Movie Review – Denied (2004)

Overall Quality 2.0 / 5.0 (not recommended)
Gay Content 4.0 / 5.0 (central focus and major characters gay)
Gay Positivity 2.5 / 5.0

Okay, I have to admit it. I watched this movie because Lee Rumohr, who plays protagonist Troy, is hot. Totally hot. That’s the only reason. And having seen it, there’s no other reason to bother with it. (And dammit! The most skin we see of Rumohr are a couple of scenes in his underwear).

The basic story is sound, but the execution is weak. Troy (Rumohr) is a gay man who’s fallen in love with his slacker friend, Merrick (Matt Austin). Mr. Merrick, meanwhile, is a total closet case who willingly sleeps with Troy but refuses to kiss him or acknowledge their relationship publicly. Unrequited love can make for a powerful and universal story.

At any rate, I think that’s what the film is about. What’s happening isn’t at all clear until a third or so into the movie. Between a messy script and confused direction, it’s hard to follow what’s going on. A good script lays out the conflict and then carefully builds the story, building tension inch by inch. This script meanders and can’t make up its mind what it’s trying to say.

Meanwhile, the director seems to give the same direction to the actors in every scene: “Lee, you’re so fed up you’re emotionally dead in this scene. Matt, you act like a jerk.” Particularly in Rumohr’s case, while I usually prefer understated performances, he seems almost absent in the role. Between the script and inept direction, the actor doesn’t have much to go on. It’s unfortunate: assuming any of the actors are capable of a breakout performance, the film’s other weaknesses hobble them.

As a side-note, Rumohr also played a gay man named Troy in several episodes of Showtime’s “Queer As Folk.” QAF Troy, however, is not nearly so sympathetic as our forlorn romantic in “Denied.”

Regarding the gay positivity, this film’s portrayal is hard to read. Rather than a single Gay Positivity Score, I almost want to offer a range. The unfocused script makes it unclear if Troy is a proud gay man (he doesn’t seem to have any issues being or admitting he’s gay), or a furtive one (at the same time, he’s apparently not out to his friends, although he seems unconcerned at the prospect of being outed later in the film). I’ll say, though, that Troy’s relative comfort with his sexuality gives the film a solid, fairly gay positive foundation. Merrick, on the other hand, clearly has issues with same-sex intimacy. Sex is fine as long as it stays secret. But full-on romance? That’s just wrong. Other characters react badly. Fowler (Matthew Finlason), a friend of Troy’s from high school, doesn’t even want Troy to touch him. The film’s conclusion is a mixed bag, positivity-wise: it ends predictably regarding Troy’s and Merrick’s relationship, but it’s arguably a healthy development.

Overall, if Rumohr and/or Austin someday become major stars, this movie might make an interesting footnote in their early careers. Otherwise, skip it.