2 Minutes Later: The Verdict

So, last month I wrote wistfully about the prospect of seeing Robert Gaston's 2 Minutes Later, a gay man/lesbian detective buddy flick murder mystery set in Philadelphia. I wasn't incredibly hopeful, because Frameline had it slotted into one of the smaller venues at the San Francisco LGBT film festival, and the one review I'd read wasn't very positive.

But AfterEllen.com asked me to review it, so I picked up the screener from the Frameline office and popped it into my DVD player. The opening sequence ran a bit long. The opening credits ran a bit long. I was getting a bit restless.

And then the credits finished and the movie really started, and from that minute on, I just sat there going how, how did this guy know to make my dream movie? Robert Gaston, whoever you are, GET. OUT. OF. MY. HEAD.

Before I go on, let me confess my deep and abiding love for the slutty, take-no-prisoners dyke detective Abigail Marks in her high heels and tight white dress and the little gun she keeps in her purse. That's all that I'll say about her now; if you want the full lesbian-centric review of this film I did for AfterEllen.com, it's right here.

For the boys I'll say this: 2 Minutes Later is the story of shy-but-cute, semi-closeted insurance investigator Michael Dalmar (Michael Molina), who while in Philadelphia on business tries to connect with his twin brother Kyle (also played by Molina), whom he hasn't seen in 10 years. The two have a strained and competitive relationship, with the "two minutes older" Kyle coming out on top in the sexual and professional stakes. A successful photographer, Kyle is also an arrogant prick with more enemies than friends. Kyle, however, is missing: No one has seen him in a couple of weeks.

Michael is accidentally mistaken for his twin, and without any apparent hesitation, simply slips into his life, clothes and relationship with cute assistant-with-privileges Joey (J. Matthew Miller). Michael wanders around the city trying to figure out what happened to Kyle by asking leading questions of everyone who recognizes him, without telling them who he really is. He meets guys dumped by Kyle, models offended by Kyle, and Emily (Ben Sander), a neighbor who seems quite ready to spit on Kyle.

Enter lesbian private eye Abigail Marks (Jessica Graham), hired by Kyle's agent, Kate, to track down her missing client. She shows up at an art opening and spots the man everyone thinks is Kyle being accosted by a model his brother had humiliated during a photo shoot. She comes to his rescue, and they're both thrown out of the party. Although Michael tries in his low-key way to fool her just like he's fooled everyone else, she figures out it's not him in about 10 seconds. Then the two of them turn into the queer Hepburn and Tracy, exchanging witty, abusive banter at the speed of light while they try to find out what happened to Kyle and not get killed in the process. They have an easy chemistry, and between Abigail's slutty, rule-breaking methods and Michael's more prosaic investigational skills, they make the perfect team.

What inspired director Robert Gaston to make the first lesbian/gay man detective buddy movie? "Attending GLBT film festivals with my last film, OpenCam, I kept seeing the GLBT community divided as men and women went to their separate theaters for separate experiences," he said. "It's been a goal of mine in recent projects to try to appeal and celebrate the sexuality of a cross-section of the community. I developed the characters of Abigail and Michael because I wanted to show gay men and lesbians working together, and depict a relationship I'd not see on film before."

While the mystery is solved, Abigail and Michael's futures are left open-ended -- and the film concludes with "The End?" People close to the film hint there is interest in a sequel, but I can think of something even better: A television series. This would without question be the best serial crime drama in the history of ever.

Find out more about 2 Minutes Later, including screening dates, at the film's official website. The film also features The Lair's Peter Stickles, whom we interviewed a few months back.