Were the World Mine may not be perfect, but it is inspiring, with a brilliant and durable concept (a queer interpretation and extension of A Midsummer Night's Dream). Like a previous reviewer, I just saw this at the San Francisco Int'l LGBT Film Festival, where it was indeed a solid crowd pleaser and one of my three favorite features in the festival. The film grew from the director's short film "Fairies" (which was also memorable) and I dare say that the music and lyrics, and certainly the lead performers, deserve to have him tighten it up a bit, somehow get lots more money, and carry this forward to a remake a la Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge") or Julie Taymor ("Across the Universe"). In a way, the material is both weighty and fanciful enough to really need that level of realization to be properly appreciated. As is, though, "Were the World Mine" moved me to tears, made me laugh many times, and made me want to listen to its few songs again, more closely!
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kan62dinsky30 June 2008
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ptb-819 February 2009This utterly adorable fantasy musical is one of those tiny movies made simply in a small town and without pretensions other than to enchant... and if you see it in a crowded cinema keen to enjoy then you are really in for a magical experience. I know I am blathering on about this funny whimsical film in the tone of the title and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM terminology, but as I am having fun here with my descriptions, you will as well if you take the time to see and enjoy it as I described above. With it's heart tight in its lovable hero's hairy teen armpit, this DEAD POET SOCIETY locker room version of MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM has more than a whiff of the teen spirit from Baz Luhrmann's Leo/R&J and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL for teenage boys. If it can be remade with a bigger sound and image quality and retain the hilarious tone and charm then WERE THE WORLD MINE might just cross into mainstream teen and young adult affection with its funny fairy charm intact and actually get world wide applause. Tanner Cohen can certainly sing, Nathaniel David Becker is an ideal love interest for him, and Zelda Williams makes the most hilarious and adorable English teacher with a very keen awareness of what when tweaked will want untold. I loved it and will happily get Pucked again even just for fun.
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mnpollio6 August 2009Tom Gustafson's ambitious expansion on his acclaimed short Fairies is quite impressive in its own right. The story focuses on the appealing Timothy – a gay and out student at an all boys prep school in small town USA – frustrated at the narrow-mindedness of many of the people around him. He endures assorted mild humiliations and being largely ostracized, while pining for the hunky nice-guy captain of the rugby league Jonathan. His struggling mother, Donna, does not know quite what to make of him and he gets some solace from his pair of off-beat friends, nicely played by Ricky Goldman and Zelda Williams. Things get shaken up when an ethereal teacher, Mrs. Tebbit, mounts a musical rendering at the school of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream, with some of the boys cast in the female roles and Timothy scoring a lead as a fairy. Timothy discovers in Shakespeare's prose a recipe for a magical pansy, which when sprayed in the face of various townspeople allows them to "walk in his shoes". Amusing complications ensue, along with the stuff of dreams as Jonathan expresses his love for Timothy. The film expertly manages to walk the line between whimsy and inspiration. It pays loving homage to Shakespeare and free spirits and appears beautifully rendered on a limited budget. The musical numbers are few, but effective and carried out by a well-selected cast. The only severe criticism I can think to level is not at the filmmakers, but in some of the reviews I have read from mainstream critics, who take the film to task over what they claim are cartoonish depictions for some of the townspeople – most notably the homophobic gym coach and Donna's Bible-thumping female boss, who fires her when she discovers Timothy's sexuality. To act like such people do not exist in multitude and act this way in the real world and do not often occupy positions of power in small town USA seems particularly naïve on the part of such critics. If anything, the filmmakers have made Timothy's travails as the lone out gay kid at school in a small town much more watered down than they would be in real life. While much of the film's success must be attributed to Gustafson and co-writer Cory James Krueckelberg, one cannot underestimate the exceptional cast. Judy McLane does well with a difficult role as Donna, who cannot quite make up her mind how she feels about the situation but deeply loves her son nonetheless. Jill Larson and Christian Stolte nail their parts of the central bigots perfectly, but also know how to milk the comedy when their respective characters end up falling for same-sex partners who do not reciprocate. Zelda Williams is a particular stand-out, especially when her character grows more frustrated with the events unfolding around her. Wendy Robie is a total delight as the free spirited teacher who proves to be anything but a pushover. Nathaniel David Becker exudes the perfect balance of hunky appeal, lovely singing voice and earnestness to make us understand why Timothy would be entranced by him and make us root for their union. Last, and certainly not least, Tanner Cohen makes the perfect lead for this film. He is alternately adorable, mischievous and heart-breaking making Timothy a character that one does not feel the least bit guilty of becoming completely invested in emotionally. He has a beautiful voice to pull off the numbers and the acting chops to connect with the viewer and carry them over the various emotional hurdles that the character is thrown, particularly conveying his palpable longing for Jonathan. Hopefully this is not the last we will be seeing of the leading men in this film. On a side note, I have also noted that a number of people seem a bit confused by the denouement in how it pertains to the leads, but if one truly watches the interactions in the pre-pansy spraying moments, all of the clues are there for those watching. A quite appealing little film that stays with one long after it has concluded and raises the spirits.
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steven-22228 June 2008I just saw this movie at the San Francisco LGBT festival with a packed house at the Castro Theater, where it provided one of those lightning-in-a-bottle moments that sometimes happen at film fests. Yours truly is a cynical old curmudgeon of a film-goer, and when a movie can win me over this way (along with the rest of the audience) it's like a gift from out of the blue; I found myself not questioning or analyzing the experience, just letting myself give in to pure enjoyment. I'm not surprised that it keeps winning audience awards at festivals; people are grateful when a movie sweeps them up into its own world.
How the magic happens here, I don't know, especially since this is a movie by such a relatively inexperienced director. But I think I can put my finger on a few elements that make this mix happen. First, Wendy Robie as the drama teacher. I previously knew her only as crazy Nadine ("silent curtain rollers!") on "Twin Peaks." She's every gay boy's dream teacher from high school, and only gradually do we begin to realize that she must be more than she seems. Second, though the film is called a musical, and there are indeed songs, the use of music is surprisingly sparing. We don't get a big musical number every 15 minutes; instead the songs are used to capture certain states of mind and to introduce magical elements in the story. I actually left the theater wanting more music (a rare experience!). And third, the ugly homophobic elements in the movie at first seem almost jarringly realistic; this serves to heighten the magic of the wish-fulfillment.
Magic doesn't always work in movies or on the stage; not every production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" can capture Shakespeare's whimsy. But for me, it does work in this movie, and I'm a little awed by the experience. -
Though it may be labeled as a gay/lesbian film, this is a witty and lovely takeoff on "A Midsummer's Night Dream." The acting by all the principals, particularly by appealing lead Tanner Cohen, Judy McKane as his mother, and Wendy Robie as the school drama teacher, is first-rate. The art direction, music and especially the cinematography help create a magical quality as the story enters the realm of Midsummer fantasy. Director Thomas Gustafson skilfully develops believable characters, manages complicated plot twists, and never loses the thread of "what if" that is essential to a retelling of Shakespeare's timeless story. Like the characters, you'll be enchanted by this small-budget but high-quality film.
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preppy-323 June 2008Timothy (Tanner Cohen) is a rugby player in school and openly gay. The other guys treat him like dirt. Then he's cast as Puck in the school's production of "A Midsummer's Night Dream". He finds a flower that makes the person he squirts it at fall in love magically with the first person they see. He starts off by making the whole rugby team AND the coach fall in love with other men...but things quickly get out of hand. Oh yes--and there are musical numbers!
Now I DO applaud what this film is doing--updating (kind of) Shakespeare's play but I didn't like it. For starters Cohen isn't exactly a good actor. He seems too nervous--but he sings beautifully. The humor here also seems too forced--I think I smiled once. The plot also derails more than once and things stop making sense. However, seeing young men openly kissing and making out was hot and very romantic, the musical numbers were great and (Cohen aside) the acting was perfect. Still I was bored and annoyed more than once. It's message is great (accept people for who they are) but the execution is clumsy. I can only give this a 6. -
PTCfromDE10 November 2008Were the World Mine is set in an all male private school where the entire senior class is required to participate in the senior play, a production of "A Midsummer Nights Dream"---even the members of the rugby team.
But the events in the town start to take on a surreal gay twist, as the interactions of all the folks in the town start to mirror those in Shakespeare's original script.
As you may know---the comedy of the Shakespeare play centers around a device where a fairy named Puck can sprinkle a magic elixir into someone's eyes, causing that person to fall madly in love with the first person they lay eyes on.
Timothy, who is picked on by all the members of rugby team, and is playing Puck in the play, manages to get his hands on the elixir for real. But as in Shakepeare's version, not everything goes as planned.
Along the way, there are lots of shirtless hot rugby players, and amazing singing.
I saw this at the Santa Barbara GLBTQ film-festival and was captivated. After seeing the film, now when I play the clips of the trailer I get goose-bumps. During the film I was so transported into the world of the characters that I didn't even notice all the amazing cinematography that I see now in the trailer. The film seems to move effortlessly between realistic scenes and those that are surreal and fantastic---in all senses of that word.
The cast is terrific---and the music is transcendent. I highly recommend this film. -
rgcustomer9 July 2010I was looking forward to this film, and I did ultimately enjoy it (and the actors in it... yum) but it let me down.
One nitpick I had was one of the key lines in the trailer: "if you could make anyone love you, would you?". It wasn't delivered properly, nearly burying the "would you" words, which should have had the emphasis.
I think the film went too far in suggesting the entire town could be turned gay. Who is this guy, Santa Claus? Nobody has that much time, not to mention flower-aiming accuracy.
I would have: * not made it based on Shakespeare, particularly texts that I do not believe actually exist in Shakespeare... (do they?) * eliminated the manic drama teacher ... she was just creepy and unnecessary * delved more into the personalities of the other students. I'm certain we don't even learn most of their names, regardless of what the credits say. * followed up with the true gay love, once acknowledged. The viewers have earned this. Dammit, when are we going to get a good gay romance film (in any genre)? * pushed the envelope a bit. Guys are guys, and whether they are gay, or potion-gay, some aren't going to be making lovey-dovey eyes at each other for very long before moving on to the first few bases, if not home plate. * gone full musical. This was a film with music, but not a musical. It could have been...
I think I still prefer Get Real or Beautiful Thing.
Anyway, still a 7/10 is not a bad score, and I do recommend this film. But it does continue a trend of excellent gay shorts turning into merely average-to-good gay films (Dare being another recent example). -
mg50119 September 2009Usually I resent anything that stereotypes homosexuals. I resent it even more when gays stereotype gays. As gay as this movie definitely is (fairies... guys wearing wings... rugby players doing pirouettes), I am -surprisingly enough- completely enamored with it. I am glad that I watched it, then watched it again, and... watched it again.
There is something about this movie that moves past being just a story about fairies - literal and otherwise. Cohen has a strong and beautiful voice. Both he and Becker play their characters way beyond stereotypes. It didn't hurt to have them both be such total hot-ties, either.
It's really too bad that so many people will be put-off by anything to do with same sex relationships. (BTW: this movie is about more than just that.) They are missing a film that inspires the audience to have the courage to be oneself and the courage to let go of what you love, because of that love, at the risk of losing it. -- 12/08/09 Before Puck (Cohen) sings "Sleep Sound" there is a brief moment when the viewer sees Cole's mother obviously disgruntled by her son's apparent homosexuality. She breaks into a gargantuan smile when Cole return to his heterosexual self. Many gays and lesbians live their entire life knowing that, when all is said and done, our parent's continue to feel that we have failed them by not (at least) pretending to be heterosexuals. When it comes to sexuality, it is not uncommon to find our parent's and our friends' love to be very conditional. -
Taking the concept of a "love potion" (the elixir which, painted on the eyes of a sleeper, will cause the "victim" to become enamored with the first he or she sees on awakening) from Shakespeare's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (being done in a high school production at the behest of a strangely "arty" teacher), but eschewing all the other substance of the play, WERE ALL THE WORLD MINE is a semi-musical whose healthy but overly optimistic premise is that bigotry will not survive experiencing the object of the bigotry first hand. It is only a semi-musical although it would seem to like to be more. Nearly all Shakespeare's plays had music in them, but seldom more than the two or three passing songs that the play-within-a-play in WERE THE WORLD... indulges in, and more to the pity, none of these are set to the Bard's lyrics. While somewhat shaky in construction, the cast and physical production of WERE THE WORLD... make it a mild pleasure, but it would be far *more* pleasurable had the author/director incorporated more of Shakespeare and less of well meaning contemporary farce.
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benc7ca30 July 2009Damn, I wanted to love this movie and I did. Well, parts of it. It's based on a short film called "Fairies" by Tom Gustafson, and starring some of the same actors. I think some positive feedback for that 24 minute movie, encouraged Gustafson & Co. to go back and expand it to a full-length production. Too bad. It WANTS so badly to be a musical, but there aren't nearly enough songs to make it one. The Midsummer Night's Dream mash-up is quite wonderful, but the plot veers off into the ridiculous when it should have stayed in the charming and touching world in which it begins. I love Tanner Cohen's voice; he's the absolute star of this movie, but he's sinfully underutilized. The choreography is so bad I really shouldn't call it that. It's unlikely to happen, but I hope director/writer Tom Gustafson rewrites this one more time for live theatre. This belongs on the musical stage.
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RainbowParade19 August 2008I was lucky enough to see this film at the official youth screening at the Vancouver Queer Film Fest. Liked it so much I walked in and stood for the second, sold out, screening that followed. Beautiful scenes, good acting, great concept / plot, absolutely rapturous music... this movie made my heart melt, made me fall in love with the two main characters. This is what movies are supposed to do, and Were the World Mine did this beautifully.
This film realizes many a gay boy's high school fantasy, and does it with style and grace. It's poignant, moving. The actors who play Timothy's two best friends nail it. The drama teacher is a woman to be reckoned with. And the two male leads are both gay in real life. I will be buying this one as soon as it comes out. In the meantime I will be listening to music from the film on their MySpace page. -
Our hero recreates the love potion from Midsummer Night's Dream. By amazing co-incidence, the first person each of his victim's sees after having the potion squirted in his eyes is of the same sex and age, and they fall passionately in love.
These newly created gays do not behave like ordinary gays. They have no fear of being open about their sexuality. The cannot understand when their love is not reciprocated. They are as persistent as horny dogs. They don't give up and try someone else. They are also manic blissed out of their minds.
The movie improperly conflates being gay with being a drag queen, plastering on makeup like Adam Lambert, and prancing about doing ballet steps like Ulyana Lopatkina. Nobody actually has sex, though they do kiss.
The action takes place in an all-boys school. The actors are all hunky, good dancers, good athletes and good singers. There is quite a bit of music and singing. I wish there were even more. It is haunting and beautiful.
It has a bitter-sweet ending as everyone returns to normal, with a heart- warming twist.
Every young gay male flipped for some resolutely heterosexual male and had to watch from a distance as the girls pawed over him, feeling totally left out. This movie is the fantasy cure. Warning: much of the movie does not make any sense. -
moonspinner558 February 2010Despite a great deal of male-to-male affection (bare-chested hugging, kissing, and cuddling), "Were the World Mine" is overloaded with bigots. What's worse is, they win out! This 'fantasy' for open-minded audiences doesn't really have a happy ending at all...in fact, this is the least progressive gay-themed film in a good while. Handsome prep school lad, about to perform in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" along with his classmates, is aided by his music teacher in coming up with an elixir which can turn heterosexuals gay. This naturally leads to confusion and anger when the newfound gays and lesbians (acting like horny pod people) descent upon the straights, begging for their returned affections. An ambitious, colorful production sense (with beautifully scored musical interludes) captivates the attention for a spell; however, the third act (switching the gays back to their hateful hetero selves) doesn't exactly inspire the quirky sweetness director and co-screenwriter Tom Gustafson was probably aiming for. *1/2 from ****
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MyPokemans27 October 2008I was anxious to go to the LGBT film festival, but I am glad I did. As well as some other titles, Were The World Mine is an amazing film. However, it did have its short-comings. The actors were brilliant, for the most part. Much better than I was expecting. After seeing a few of the shorts at the festival, I really wasn't expecting to be blown away by the cast. They did an astounding job. Even the slightly over-the-top Robie. The music. WOW, the music. I can honestly say that Were the World Mine has some of the best ORIGINAL music for any musical that has come out in a very long time. Tanner Cohen has an amazing voice, as well as the rest of the cast. There wasn't a single person that I thought didn't belong in a musical role. The dancing could have used work. The choreography was very nice, but I there were scenes where I thought "Ouch. It's called synchronization, fellas." The biggest dent in this movie, for me, was the end. I am happy with it, but I think it needed more explanation. It didn't entirely convince me. It was like the spell was still in effect. And that put the biggest damper on the film for me. I can connect the dots on my own, but I would like to be reassured.
All in all, I HIGHLY recommend Were the World Mine. You won't be disappointed, too much. -
lydiab63 August 2011I was passing through channels this morning and decided to check this movie out even though it had 45mins left. And i'm so glad i did! I don't really see many gay/lesbian films but like the ones I have seen and I picked up the plot pretty quickly and fell in love with the character, Timothy. The sweet scene where he and Jonathan sit under the tree was one my favourites and so many more marriage scene & two blonde boys .I thought the director and actors were great and it felt really authentic. I found myself wishing and hoping that everything would work out even though i knew it probably would, and when it did, I thought it was the perfect way to end it with the two of them ending up together (Seeing Jonathan kiss him and the look on Timothy's face, Aww!!). The homophobia bothered me since I'm very supportive of homosexuality and really against bigotry and closemindness especially the "homosexuality is contagious bit" which reminds me of listening to a Church sermon on the radio and the Texan preacher saying basically "since the homosexuals have corrupted and beaten down God". To sum it all up I am in awe and am going to make sure i watch this gem fully.
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LeonardKniffel5 January 2020As the movie progresses toward a student production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the better it gets. There is enough music to warrant classifying it as a musical of sorts, but the real objective of the film is to offer a lesson in the many ways in which love dares to speak its name. After a bullied gay member of the rugby team gets the lead (Puck) in the play, he and his ethereal teacher discover that the play's powerful floral elixir can turn anyone gay. After the town homophobes, including the rugby team, are taught a lesson by being queer for a spell, the community is a better place. A simplistic but sweet twist on any midsummer night.
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Toadinthehole28 August 2009This is a film for the young at heart be you gay or straight or just curious. And did you see that Peter Ustinov 1948 film "Visa Versa"?
If you like modern day fairy tales, musicals and films set in boys boarding schools then enter Shakespeare's Dream for a boy who is different.
After watching it you too may also wonder if this is exactly the sort of film that could be useful to schools since it reverses the idea of what is "normal" when it comes to sexuality.
I particularly enjoyed the way the story unfolds. Very clever. Now you see me now you don't. Like magic!
"All the world's a stage" says the fabulous Wendy Robie between watering her naughty weedy seedlings(no cctv) and standing up to the schools silly head. She's great! If there were more Ms Tebbit's around the world would be a far more enchanting and tolerant place to live. And at the end of the film when she says "Well now that you've had your fun" our dear lovely Puck finds his spell's true implication.
We are left after the curtain goes down resounding like tuning forks! So please watch this film if you haven't already done so and if you have maybe watch it again ... I'm going to. -
Erick_CT14 December 2021I don't like musicals. But this movie is just so engrossing, fun and sometimes little too much. The characters are written with so much charisma in every single one of them. Everything about this is so vivid, especially the scenery and it's ambiance. So happy i didn't give up on this.
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dalek6916 June 2009this film stole my heart, and the two male leads did the same. i had recently watched two rather tragic ending gay films and because of some personal things, was feeling a bit depressed, and... then i watched Were the world mine... It completely cheered me up, i mailed my l.a.t boyfriend with just rapturous remarks about this film (we're watching it together this weekend). to everyone/every gay slightly interested, Go see this film one way or the other.
the singing, the acting, the cute male (lead) characters, the plot, the art direction , it all just Works! together with Beautiful Thing, these are the 2 most wonderful gay films around. (there are other good ones around, sure...)
and yes, it's got a happy end. (that works for me every time!)
to sum it up in one word: Wonderful! -
adamjohns-425757 July 2020This film brings out the Libran in me, because there are many great elements and quite a few bad ones too. I will start with the bads so we can end on the highs.
I personally would have liked fewer musical numbers although there was something about one or two that added to the film. I also thought that the fantasy element was a bit much and I would have liked to have seen a more metaphorical "Magic Spell", keeping it a bit more real. I think that the idea was sound, but got a bit lost in the fantastic which meant that the actual romance for a bit lost and the ending felt very rushed. I have been in Midsummer and I'm pretty sure that Puck does not get the last bow, I think that honour belongs to Oberon and Titania, who seem to have been missed from this version. I was glad that they changed the make up and wardrobe from the first song, because it was quite ropey and I was disappointed not to see more flesh, perhaps someone will write me a more adult version? At the start I was beginning to wonder when the Shakespearean element would kick in as it seemed to be going in a very different direction.
But.... With all that said, I actually did find it quite charming and I am a sucker for a cute guy, so was thrilled that the two leads were gorgeous! I thought the drama teacher played her part very well and I enjoyed hearing Mika among a pretty good soundtrack.
I do love Shakespeare and Dream is one of my favourites. -
hjames-9782212 July 2015Tanner Cohen can not sing. Why he thinks he can, I do not know. Why others think he can, I do not know. The director seems infatuated with him. He keeps using him.
This dreadful mess lurches and sways its way from one ridiculous scene after another. I mean, how many scenes am I supposed to take that feature singing men in undershorts and or fairy wings? And the songs. Oh God, some of them play out like a Ukrainian funeral march.
Look, maybe it's me. I am a gay man--maybe the only gay man--who doesn't get it. I was endlessly tempted to hit the fast forward to spare myself any more. Is it the fact that I find Cohen less than talented and boring? Honestly I don't know. But I'd rather suffer a years worth of bikini waxes than to sit through this monstrosity again. -
Pyreneenguy18 June 2010I watched Were The World Mine this afternoon on DVD and was completely under the spell ! People on the boards have criticized this movie in every way, from every angle and in every detail. Get real folks ! This film is a fantasy, it's sole objective to entertain and to make us dream, to get us away from our dull everyday existences and just enjoy ourselves. As far as I'm concerned, the director ,crew and cast succeeded admirably ! It's never going to be easy for a gay-theme movie to find popularity in main-stream cinema and even more so when things are done on a tight budget, but Were The World has done just that ! Even the gay-clichés made me laugh,as there weren't too many and they fitted into the story-line smoothly. I truly hope that the largely unknown cast go on to long, successful careers !
I gave it a 10, simply because the film entertained me and I couldn't ask for anything more ! -
Timothy (Tanner Cohen) is being bullied at school for being openly gay. He has a crush on rugby player Jonathan (Nathaniel David Becker), who is straight. Timothy auditions for the school play of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and gets the part of Puck.
Timothy discovers a recipe for making a love potion. When the rugby team becomes part of the play, he sprays them with the potion. The potion causes a person to fall in love with the first (same-sex) person he sees after being sprayed. Off course Timothy uses this potion on Jonathan, and soon finds him in love with him. Only problem, Timothy first accidentally sprayed his best friend's boyfriend, Max, who now is after Timothy like a lap poodle.
This fantasy musical gay comedy is a bit cheesy, but I found the musical segments rather good, as well as the singing. In general, this is a well made film. It is the realization of a fantasy, and I suppose all of us will be thinking, what if we had a crush on someone and a potion like this existed? Wouldn't we also have tried it?
However, every action has a reaction. There are funny moments, and more dramatic moments. 'Were the world mine' is a comedy that will make you smile... and fantasize... -
joey30119 April 2020It's so hard to find a gay film that is entertaining, cute, and romantic. This one has a Musically talented cast that is also a pleasure to look at. Put it on my list of nice gay movies