In the 90's, what's a guy to do? Jeffrey (Steven Weber, Wings) thinks he has come up with a solution. If he can't cope with the risk of AIDS and he hates the idea of wearing a condom, he'll just have...to give up sex! Celibate and gay? Can you even think of using those two words in the same sentence? Well, Jeffrey makes his decision and off he goes to the gym where he meets the man of his dreams. But what is a poor, celibate gay man to do? No sense in leading Steve on! That wouldn't be fair at all. But then, when he tells his friends, they do everything in their power to convince Jeffrey that all he needs is to practice safe sex and get a boyfriend.

Now Jeffrey is an unemployed actor working as a waiter for a catering firm. And only a few short days later, is working a grand gala AIDS benefit. He takes his tray up to the bar to order for his section and who does he find polishing the glasses...Steve! Is this fate? Can Jeffrey ever live up to his new vow? Again he avoids advances from the man he most wants to give into. But the final blow is when his best friend, Sterling, invites Jeffrey to a dinner party, only to find that Sterling is playing matchmaker and has invited someone new to dinner. Of course, I needn't tell you who it is. Eventually everyone is trying to get Jeffrey out of the land of abstinence, including his parents, with absolutely hilarious ideas. This film takes a very light-hearted view of an extreme attempt to cope with the threat of HIV. It reminds us that in spite of this insideous threat, we cannot stop living and loving. Certainly, we must play safe. But we must still seek out companionship and enjoy the wonderous adventure of love.

Patrick Stewart is a blast as Sterling, an interior designer, the friend that Jeffrey first confides his vow to. He steals every scene he's in with great aplomb. It was refreshing to see an actor, known for his very staid and straight-laced character portayals, take on a role like this with such zest! Sigourney Weaver as the "new-age Evangelist" was a real scream and Nathan Lane as the butt-pinching, show-tune singing priest was 'tres hoot'! But the real star of the film, I felt, was Steve (Michael T. Weiss) who manages to bring home the pain of an HIV victim, suffering with not only his illness but, also, the knowlege that no one will want to kiss him again, let alone make love with him. Here is a man, alone, wanting desperately to love and be loved; with something to offer a partner he will have a difficult time luring into any kind of relationship that is to include physical intimacy. Jeffrey will make you think about a lot of things. You'll ask a lot of question of yourself. Like, "What if I fell for a guy with AIDS? How would I deal with that?" Hopefully, Jeffrey will also show you that there are options.

BESTBOY'S RATING:

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