Is
a preference to be affectionate toward persons of the same
sex genetic or learned? Chuck&Buck, directed by
Miguel Arteta, poses that question at the point where self-realization
is likely to occur--the early teens. Although they were best
friends as preteens and fooled around as early teens, when
the film begins Buck O'Brien (played by Mike White) is twenty-seven
years old. After taking care of his dying mother for five
years, he wants to reconnect with Charles Sitter (played
by Chris Weitz), a very attractive man who has become a successful
media producer and has a beautiful fiancée. Unexpectedly,
Buck drops by one day at Charles's office, hoping again to
hang out with the latter. Charles immediately senses that
something is wrong about Buck's overture and tries to put
him off. Buck then proceeds to stalk Charles, his secretary,
and even his fiancée. Buck also writes a play called "Frank
and Hank," which serves as a psychoautobiographical
statement about his desire to have the same relationship
with Chuck that they had earlier in life. While casting for
the play, Buck prefers Sam (played by Paul Weitz), a macho
guy who cannot act, to the chagrin of Beverly Franco (played
by Lupe Ontiveros), the director of the play, as there is
an unreciprocated sexual attraction on Buck's side. Charles
sees the play at the insistence of his fiancée, who
realizes that Buck needs psychological help. Finally, Buck
promises that he will stop bugging Charles if the latter
will agree to spend one night together, and they end up in
bed. Afterward, Buck moves into an apartment across from
latent homosexual Sam; the two have become friends. When
the film ends. Buck is attending the wedding of Charles and
Sam. Doubtless, during the five years when Buck cared for
his mother, the fantasy of a rekindling of a relationship
with Chuck kept him going despite many hardships. The only
way to end the fixation was to try out his fantasy. The story
speaks volumes about the difficulties of finding gay partners.
An early teen encounter might be understood later as experimentation
for one, but another might take that relationship more seriously.
Finally, the story hints that macho guys do not always acknowledge
their homoerotic tendencies. Chuck&Buck may make little
sense to straights but has a world of meaning to gays. MH
I
want to comment on this film
