Gay Wedding Comedies: The Next Chick Flicks?

As many of you probably know Bride Wars opened last week to critical acclaim/disgust. Everything from the weak plot and over-the-top acting was ripped to shreds, even Anne Hathaway’s gay brother would probably prefer she act like her character in Rachel Getting Married at his nuptials, than in this movie. On a broader level, websites such as Jezebel cited it as a setback to feminism. That is quite the charge to be leveled against what most would assume to be a benign ‘chick flick.’ But it did get me thinking about how gay marriage may change Hollywood. Yes, gay divorces in Tinseltown will definitely be more entertaining to follow in the weekly rags, but also how it may change this genre of movies about marriage.

As we experience the mainstreaming of our love and commitment to each other, will a new genre devoted to the crazy mishaps that lead up to a gay wedding emerge? Perhaps these will be called ‘dick flicks,’ or ‘homantic comedies,’ although the latter seems better suited for movies just about the bachelor parties. Though movies about gay weddings have appeared in the past, usually indie features, or made for Logo specials, there has yet to be a mainstream film about two actually gay men about to be married.

In lieu of actual movies to analyze, I thought perhaps I would simply discuss the role that gays have played in these previous blockbusters. But even that doesn’t provide us enough insight. Sure, they appear as the flamboyant stylist, the bitchy best friend, or any minor character employed in the wedding industry, but with the exception of perhaps Rupert Everett in My Best Friend’s Wedding, rarely do they take a leading role. So how about we say that gays can be seen as the maid of honor character. We are represented by the best friend role, since they are the ones supporting the bride and making the snarky comments, like Judy Greer’s brilliant turn in 27 Dresses. But the part of the facetious best friend is hardly exclusive to wedding comedies so that isn’t as helpful here.

No, I think it is more interesting to consider the leading ladies as how we have or will continue to be portrayed in these type of films. I don’t mean every leading lady. I mean in particular the women who are hesitant about relationships, unlucky in love, and certainly far from getting married themselves that serve as our role models. Katherine Heigl is ‘always, always, always, the bridesmaid,’ and aren’t we also the friend who single handedly makes each female’s life around us fabulous? J. Lo as The Wedding Planner, a job practically invited by homos, she plays a Latina who just happens to fall for a blonde, and the bitch can’t work her stilettos. Enough Said.

These ugly ducklings of the wedding comedy world have always been my favorite because I guess I saw a little bit of myself in them. Each one of them ended up with the cutest guy in the movie, Marsden, McConaughey, Everett, and they all had to work damn hard for it. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this genre. I’m sure it won’t be long before we have characters like gay diva brides and their hunky aloof fiancées, and I think we’ll have the shy guy who starts alone and ends up with the man of his dreams. That is of course if we make it past the bachelor party scenes.

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