"Noah’s Arc" Succeeds at Jumping to the Big Screen

Alex (Rodney Chester), Ricky (Christian Vincent), and Chance (Douglas Spearman) are all back as well, with two years worth of experience and some unexpected life changes having also added a bit more depth to their personas.

Eddie (Jonathan Julian) and Chance (Douglas Spearman)

Chance and Eddie (Jonathan Julian) are at a turning point in their marriage, which is all the more complicated by the presence of Ricky’s new boyfriend Brandon (Gary LeRoi Gray), a young, semi-closeted student of Chance’s who may be hot for teacher. Ricky, however, is still Ricky. His tastes for anything with a pulse and a six-pack haven’t mellowed with time and he remains typically unrepentant about cruising online for Martha’s Vineyard’s most eligible bachelors.

Center: Ricky (Christian Vincent)

Noah’s Arc the series was initially criticized for being populated with caricatures in place of characters, but this simply isn‘t true with Jumping the Broom. The five primary characters are all given storylines that are woven into the themes of love, acceptance, and truth at play in the story, making for some surprisingly tender moments and a few shocking ones as well.

Chester, Spearman, Julian, Gray, Vincent

There is plenty of soapy drama to be had, but what makes the film unexpectedly effective is its refusal to go down a predictable road. Director Patrik Ian-Polk never lets the audience off easy, instead choosing to reel us in as we watch the characters make some unexpected choices and deal with the consequences that follow.

Although this all sounds somewhat serious (and at times it is), Jumping the Broom is still a great deal of fun and filled with some big laughs. To say that this film will be a fan favorite is an understatement, as it seems to have been written specifically with the fans in mind.

That said, Polk also ensures Jumping the Broom’s accessibility to the uninitiated, cannily creating the wide-eyed newbie character of Brandon to function as a window into the characters’ complicated history. The cast gamely throws themselves into the assorted drunken shenanigans and pratfalls required, and a boisterous surprise appearance by a memorable supporting player arrives like a jolt of energy to a sometimes-somber second act.

From left to right: Chance (Douglas Spearman),
Brandon (Gary LeRoi Gray), and Eddie (Jonathan Julian)