What's so gay about "Bride Wars"?
Any movie that's about two female BFFs (Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson) getting into a knock-out-drag-down battle royale over competing weddings has to have at least a drop of queer content, right? Well, yes and no — find out all the spoiler-ish goods on Bride Wars, after the jump! Bride Wars tells the story of lifelong chums Emma (Hathaway) and Liv (Hudson). All their lives, they've dreamed of getting married at the Plaza Hotel in June, but now that each has gotten engaged, they discover that the only June date available will put their nuptials in direct opposition. Their friendship goes out the window as each tries to destroy the other's wedding, in the hopes of getting her rival to move her big day to another day and venue.
So where's the gay in all this? Michael Arden co-stars as Kevin, Liv's can-do assistant. After she loses Emma's friendship — and because all of Emma and Liv's friends refuse to take sides — Kevin becomes Emma's "mister of honor," helping her plan her wedding (and sabotage Emma's) with ruthless efficiency. Basically, he's the type-A, hyper-organized male secretary who's been reading as vaguely gay in the movies since the 1930s. At least Bride Wars brings things out in the open (and this is the spoiler-ish part, so stop reading now if you don't want to know). At the climactic reception, a drunk girl comes up to Kevin and asks, "Are you single?" When he says he is, she follows up with, "Are you straight?" When he responds, "I don't like labels," she lunges at him and kisses him passionately, sweeping him off-camera and off-screen for the rest of the movie.
If Arden looks familiar with a clipboard in his band and a Bluetooth in his ear, it's because he played a similar role as Parker Posey's assistant on Fox's short-lived The Return of Jezebel James. He's also played lots of queer roles on and off-Broadway, principally in Bare and Swimming in the Shallows, and he wrote a gay love duet, "N and R," for a Matthew Shepard Foundation benefit concert. You can learn more about the performer on his website, and West-coasters can check out Arden in the revival of Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum, running through mid-March. Submitted by on Thu, 2009-01-08 17:30. |
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SPOILER
How come Michael Arden hasn't won a tony yet?
Thank you for posting this... i couldn't care much about the movie but the actor you featured BLEW ME AWAY.... but not with this movie...
i immediately looked for him on you tube and watched him perform "River" and "Run Away With Me".... i still have tears in my eyes.... the BEST interpretation of those two very emotional songs (and believe me i love lounge acts and run away with me is a popular choice among cabaret performers).....
i know AE doesn't like to out people if they do not wish to be outed or respect those who want their their private lives kept private... but does anyone know if he is gay? he wrote quite a few gay songs in his website (plus the one song above that i still have yet to discover).... based on his credentials and body of work i would really think he plays for our team....
He hasn't won a Tony because...
He's only worked 3 broadway shows.
A Tale of Two Cities as assistant director this season (no award for AD).
The Times They Are A Changin' during 2006-07 season, which was a flop. His competition would have been Raul Esparza, Michael Cerveris, Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening), Gavin Lee (from Mary Poppings and tap dancing around the proscenium) and the winner David Hyde Pierce.
Lastly, as Tom Sawyer in the Big River revival in 2003-04 season, where the featured actor nominees included a co-star from Big River (the slave Jim, which is frankly a better role), an actor from the Fiddler revival, Raul Esparza, Denis O'Hare, and the winner Michael Cerveris.
So back to your question. Why hasn't he won? He probably needs a better agent to get him into better acting roles on Broadway in years when he won't be in direct competition between Broadway faves Pierce, Groff, Esparza and Cerveris. Although a nomination would be a first step.
just saw his other you tube features...
yup... he's one of us.... and i am now a die hard fan... god i wish he realease an album... and record "river" and "run away with me" exactly how he sang it in new york.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r9pajBwiAk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_L6HXOm_tE&feature=related
if you were not moved by the two performances above then you are a spawn of queen tilda swinton! go back to narnia!!!!
He also makes a cameo as
He also makes a cameo as Hunter on the [title of show] show as a Hunter replacement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5MgEwRytUU (Arden starts at the 5:57 mark)
Nice to see
Michael Arden getting some buzz on AfterElton. I've loved his musical performances for some time. You can check out a cute referance to him by his friend Jeffery Self on his channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rauYr-8vvoA
Saw Bride Wars tonight...