Sweet Hideaway

This movie is the perfect example of why people who have no talent should ever produce again. Obviously this movie hasn't even got a distributor, even Ed Wood knew how to make a bad movie good. This one just starts bad and ends that way. I don't understand how the producer would hire such an inept director/writer.

"Sweet Hideaway" may not succeed overall in its approach. However, several moments in the film are hilarious. The talent gathered for the effort are amazing, taking average material and making it interesting. New talent Chip Joslin, Benjamin Dane, Marco Rodriguez, Dane Hereford shine in their performances. "Sweet Hideaway" is far from a perfect comedy, but it succeeds on several levels. The added cast of Rickey Smiley, Anthony Johnson and Natalie Desselle propel the film and veteran Burton Gilliam adds an over-the-top element that actually helps ground the story. Newcomer Parisa Fakhri is also very endearing. "Hideaway" provides a start to several talented actors and is a guilty pleasure to watch. It is a film that promises to offend on every level but is not mean-spirited in its delivery.

I saw this film at the San Francisco Black Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered Film Festival and was shocked not only by the amateur quality of the acting, writing, photography and direction but by the way the film pushed offensive stereotypes of gay men to unbelievably unpleasant extremes without even managing to be funny. (Of course, the film's equally offensive depiction of Asians, Caucasians, and some Black People weren't any funnier than its cartoonish depiction of its gay characters.) I can only guess that this incredibly homophobic film was made by a straight man with little or no real understanding or sympathy for gay men and their lives. And I can't help wondering why the SF BLGBT Festival would program this stink bomb.

I thought Sweet Hideaway was a good movie. I found it to be very entertaining. I knew it was an independent film prior to my viewing it, so I did not go to see it expecting a "Feature Film" presentation. I especially liked the family scene with the Aunt and the little boy. The coach was hilarious (although he did go a little over board with the profane language). It was nice seeing all the new faces (actors) in the movie. Everyone did a great job!

Overall, I enjoyed the movie!

Sweet Hideaway is a little gem of a film. It's very well done, the story is interesting, and it's just plain funny! It had been a while since I'd seen a movie that made me laugh like this. A.J. Johnson and Ricky Smiley had me on the floor laughing too hard. Burton Gilliam did a spectacular job as Detective Johnson. I loved the way he delivered his lines... he was so maniacal, yet so lovable at the same time. I thought Patrick McKnight did a wonderful job for his first film appearance. All of the character development creates a memorable cast, as well as a memorable movie! This is definitely one for the collection. Four stars!