Review of Maurice Jamal’s “Dirty Laundry”

Despite its rather salacious-sounding title, it’s pretty family-friendly from start to finish, and aside from a goofy romantic scene between a husband and wife and a few fart jokes, it’s more Hannah Montana than I Love New York.

For another, it’s a rare gay film set around an African-American family and played by an almost entirely African-American cast. The Davis family and their house in Paris, Georgia are a far cry from the hustle and bustle of fabulous, fashion-obsessed, gay-friendly Manhattan (former model and current Tim Gunn co-conspirator Veronica Webb cameos as Patrick’s editrix boss), but in the end we feel that we’ve come to know them and their community, and it’s a nice place to end up.

It’s hard to ignore the effect that Tyler Perry’s message movies have had on the film industry, and it’s encouraging that a holiday season boasting two Christmas movies with predominantly black casts would also feature a parent-friendly gay movie that centers on a black family.

I can probably count on one hand the number of gay films that I could watch with my parents over the holidays without fearing they’d get the idea that I’m either a closet drag queen, a self-loathing slut, a serial killer or a well-meaning hustler. Dirty Laundry doesn’t fall into any of these traps, nor does Patrick, its happily-partnered protagonist, whose primary conflict is familial, not romantic or sexual.

The film also doesn’t overdo the Southern elements. Aside from a barbecue and some gospel gags, there’s not the stench of forced folksiness that sometimes accompanies country mouse/city mouse stories … or, say, Mama’s Family. The film is about coming home and learning to let yourself be comfortable in your own skin, and it is wise to steer clear of a lot of the stereotypical trappings of homecoming movies in favor of genuine, low-key pleasantness and easy charm.

In terms of the cast, like most low-budget ensemble movies, it’s uneven. But lead actor Rockmond Dunbar nails the rather desperate Patrick and the actor has found a new fan here. (It doesn’t hurt that he’s also adorable.) Jamal is a good match for him as his bull-headed brother, especially as the brothers come to realize they have more in common than they thought. And Jenifer Lewis has a few great moments as the scene-stealing Lettuce, whose long-standing sibling rivalry with Evelyn make for some of the best moments of the film.

If you are a fan of family comedy/dramas and are looking for one that looks at coming home with a gay twist, Dirty Laundry will likely satisfy. Is it sidesplitting? No, but it’s cute. Is it wonderfully wicked? No, but it’s got a few twists and turns. Is it a classic? Probably not, but it’s an encouraging move into a new kind of gay film and a story I haven’t seen told before. And again, this is a family film, so the fact that it’s bringing something new and fresh to the table is already something special.

Though it stumbles on the same hurdles as most low-budget indies, Dirty Laundry avoids many of those that trip up gay films in particular. In the end, the story has genuine heart and offers a warm look at a kind of everyday American family seldom represented in gay cinema.

Dirty Laundry opens in New York and Los Angeles on December 7th and in select cities nationwide on December 28th. Visit DirtyLaundrythemovie.com for more information.