July 3, 2013
Men to Kiss
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Things are going well for Earnest (Frank Christian Mark) and Tobias (Udo Lutz), a pair of guys living in Berlin, even though they are as different as chalk and cheese. Tobias is the artistic one, always cooking up outrageous costumes and thinking of new ways to amuse himself and those around him; Earnest is considerably more buttoned-up, and fears that Tobias' madcap antics might somehow imperil his new job at a bank. (Not an unfounded fear, given Tobias' love of playing pranks on him at work.)
The one thing that's really problematic is Earnest's feeling that Tobias is off with his friends too much of the time -- that, or he's dragging Earnest around, group of friends in tow, to different clubs and activities around town. Earnest would like the occasional quiet night at home, with just the two of them.
Before the two can work out a compromise on their own, however, an even wilder head-case than Tobias shows up -- Uta (Alexandra Starnitzky), Earnest's childhood friend, who decides that she wants Earnest all to herself even if he is gay. Madcap mayhem ensues, as Tobias and all his buddies launch a feisty plan of counterattack to save Earnest from Uta's clutches... and save the guys' relationship.
The DVD release of "Men to Kiss" has only a couple of extras. In addition to the usual trailers, there's a 25-minute "Making of" featurette (all the usual: The cast talk up the movie, gush their adoration for one another, and generally express amazement at how much work, and how much fun, they had).
There is also a selection of outtakes, which is not subtitled and so relies on physical humor and the sight of the actors getting their lines wrong and cracking up. Even if you don't speak German, you get the idea -- and the cast are all pretty adorable, so it's fun to watch.
This is a movie you'll want to rent at the very least, or keep on hand for late nights when you just want a bowl of chips, some salsa, and a few laughs. After all, what could be funnier than Udo Lutz in a makeshift suit of disco armor, or Frank Christian Mark swaddled in a string of balloons?
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
