The second X-Men sequel, which practically screamed metaphor for homophobia, took in $440 million dollars at the box office. Talladega Nights, with its gay race-car driver who shares a same-sex kiss with Will Ferrell, has done a surprisingly healthy $128 million and counting. Richard Dreyfuss starred as a gay man in Poseidon which rang up $180 million, while The Break-Up, featuring a gay man kicking Vince Vaughn's derriere, did $118 million. And even Meryl Streep's gay-friendly The Devil Wears Prada managed to break the century mark. (By the way, I'm purposely not mentioning Pirates of the Caribbean, which I just hated.)
Obviously these aren't really gay movies, but I do think it's great that summer audiences sat through five movies that made bucket loads of money and saw actors play gay men who often defied stereotypes and even occasionally promoted a message of tolerance. I think it's significant that an actor like Ferrell, who for some reason beyond me is genuinely popular, does a movie like Talladega Nights where the gay guy isn't a simpering, pervy stereotype constantly put down by the hero. (Which isn't to say everyone appreciated Sacha Cohen's performance. That's you Queerty!)
And there is even good news for movies with smaller budgets and more explicit gay storylines. Little Miss Sunshine, starring Toni Collette and Steve Carrell as her gay brother has made $23 million and it's box office take is actually increasing with each passing week. And Quinceañera, which just came out and is only playing on four screens has already made almost one million in spending money. (I happened to catch it last night and it's definitely a worthy contender to break out and become an indie smash.)
The Night Listener, based on the novel by Armistead Maupin, has nearly made back it's budget of $10 million and will surely break into the black once released on DVD. Even Another Gay Movie, while not everyone's cup of tea, is giving great box office, and more importantly, is reminding straight people that gay people can have sex with pastry items too.
THE BOY WHO CRIED “GAY CONTENT”
I'm starting to get the sinking feeling that Nip/Tuck might be the new Rescue Me. And by that I mean a show that teases with gay storylines only to deliver bupkus. Rescue Me did it all season with Probie and his “gay” storyline. The show had the audacity to include programming listings that said things like “Probie seeks advice about his sexuality” only to give us thirty seconds of him in a bar being told that since he could sleep with men and women, he should go hit on a hot couple and try to get both their phone numbers. Because you know those bisexuals will do just about anyone, anytime, any place.
This summer I've chronicled the “gay” hints dropped by the powers that be over at Nip/Tuck. Those hints, via Ask Ausiello, included revelations that Christian would have an encounter with Sean on a couch (Ooohhhh!), and that Christian would also have a homoerotic moment with Mario Lopez in the shower (Aaahhhhhh!). Both rumors then subsequently had the gay explained away–sort of at any rate. Now someone (gosh, I wonder who they could be affiliated with?) has leaked these photos (warning NSFW!) that raise the whole gay titillation issue yet again.
Frankly, I'm getting tired of this dance of a thousand gay veils. I damned well hope Nip/Tuck delivers something more substantial than did Rescue Me. They already owe us for having given us yet another bisexual serial killer last season. (And despite repeated requests, we couldn't get any response from FX about the upcoming season.)
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