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As Luck Would Have It

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Synopsis

In this unusual tale of gay parenting a closeted gay university professor is awarded guardianship of a 17-year-old teenage boy. Lots of comedy brews as he deals with his "wife," his lover, the teenager and his girlfriend.

Review

In this overly melodramatic but fun film, A closeted gay man is given custody of a teenage boy and they both grow into their new roles. Antonin is a 17-year-old orphan on his own in Switzerland. By law each parentless child has to have assigned to them an adult guardian. When there is no volunteer the judge simply picks a name out of the phone book. In Antonin's case the judge selected a married University professor Jean-Pierre. What the judge doesn't know is that Jean-Pierre is gay and the marriage was one of convenience. So Jean-Pierre calls his old friend and wife Alice who is going through a bitter break-up right now. Alice arrives with all her baggage, both emotional and physical, and chaos ensure. To top off the whole situation, his lover Armando, who's already had it up to here with his lover's closet, isn't too happy with all this new drama. A happy family of two gay men suddenly becomes four, and most of the participants are none too happy!

With its sweet story and snappy writing one can overlook the overly large emotions presented here. The film reminds this writer of many French comedies or many Almodovar films where frantic action and reaction are use to create laughs. This might work in Europe, but here it falls flat. Enjoy the film as a story of gay parenting and romance and try to overlook the hysteria.

-- Scott Cranin

Product Format Information

DVD : $17.99

Availability: In stock and ready to ship
Region Code: 1
UPC: 667443557142

Studio : Picture This! Home Video

Languages: French Dolby Digital 5.1 (Primary) , French Dolby Digital 2.0 , English Subtitles , Spanish Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen

Keywords

Family Life, Gay Male, Gay/Lesbian, International, Parenting

Genres

Drama, International

Customer Reviews

SWEET MOVIE

GEORGE (georgerannie@comcast.net) wrote on 02/02/2006:

“As Luck Would have it” is a sweet French-Swiss movie (in French with subtitles) that does not try to raise or solve any “Heavy duty” gay/straight issues. To me, it is merely light entertainment that tells a very familiar (especially to me) “gay story. “As Luck Would have it” is a “Coming Out” movie that for once is NOT about a pubecent’s dealing with his or her homosexuality but it IS about a late 50ish or early 60ish man having to deal with the fact that he is gay and the fact that life is indeed far more simple with no hidden major secrets. Jean-Pierre is a late 50ish (or 60ish) gay man that thinks he has his life “all together”—no pertinent people know that he’s gay, he’s got a hot male lover and he is in line for important career fulfillment and/or advancement that he thinks would be threatened if the pertinent people knew that he was gay. In other words even though he is living basically a lie, life seems to be good or it is as good as it gets for a closeted older gay man. As happens in this kind of movie, his life is turned up-side-down. In this case, this older gay man’s life is turned inside out by a very young straight kid who is desperately in need of a good father figure in his life even if that potential father figure happens to be gay. There are of course many very funny complications from an ex-wife, current boyfriend, young girl’s father, etc., with all in the end resolving happily especially for Jean-Pierre. The “path” to a happy ending is filled with many hysterical moments that kept this viewer laughing out loud!

The film has a wonderful bunch of actors displaying great comic timing. I especially loved the Cuban lover as played by Interlandi. Interlandi, as Armando is hysterical without ever being stereotypically “over-the-top”. Sabine Haudepin, as Jean Pierre’s non-consummated wife is wonderful having her own set of hysterical “needs”. Jean-Claude Brialy, as Jean Pierre is also great with find comic timing In fact, all of the actors turn in very fine performances.

The film indeed reminded me of a French “Bird Cage”: however, “As Luck Would have it” exhibits, to me, far more warmth/love and far less stereotypes than the aforesaid American movie.

For a fun filled movie that does NOT preach but only entertains everyone (gay or straight) you can’t go wrong with this French-Swiss movie.

0 (No Stars) not worth the money

canadalaw (lawstud71@hotmail.com) wrote on 01/31/2006:

I bought this video as I tend to like foreign language gay films. Dont waste your money, although some of the performances were okay. the dialogue sucked and was very stereotypical. The masseur especially bothered me. It was not that he was effeminate but that this character verged on hysterical in every scene and I don't mean funny!