Coming out gay for Tyler was a cakewalk
compared to admitting he's a bear chaser, but once over his
trepidation, the svelte budding actor sets his sights on the hottest
bear of them all in Director Doug Langway's BearCity.
After escaping from his former
twink-filled world, Tyler (played by newcomer Joe Conti) delves deep
into New York's bear scene where he meets the man he's been dreaming
of in playbear Roger (Gerald McCullouch, CSI: New York).
Roger, however, is more interested in
keeping up his street cred than romancing the twenty-something
bear-scene newbie bunking at Fred and Brent's apartment and working
at the bear's favorite coffee shop hangout.
Fred (Brian Keane) and Brent (Stephen
Guarino) have been together four years, and describe themselves as
blissful, but Tyler's sudden fall from the sky has Fred considering
whether to open up the relationship.
In considering the possibility, the men
offer sweet glimpses into their affection for one another, which,
along with their comic timing, allows them to steal much of the
movie.
Another couple, Carlos (James Martinez)
and Michael (Gregory Gunter) quarrel over Michael's plans to undergo
surgery to reduce weight, but the coupling seems less vibrant and
more forced.
The snappiest repartee is saved for
Tyler's former roommate, super twink Simon (Alex Di Dio), another
scene stealer.
“Don't bears just cuddle and fish all
day?” Simon asks after learning that Tyler would prefer to chase
bears over the thin and hairless.
“Please, bears can be just as gossipy
and superficial as circuit queens,” Tyler responds.
Despite his loathing of “big guys
with rugs on their backs,” it's Simon who plots with Tyler to win
over Roger, described by Simon as the “unattainable lost ark of the
covenant bear.”
They put their plan into motion over
the three-day bear festival called BearCity.
In the end, BearCity, for which
Langway shares writing credit with Lawrence Ferber (Cruise
Control), is a sweet and comic romp that is sure to delight furry
and hairless alike.
After nearly a year touring the gay
film festival circuit and a limited theatrical release, BearCity
arrives on DVD October 22. DVD special features include a
behind-the-scenes documentary; commentary with Langway, Ferber,
Guarino and Gunter; a video of Michael Mirla's Puppy Dog Eyes;
a Homopop interview; and a photo gallery.