Trick (1999) Christian Campbell, John Paul Pitoc, Tori Spelling, Stephen Hayes, Clinton Leupp, Lorri Bagley, Brad Beyer. Screenplay by Jason Schafer. Directed by Jim Fall. R, 3.5 stars (out of five stars)
Review by Ed Johnson-Ott, NUVO Newsweekly www.nuvo-online.com Archive reviews at http://us.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Edward+Johnson-ott
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Once in a while, a movie will strike just the right emotional chord in me and, for a time, I stop being a critic. Instead of studying the various elements of the production or analyzing the subtext, I just settle back in my seat and enjoy. "Trick" is one of those films. Sweet and sexy, this gentle little romantic comedy boasts two lead performances so charming that I simply didn't care to look for problems in the film.
A number of other critics did not share my feelings. Many dismissed "Trick" as superficial fluff and, despite giving it two out of four stars, Roger Ebert seemed to take particular delight in shredding the movie. On the other hand, Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman awarded "Trick" an A- and Reel Views' James Berardinelli also offered strong praise. How nice to see that at least a few writers saw the same film I did.
Set in the Chelsea and West Village sections of New York City, "Trick" takes place over the course of one day in the life of Gabriel (Christian Campbell, Neve's brother), a songwriter with Broadway aspirations. Gabriel is your basic All-American gay twenty-something, perpetually sporting a smile on his wholesome, dimpled face. Unfortunately, he is also a walking doormat. A textbook people-pleaser, he allows his best friend Katherine (Tori Spelling) to monopolize conversations with her self-obsessed babbling and routinely vacates his apartment so that his straight roommate Rich (Brad Beyer) can entertain lady friends, even if it means sleeping overnight in the hall.
On the evening when Rich's "official" girlfriend is due to return from a long stay in France, Gabriel kills time by bar hopping. During a stop at a strip club, he spies Mark (John Paul Pitoc), a drop-dead handsome go-go boy with piercing eyes, a phenomenal body and an equally impressive basket (his nickname is "Beer Can" and it has nothing to do with drinking).
Later, Gabriel encounters Mark on the subway and they briefly make eye contact. When he exits, Mark follows and abruptly asks Gabriel if he has a place where they can get together. And so the adventure begins, as the guys encounter a series of colorful (and often maddening) people on their quest for a bed.
Jason Schafer's screenplay runs the pair through a sociological obstacle course, and along the way, their intended one-night stand turns into something more, with the two young men getting to know each other as individuals instead of attractive tricks. Affection begins to blossom, building towards a closing scene as romantic as any I've seen in a very long time.
It all works because of the chemistry between Gabriel and Mark, and the considerable talents of Christian Campbell and John Paul Pitoc. Campbell is good-looking in a fresh-scrubbed, Midwest way, and he paints Gabriel as a likable man with a slightly nebbish quality reminiscent of Jonathan Silverman back in his Neil Simon days. Beneath Gabriel's polite, pleasant demeanor lies an insecure, body-conscious kid who intensely fears rejection.
John Paul Pitoc is even more impressive. He gives a remarkably subtle performance, ever so gradually revealing Mark's depth of character. Initially, Mark appears to merely be a stoic hunk with a blunt presentation style, but as the night progresses, he reveals his kind, compassionate nature. In a particularly nice scene, he hops in to help one of Gabriel's buddies save face with an ex-boyfriend.
Anyone attending "Trick" hoping for steamy sex scenes is in for a disappointment. While the film is certainly erotic, the emphasis is on courtship, trust and the beginning of intimacy rather than romping in the sack. This is a film where hand-holding is electric and a simple kiss feels like pure magic. The trappings may be contemporary, but at its core, this is the kind of heartfelt romance rarely seen anymore.
Structurally, it is essential that circumstances keep Gabriel and Mark from finding a bed and the supporting cast, particularly Tori Spelling, energetically provides the circumstances. Spelling is convincing (perhaps too convincing) as a pushy actress and singer who is not nearly as talented as she thinks she is. Midway through the film, the guys run into a tactless, overbearing drag queen who looks a lot like a ravaged version of Spelling. I doubt the resemblance was coincidental.
Even in my non-critical mood, I must admit that some of the plot devices proved tiresome, but the central story between Gabriel and Mark was so delightful that the flaws were easy to forgive. Does "Trick" have problems? Sure, but those in the mood for a newfangled spin on old-fashioned romance will find this a sweet and satisfying confection.
© 1999 Ed Johnson-Ott
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