Tired of waiting for the right man but eager to bring a child into the world, 30-something yoga instructor Jenn (Jenn Harris, Confessions of a Shopaholic) chooses to forge ahead alone. The idea of sperm from a stranger makes her uncomfortable, so she opts for the old-fashioned method with someone she knows. Aspiring comic book artist Matt (Matthew Wilkas, The Bits in Between), Jenn’s best friend since their college fling ended due to opposing sexual orientations, agrees to become her donor.
A fleshed-out version of the 2010 short of the same name, Gayby chronicles Jenn and Matt’s attempt to start a family in a platonic and unconventional fashion. Audiences have seen the specifics of friends deciding to procreate before – with 2012’s Friends with Kids and 2000’s The Next Best Thing among them – and are therefore well versed in the ups and downs that follow; however in his debut feature writer/director Jonathan Lisecki invests warmth and affection into his adherence to a familiar screwball formula.
Other clichés infiltrate the film’s underlying proposition, with the New York setting allowing for a plethora of reminders about the apparent lack of suitable straight men within the city – until, of course, Jenn and Matt set the wheels of impregnation in motion, when a raft of other candidates suddenly arise. Separate romantic entanglements soon complicate their arrangement; the plot firmly – and often funnily – resides in zany sitcom territory.
While Gayby offers few surprises within its comic treatise upon the many mechanisms of entering into parenthood, their perceptions and repercussions, the film still provides an enjoyably oddball romp despite its predictability. Lisecki demonstrates an innate ability to heighten the humour in standard situations and stereotypes, with his own supporting performance – as Matt’s snarky but insightful friend Neal – the highlight of every scene he is in. His predilection for peppering dialogue with one-liners is less consistent, but many hit their targets. Even when sentiment takes over, amusement is still evident, the combination proving sometimes awkward but always likeable.
With an undoubted indie feel in line with its origins, the feature’s informal staging and style are far from polished; similarly, leads Harris and Wilkas waver in their effectiveness, but never in their enthusiasm. Yet the sheen-free aesthetics and spirited portrayals add to the charm of this pleasant and palatable comedy, allowing the film’s focus on the friendship at the centre of the premise to shine with honesty and authenticity.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Gayby
Director: Jonathan Lisecki
USA, 2012, 89 min
Melbourne Queer Film Festival
www.mqff.com.au
14 – 24 March
Brisbane Queer Film Festival
www.bqff.com.au
5 – 14 April
Actors:
Director:
Format:
Country:
Release:
