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Amos Lassen wrote on 02/21/2011:

“Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story”
Gay Teen Activism
Amos Lassen
Made for television movies sometimes surprise. This is one of those. Canadian TV broadcast this uplifting comedy drama in 2004 and it is the true account of Marc Hall, a high school student who sued the Catholic church because he was not allowed to bring his boyfriend to his high school prom. Guided by a terrific cast, the movie looks at the homophobic state of affairs of the local school board and the church as well. The story teaches as it entertains and it gives us a look at heroic spirit of gay teen activism and the courage of Marc and his parents and friends as they come together to send Marc and his boyfriend to the prom.
The movie succeeds because of the direction and the good story, John L’Ecuyer directs with a light hand and the screenwriting team of Michael MacLennan and Kent Staines have done quite a job in writing a script that shows the challenge to Catholic school policies regarding homosexuality and trying to prevent a young man from bringing his boyfriend to his prom.
Aaron Ashmore is wonderful as blue-haired, blue-eyed fun-loving Marc Hall. He is gay and is somewhat comfortable with himself. He has a partner named Jason that he wants to bring to his prom. Marc is lucky to have friends who support and encourage him. Opposite him are the school board and his principal who remind him constantly that he is in a state of sin and refuse to allow Marc to bring Jason to the prom.
Marc turns to his family and they back him completely. With his friends and family on his side as well as a gay lawyer (Scott Thompson), Marc agrees to fight the school board and the church and when he pleads his case, there is hardly a dry eye on either side of the screen. That he wins his case is one thing but what makes this movie so good is the way the story is told.
Here is a tender movie that speaks to all ages and has a strong lesson. The acting is wonderful and the story touches the nerve. All of the characteristics of a good movie are there—cast wit, fun, drama and sensitivity.
Ashmore’s captures the part. He has youthfulness in his eyes and possesses the spirit of youth. The movie inspires. It shows us that with the proper demeanor and the desire, there is little that we cannot do. It’s a modern fairy tale replete with a happy ending. We see the bumps along the way to liberation and understanding and we see how they were surmounted. The only thing missing from the movie is an exploration of how it feels to be gay teenager who does not have support. Otherwise the movie is wonderful.

Janorm wrote on 03/10/2008:

This is a film about a true to life incident that occured to a guy in Canada. Here is a test of the system and how it can be made to work even for GAYS!! A must see and should be shown in every publicly supported high school in this country, carte blanc! A true addition to your Gay Film Collection!

John (Ennis-Del-Mar@netzero.com) wrote on 01/03/2006:

I had passed over this DVD so many times that I had marked it off my list. Then I saw a trailer for in on another DVD and decided to purchase it. I do not regret it at all. I find this move so heart wrenching and fun at the same time. Marc has no pressure in school because he is gay. Being acepted by all including his principal and church. They just can't let him bring his same sex partner to the prom, it's against the schools rules and church's doctrin. He appeals it to ths school board and is turned down, then to the church and again turned down. The case winds up in the Canadian Suprime Court and he wins.I believe because the court uses article 15 of the Canidian Constution. His boyfriend is not happy over what is going on and has been outed by the media, something he didn't want. In the scencs Marc looks at his partner with simles that show so much love and adoration towards him. As the story progresses Marc loses his scholarship that would take him out of this small town. His classe mates rally around him to show support that leaves the princial in an empty school. At the "last hour" Marc gets a phone call from his lawyer and he smiles and hangs up and says "I'm going to the prom".He hear noise outside from his bed room and sees a white limo in the front of his house. He comes downstairs and there is his boyfriend dressed in a black tux. Marc says just give me a moment and with in seconds he appears in the front doorway dressed in a white tux. His mom places a rainbow cumerbun on him she has been knitting for him throuout the whole story. He and his boyfriend join the others in the limo and with his neighbours waiving, are off to the prom. Marc's father has gives him a letter as he leaves , he opens it and finds out he has gotten a schorship, "onward and up ward" At that moment you can see in his boyfriends eyes and face that they will be soon be apart. But for now they are going to enjoy the prom with his class mates. The story finishes up then leaving you to wonder if they break up or his boyfriend follows him to collage. You also might need a box of Kleenex too.
I found this story very up lifting and shows that you can get what you want by being brave and challanging. At this time I am envious of todays young Gays for having it much better off then I did in the early 1960s growing up. At that time the word Gay was hardly used and homosexual was whispered. So much has been gained for todays young gays. I am proud that have been able to be out and proud. I just wish I could have been part of todays youth. My life would be a lot better off.
I like this movie very much and recoment it to any young teen that needs to see what standing up for your rights and coming out is all about. You may be suprised what can happen.
PS If your old enough to vote , make sure that the canidates that are running for office are the ones that support gays and get out there and VOTE! It is a powerful tool and your right. One Vote can change history.

marty wrote on 05/19/2005:

yes, you go into the movie knowing how it ends and what the hero is up against. but when you watch the wizrd of oz doesn't the little kid's heart inside you beat just a little faster when dorothy's friends are trying to rescue her from the witch's castle? so even though boy gets boy in the end, i still felt sad when they broke up, and got angry at mark's having to defend himself against the church built on "love" (just not THAT KIND of love)... a well-acted gay "chick flick" kind of movie

Luis Rolando (ManticoreL7@msn.com) wrote on 05/11/2005:

I've about had it with TV and movies calling gay men "queens" over and over, like it's something flattering. I blame Will & Grace among other things. This is a serious plot we have here, yet they name the movie Prom Queen and refer to this young man as Cinderfella. Had these elements been left out of the film, I would've been more satisfied with the outcome.

Aaron Ashmore is ok in the lead role, but after viewing the true story feature of Marc Hall on the DVD, it's easy to see how little of Marc Hall has actually been injected into this character made for the movie. I'm all for glamming up real life scenarios for movie purposes, but Marc hasn't been glammed here: his story and name were simply borrowed and created into an at-times cheesy attempt at an "alternative fairy tale."

Many flaws, but deep down has its charm. Worth watching at least once.

*Queer as Folk fans will be amused to see Makyla Smith (Daphne) appear; the real Marc Hall appeared alongside her in the second season finale of QAF.