'Big Gay Love' DVD: Buffy's Nicholas Brendon in Homo-neurotic Tale

Seeing Nicholas Brendon play handsome and charming gay man with a Jane Austen name Andrew Darcy in the homocom "Big Gay Love," which LGBT film leader tla releasing has put out on DVD, is a real treat for men who drooled over Brendon's Xander Harris during his "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" days. This portrayal is particularly nice because it is an exception to the annoyingly broad stereotypes associated with the rest of the cast.

The following clip, courtesy of YouTube, of a promo. for "Love" introduces the primary actors and provides a somewhat in-depth look at the film. 

The central character Bob, played by "Love" co-producer Jonathan Lisecki, is an overweight party planner who puts on a big gay front regarding the internal angst he is experiencing regarding not finding Mr. Right. Going beyond being self-deprecating to being self-defecating, Bob convincing himself that carrying several extra pounds and not being particularly attractive precludes anyone from loving him contributes to that belief being a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The aforementioned aspect of being one's own worst enemy evokes thoughts of the uber-awesome Unreal TV reviewed documentary 2013 "Unhung Hero" starring adorable and charming comedian/actor Patrick Moote, who kindly granted this site an interview.

"Hero" centers around the insecurity of Moote regarding what seems to be a "fantastic four" being inadequate to satisfy women and includes journalist Dan Savage recounting a relationship with a not particularly "blessed" man failing only because said boyfriend would not stop obsessing about his own "small wonder." As a further aside, the thoughts of Moote and Savage's beau come during a period in which many people feel that eight is enough to fill our lives with love.

The stereotypes in "Love" continue with Bob's frienemies Aidan and Chase being adequately fabulous men with nice features, chiseled bodies, and high sex drives. Bob's mother is an accepting flamboyant eccentric who is partially lost in the '70s. Bobby's world also includes hunky Tag, who is engaged to Bob's best gal pal at the start of the film but finds his true sexuality becoming increasingly less repressed as the film progresses.

An early scene has a faux macho gay boy and other "hotties" cruelly rejecting friendly overtures by Bob at a party only to have him meet restauranteur Andrew (a.k.a. Andy) in the alley behind that venue, which Andy owns and operates. Unlike other types of gay-oriented films, this encounter does not lead to a more intimate one that involves Andy pressing Bob up against the dumpster.

Andy immediately shows the warmth and wonderfully wry wit as Andy that Xander possesses, and he invites Bob to get a sandwich at a food truck that Andy frequently patronizes. Seeing Andy beg the truck owner to stay open long enough to make them sandwiches further showcases the charm of that character/Brendon.

This date also involves the first of many rounds of neurotic angst by Bob. Andy asking the truck owner for sandwiches for him and his "friend" causes Bob to obsess over Andy not wanting to date. Andy reassuring Bob that he wants that friendship to include "benefits" both further showcases the aforementioned charm and is one of many instances in which the former shows the latter awesome tolerance.

Other neurotic bumps in the possible road to true love include Bob negatively interpreting a passage in a book that Andy is writing and further cementing his qualification for the Olympic conclusion-jumping team regarding immediately assuming that Andy is having sex with a man whom Bob sees in Andy's apartment and refusing to allow Andy to do 'splainin in the desired manner.

The quasi-fatal flaws in this over-the-top attempt to provide a moral in the context of a wacky romcom is that Lisecki and his crew simply do not pull it off very well. He lacks the energy and stage presence to pull off a role that requires proudly prancing around in a speedo one moment and showing raw emotion the next.

Although folks who share his physical characteristics and understandable related insecurities can relate to Bob, he is not adequately likable or sympathetic to evoke the desired emotions. He simply is like the Dan Savage ex, who lacks proper self-awareness.

Additionally, the actors who play Aidan and Chase simply lack the appeal to pull off being the boys whom you adore but delight in scorning you. They are attractive and have their charms but fall short of being all that.

This mix of a good message in a crumpled envelope makes "Love" a nice choice for folks who cheer for the underdog and are forgiving regarding shortfalls in films with an equally good heart.

Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Love" is welcome to email me; you can also connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.