hard to avoid these stereotypes. The script is brilliantly written and sparkles when it is at its peak. At its worst, it may be a little bit cliche ridden but hey..it also has originality ( I have taken "Meanwhile" and now its commonplace down ere!) and is not afraid to portray gay men as just a group of lads who are falling in and out of relationships, liek any other group of young men. However certain characters do tend to bring the pace down a little and it does sometimes seem to have the sentiment that gay men have got it so bad compared to everyone else in the world. Timothy Olyphant stands out here in an able cast, made up primarily of TV actors. My only grumble was the inclusion of the lesbian couple who seemed to only be there to represent the ladies and also to give Howie a meatier role. 4/5
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nickbassett198125 March 2004
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jdburkitt20 September 2006As a mature (61) gay man, I enjoyed the hell out of this film. At least there was a diversity of stereotypes. I guess it would be boring to show that most gays lead "regular" lives in all kinds of workplaces. The angst was, thankfully, less "Dawson's Creek" and more universal. The experienced straight actors helped it flow along nicely, a cut above the usual sloppy, Indie-style gay movie. The Lesbian subplot should have been expanded--or left out! I recommend this movie to all young lesbians and gays facing a still altogether ignorant homophobic society---but one that has improved since I was their age. Kudos to the people behind the camera too!
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Libretio5 March 2005THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB: A ROMANTIC COMEDY (2000)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Sound formats: Dolby Digital / SDDS
The lives and loves of an LA softball team, comprised entirely of gay men.
Greg Berlanti's heartfelt drama seems a little timid in the wake of confrontational entries like "Queer as Folk", but the former producer and co-writer of TV's gay-friendly "Dawson's Creek" makes an otherwise auspicious directorial debut with this familiar account of several gay friends looking for love and companionship in vanity-driven Los Angeles. As one character puts it: "Gay men in LA are a bunch of 10's looking for an 11."
Essentially the tale of a Queer sports team comprised of staff and management at a popular restaurant run by elderly patriarch John Mahoney ("Frasier"), the film's paper-thin narrative is roused by a combination of lively dialogue and well-defined characters, played to perfection by a terrific cast, culled mostly from the New York stage: Ben Weber is the 'Plain Joe' whose inability to attract a boyfriend is due more to his lack of self-esteem than absence of personality; Dean Cain (Superman himself!) is a hunky aspiring actor who leaves a trail of broken hearts in his wake; punk-style Zach Braff portrays a gym-queen, wilfully blind to the dark side of gym culture; Matt McGrath and Justin Theroux are ex-lovers who can't seem to let go of one another; and Andrew Keegan is the cute new kid who stumbles into this disparate group whilst struggling to come to terms with his burgeoning sexuality. The unofficial pack-leader (Timothy Olyphant) is smart and sassy, and increasingly aware of the personal opportunities he's sacrificed in his relentless pursuit of casual sex with strangers.
The actors invigorate a fairly routine scenario, though Olyphant (whose demonic good looks have typecast him in too many villainous roles) dominates proceedings as a young man standing at the crossroads of his life, seeking confirmation of his own personal value. Mahoney is funny, wise and dignified as the Shakespeare-quoting softball coach, and Broadway singer-actor Billy Porter gets some of the best lines in a role that otherwise amounts to little more than comic relief. Beefcake is provided by supermodel-turned-actor Michael Bergin ("Baywatch: Hawaii") and Christian Kane (semi-regular on TV's "Angel") in cameo roles, and the lovely Kerr Smith appears briefly in one of the movie's best scenes. Watch out, too, for a memorable appearance by Jennifer Coolidge as a 'helpful' hair stylist who brings the house down with a single line of dialogue! However, a subplot involving Weber's sister (Mary McCormack) and her attempts to become a mother with long-term partner Nia Long is underdeveloped to the point of redundancy (memo to gay movie makers: if you're gonna include lesbians in these otherwise all-male offerings, do 'em properly or not at all!), and Cain's much-publicized 'kiss' with Keegan is coyly hidden by the angle at which it's filmed, a hideous cop-out (the eminently straight Olyphant has no such qualms - he kisses his male co-stars with reckless abandon!). Shot on location by cinematographer Paul Elliott (AND THE BAND PLAYED ON), the movie has the look and feel of a widescreen TV show, dominated by closeups and medium shots which invalidate Berlanti's use of the scope format.
Gay cinema doesn't really need another romantic comedy, but while "Broken Hearts" doesn't offer anything new, it's salvaged by snappy editing, a quickfire pace, and first-class performances by some of America's finest young actors. And thanks to a clever, throwaway bit of name-dropping, the movie offers fleeting confirmation - at last! - of the role played by sex-god Antonio Sabato Jr. in the fantasies of hormonally-charged gay teenagers everywhere! Been there, done that... -
I know people have their problems with this movie, but I happened to catch it at the perfect time in my life. I think every young gay male should watch this movie and see that there is life after coming out. It's nice to see a gay movie that isn't a GAY movie. The main characters all happen to be gay, but that is not the focal point of the movie. There is no sub-plots about AIDS or dealing with same-sex marriages or disapproving parents. The movie starts when all that stuff has already happened. It really makes you think. Two thumbs up! The cast is superb. Although not superstars, the movie has some well seasoned actors; including Fraiser star John Mahoney. Zach Braff does an excellent job as does Andrew Keegan, Dean Caine and of course Timothy Olyphant. Kerr Smith also has a small cameo but well worth it. This movie begins to break down the stereotypes of gay men and comes up with some great gay lingo that my friends and I have adopted.
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Quick evaluation: this movie does reflect my experiences of the past 25 years. As a nearing-50 gay man, I can relate to nearly all the principal characters, both personally and as they relate to my friends and acquaintances. Yes, at various times in my life I've been the cute, promiscuous one; the lonely one; the gym bunny (no drugs, though); the (self-perceived) ugly one. . .all those have helped me to become a better, more self-actualized person. Seems there are too many self-loathing queens commenting negatively on this film here. . .maybe they can't see themselves in the characters, but if they were to be honest, they'd realize that they do indeed exist in one or more of these characters.
I enjoyed the film, laughed a little, cried a little. As I said, "been there, done that." -
jotix10022 October 2005We watched this film when it first was released. On second viewing, thanks to the IFC channel, "The Broken Hearts Club" looks a bit dated since more daring films and television series have come out of the closet recently. It must have been a courageous undertaking by its director, Greg Berlanti, in 2000, at a time that gays were not as prominent as now. The director shows a positive side of the gay life that is not seen often, in that all the characters have values and integrity, something not often seen in mainstream films.
The film is an excuse to bring together a group of young men trying to cope with their lives in that environment. There are different stories that mesh well together. At the center of it all is Dennis, a photographer that seems to have his feet well planted on the ground and knows what he wants. The friends are united by Jack, the restaurant owner, who has taken most of the guys under his wing, at his bistro and as a coach them in the softball team.
We watch the different situations and how the guys react to whatever comes their way. The acting is good, in general. Timothy Olyphant makes an impression as the serious Dennis. Zach Braff, a film director, himself is good as Benji. Dean Cain is the fickle Cole, who loves a variety of lovers, rather than quality mates. John Mahoney appears as Jack, the older influence on the group in an impressive performance.
What director Greg Berlanti succeeded was in presenting young men that appear not to be clichés as in other films of this type. The film is pleasant without breaking new ground. -
jeremyzuni14 April 2005The day I was finally able to admit to myself that I was a gay man I rented this movie. That first viewing changed my life. It helped me envision a life a hoped was ahead of me. During my first year of being out I watched this movie so many times and still watch it about once a year.
The first time I saw it I thought it was one of the best movies I had ever seen. Time has dimmed my view of it but it still a must see for any newly out (newbie) gay man.
The script is well written. Some of the direction is a little off but it was a low budget film. It is also fun to see all these mainstream actors like Dean Cain, Timothy Olymphant and Andrew Keegan playing gay. -
Jimrsjdm6 January 2005I enjoyed "Broken Hearts Club" primarily because it was good nostalgia about coming out as gay, making friends, etc. Its feel-good elements are reminiscent of "Queer as Folk" and "Love, Valour, Compassion" (though less heavy than the latter.) The lead character of Dennis, played by Timothy Olyphant and the character Kevin (played by Andrew Keegan) were the most interesting, as they seemed the easiest to relate to. Other characters (and the relationship challenges they deal with) were interesting as well. Some of the humor and content are a bit cliché and the film is occasionally melodramatic. Overall, however, it is a feel good movie and I would recommend it to gay audiences.
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RiotGurl3197919 January 2005The Broken Hearts Club is one of the most genius films I have ever seen. I love the way each character is conveyed differently, proving the homosexual male stereotype wrong. This movie is very warm and heart-felt bringing a connection to the viewer and the characters.This film is smart, and a well put together comedy that will definitely have viewers laughing, crying, smiling, fussing, and cheering until the very end. I recommend everyone have an open-mind and see this film. There are few films that I would say won my heart after seeing it but The Broken Hearts Club did just that. This film shows that homosexual males go through many similar situations that heterosexual males also go through . This movie sends many different positive messages to it's audience. I definitely respect this film 100 percent. The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comdey deserves a standing ovation.
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mandycp12 September 2007To paraphrase one of the characters in this slight but enjoyable movie of the week, it's not enough to be gay, rather you should be an interesting person who happens to be gay. And that's basically the problem with this movie - it's about being gay, being gay, being gay... and not much else. I suspect however that it will ultimately find a place in the history of queer cinema as an example of the "homosexuality is good/healthy" period, as contrasted with all the gay stereotypes in movies up to the late 90's. It will also form a sharp contrast with subsequent cinema, in which the banalization of homosexuality returns the focus to drama (where it should be) not sexual orientation per se.
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carrowsboy24 October 2002I'm watching this for the 1st time & cannot believe how awful it is! Can't American filmmakers turn out at one least decent gay film??? Can they not bother to rent Get Real, Beautiful Thing, etc???
They should have just called this film "How To Be A Professional Gay In 5 Easy/Cliched Steps."
This film was nothing but cliche after cliche. Seeing the old man in bad drag was nothing but embarassing, the unnecessary drug overdose, film referencing to the point of obnoxiousness, a completely horrible score with bad renditions of Carpenter songs (for pete's sake, USE the Karen vocals, not some cheap knockoff!).
If I remember correctly the actors were practically all homophobes and did nothing but trash gay lifestyles while trying to promote the film. Why did they even bother???
Also... Why do they each keep calling each other "hag"? It is so annoying!
Fag hag? But isn't that a straight woman..not a gay man??? Poor writing, poor direction, poor film. 1/2 star out of 4 (and that is only for Zach Braff). -
marcus_stokes200018 October 2007*The Broken SPOILERS Club*
It's the story of five gay friends, Dennis (Timothy Olyphant), the soft-spoken photographer and main character, Benji (a blond Zach Braff) a gym bunny, Patrick (Ben Weber), constantly grouchy, Cole (Dean Cain), the one with the Matinèe Idol good looks, and Howie (Matt McGrath), a psychiatry student who seems to have problems relating to people, as his relationship with Marshall (Justin Theroux) attests.
The friends also play baseball in the 'Broken Hearts', the absolute worst baseball team in the world, under the watchful eye of Jack (John Mahoney) and his lover, the Purple Guy (Robert Arce). Coincidentally, the 'Broken Hearts' is also the restaurant where the guys hang out the most and where some of them work.
One day, young 'newbie' Kevin (Andrew Keegan) enters the picture and big queen Taylor (Billy Porter) is dumped for 'a punctuation mark' by his boyfriend.
That is just the beginning of a season of change for each and everyone of the Broken Hearts Club's card-carrying members, including African-style living rooms, sad deaths, rushes to the hospital, lesbian sister and lover asking for brother's sperm to make a baby, 'therapy sessions', sex with supposedly straight movie stars and more...
It was finally refreshing to see a gay movie where they say 'Ok, they're here, they're gay, movin'on'... and touch on relationship with a realism Howie would be proud of.
Well, seeing who the director and writer is I shouldn't be surprised, but Everwood's Greg Berlanti managed to do exactly that.
He also is aided by a very good cast and crew, who make 'The Broken Hearts Club' a heartwarming flick that can speak to any man, whether gay or straight.
The Broken Hearts Club: 9/10. -
lostintwinpeaks3 August 2002Fine comedy drama, debuting the directing talents of Greg Berlanti (a producer on the TV show "Dawson's Creek").
A funny script manages to feature gay characters that aren't there just to be the best friend of the female lead, or the victims of Aids, etc. - therefore doing its part to kill the general, smaltz cliches.
One problem with the movie however, is that it seems smugly satisfied with itself for being a gay movie that's not about being gay; this is untrue though - the majority of the conversations in the movie revolve around the subject of being gay. They attempt to redeem this by talking about talking about being gay, as though to claim this is tongue-in-cheek in-jokes - or some such.
Anyhow, all that aside, a fine movie with marvellous performances all round; particularly from Timothy Olyphant and maverick John Mahoney.
A joy! -
jtamburi10 May 2002Now come on .... tell me realistically if this movie would have gotten such good ratings if it was about straight couples. Where was the plot? What was the story? Where was the character development? Think of the most boring plotlines from the most boring daytime television sitcom, then remove the women. That is what this movie is about. The only reason I watched it till the end was to see if anything even remotely interesting happened, or if maybe there were even some non-laughable acting performances. Guess not.
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TuckMN7 January 2002That statement is part of what makes this is a terrific film about love, friendship and betrayal -- betrayal of friends, the people you are supposed to care most about and ultimately yourself. This is also a film about facades, lying and truth telling.
From the opening montage of `Gay or Not Gay' in a supermarket this is a film with many laughs and people that you want to care about.
A true ensemble cast, ostensibly headed by Timothy Olyphant as Dennis, is only part of what makes this a fine piece of cinematic work.
Dean Cain (Cole) as the pretty-boy actor at one point says about his obvious good looks: It's my way in ... and then I have to prove if I have the #@%* to back it up.' Mr. Cain proves that he does have the ability to back it up.
Matt McGrath (Howie) as a man searching for love and doesn't realize he has it within his grasp, has a Mathew Broderick look that is very engaging.
The always-interesting John Mahoney is outstanding as the coach of the `Broken Hearts Club' baseball team that wears the uniform of his restaurant and bar where the perennially losing team goes after their pathetic attempts at playing baseball.
Colour becomes a character as embodied by Robert Arce as `Purple Guy.' He speaks only once in the film -- but it is worth listening to.
There are many outstanding actors -- many currently in television series -- John Mahoney (Fraser), Zach Braff (Scrubs), Chris Payne and Ben Weber who have both done time on `Sex in the City.' But it was particularly nice to see Jennifer Coolidge who will always be Stiffler's Mom in the `American Pie' films. Andrew Keegan as Kevin the `newbie' is exceptional -- learning about himself and life in West Hollywood whether he wants to or not.
This is very much writer/director Greg Berlanti's film -- these must be people he knows and so writes about. At one point one of the characters says 'they should make a movie about us.' Well, Mr. Berlanti did and it is quite an accomplishment because even though the characters are gay the lives they lead, the questions they ask, the problems they face and the joys they experience are universal. -
R_O_U_S19 January 2004How un-promising does a gay male Sex In The City sound? This one took me quite by surprise. It's a frequently very funny romantic comedy, that only occasionally dips into cliche. Why America remade Queer As Folk when they already had this is beyond me. Is "Queer as folk" ever an expression over there? Anyway, this includes Frasier's Dad and Superman amongst its gay baseball team, so it's good in my book.
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David Fick28 November 2002I enjoyed this film. A lot. Granted, it's not perfect - there is a lot of room for development and fine-tuning, but its a pleasant diversion - and one that would be a wonderful launchpad for many things, most feasibly a weekly one hour television drama series.
I also enjoyed seeing such normal people on screen. Normal people, doing the things that normal people do today: talking, laughing, crying, reminiscing.... Sure, writer-director Greg Berlanti remains within a defined zone in terms of his representation of homosexuality and homosexuals, but the group of men he explores are presented comfortably and confidently. They become our friends, because they are like people we know. We see ourselves in them. And we have to face the similarities between their stories and ours - and there are parallels for everyone, whethere hetero-, homo- or somewhere in between.
A minor quibble - I think that the score would have been so much stronger had at least one of the Carpenters' classics been an original. Maybe "We've Only Just Begun", since that is part what lies at the heart of this film.
Jaded film buffs will not like THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB. But so what? I don't think its targeted at that market anyway. BHC is a reminder that homosexuals are more than just 'gay' - there are people behind the labels - behind any label - and the challenge is for all of us to find that grain of self which is at the core of each individual's existence. -
Violaboy80817 October 2004A lot of people have written bad reviews of THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB. I have to disagree with them. When I first saw this movie I loved it. It was about guys who just happen to be gay, living life. Its about family, friends, and relationships. Both gay and straight people can relate to the story line.
I thought the acting was very good. Dennis was well played by Timothy Olyphant. OK most of the actors that worked on this film were straight, but played "gay" very well. I'm sure there is at least one person that you can relate to in this movie.
This movie has its high and low points which what makes a good movie. I watch it whenever I feel down, and it makes me feel better.
The only thing wrong with this movie is that it is too short, running for 90 min
Believe it or not (no pun toward Dean Cain) This movie will go on my list as one of my favorite movies. -
Idefix-713 May 2001Whatever the producers might say, this IS a gay film. And what I mean by it being a gay film is that it revolves around the gay scene, the gay-being inside that gay scene and how does it feel to be gay amongst gays who expect you to perform your own gay stereotype. Gays complain about the stereotyping, I personally could recognize every single one of the characters in people I've known through the years and people I see on the streets all the time act like that, call themselves bitches and do appear to have a certain need to act effeminate while in each other's company. To me, it was a very keen portrayal of how lots of gay groups interact specially in big cities(not only West Hollywood, this could be London, Madrid or Buenos Aires). Instead of complaining about how bad this looks, all of the members of gay communities (I'm talking about places where there are large concentrations of gays and we all know what I mean) should be trying to expand what the community means and offers and not nurture those stereotypes that are so blatantly exposed in films(and of course sometimes exploited).
We could obviously transfer the group of friends into a heterosexual lecture and we'll end up with the same conclusion. This group of gay friends do behave extremely gay and they accept it and some of them even mourn it. Straight groups that act extremely straight(say for example groups of high school cheerleaders or football players) or any group for that matter that asks you to follow a certain pattern of behaviour up to the dangers of depersonalization(think Philosophy students) can only be bad to your mental health and will leave you astray in a world where you are either strong, authentic and in touch with yourself or you'll end up(again) trying to hang on to a group of people for security and acceptance. This film is certainly about that, not about what it feels like to be gay regardless of your geographic situation(you should see Fucking Amal for that). But the director has taken the chance to comprise every aspect of the gay society and make a statement about it in a witty way.
He obviously feels strongly about many issues and he's obviously tired of it too. But then he also relaxes a bit and indicates that it's not really what you do or don't do, it's why you do it. A good example; John Mahoney in drag telling this other guy that he doesn't care whatever statement he's supposed to be making by dressing in drag badly, with armpits unshaved and a dreadful wig; he does it because it is great fun to him and his audience. Period. I'm glad this film was shot, it is certainly one of the few good gay films I've seen. Good gay characters in films whose thematic is not primarily gay are left unnoticed. You want to see a good gay character who is not in a gay film? Think Wes Bentley's father(Chris Cooper) in American Beauty. His character should reflect where you will find majority of gay men still. -
This is a movie, with the right direction, could make a great television series. Think about it, a diverse cast, granted some common stereotypes, but we all need to indentify with someone. A great location for a series, West Hollywood, where else would the gay man for the US Heartland want to be? And actors who throughout the movie developed quite nicely. It was a shame it had to end.
This movie had it's cliches, it's stereotypical gay characters, but what is wrong with a movie, in which it creates an atmosphere, in which you truly can forget your own worries, and somehow become "good-looking by association"?
This movie will be as close to any gay, big-budget Hollywood production you will see in a long time. Rent it or buy it for simply the J Crew guy. Man, I wish we got to see more of him. -
rtlusa30 September 2000Not a masterpiece - something like a good pilot for a sitcom - but very pleasant, genuine and fresh - good and sexy actors - If you are gay, you'll like it. If you are straight, you might learn a few things.... And it's a perfect way to understand why the 'Carpenters' are so important to the western culture....
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moonspinner5529 September 2002A group of fickle, flighty gay men talk about their non-existent love lives while roaming the streets of Hollywood, CA. Aside from John Mahoney (as the only responsible adult in the bunch), the characters are jaded twenty-somethings who all speak in the same bitchy idiom. Their love lives are "non-existent" simply to skirt the still-controversial issue of showing two men in bed together. The film doesn't have the courage of its convictions and, though some of the one-liners might provoke a stray chuckle or two, the loosely-hinged plot isn't absorbing. This, coupled with a low-budget and an uncharismatic cast, makes "Broken Hearts" a chore to get through. * from ****
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pyotr-315 October 2000Heart-warming, terrific glimpse of the lives of a group of friends. It begins and ends with the same two sentences: (paraphrased) "I can't remember when I realized I was gay. But I do remember when I realized it was okay: When I met my friends." This movie is a testament to the value of friendships, and while my own group of friends is a bit deeper than these guys are, I think we all share experiences with them. Some lovely points are made in this film.
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Jimmy-12823 October 2000It's not the deepest movie, or even the deepest gay movie, you're ever going to see, but it's a nice enough way to kill 90 minutes, and it does explore some themes about gay life that I, at least, have never seen before: our tendency to ghetto ourselves from the rest of the world, and our seeming inability to grow up.
Dean Cain and John Mahoney (Zach Braff and Timothy Olyphant hadn't yet done Scrubs and Deadwood, respectively), as the only recognizable stars in the film, do very nice jobs as the West Hollywood equivalent of a Chelsea boy and the boys' fairy godmother, respectively. Billy Porter, who WOULD be a recognizable star if there was anything even remotely resembling justice in this world, is absolutely wonderful in his role. -
pogostiks5 April 2007There is not much point in wasting more than one line on this film; it couldn't have been worse even if they tried. However, IMDb insists that I go on for at least ten lines. Let's see...every single idea in this film has been done before... and BETTER! Not only that, but they didn't even have the decency to give us one even mildly titillating sex scene. That's probably because no-one in the film was committed enough to the film to even dare to attempt one. Besides the fact that it was not funny (I think I smiled once during the entire film)there was no-one in the film that you could seriously care about. Even the worst of TV situation comedies comes across as more witty than this... I think they should have added a laugh track. At least we would have known what was supposed to be a joke. Have I done my ten lines yet? Please, let me out of here! I want to forget this film as quickly as possible.