Trick | | Cast : | Christian Campbell, John Paul Pitoc | | Director : | Jim Fall | | Studio : | New Line Home Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | July 23, 1999 | | DVD Released Date : | February 08, 2000 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 06, 2005 | | Summary | The 'Trick' is finding love when you least expect it... | Content
 | Jim Fall's TRICK is a standout romantic comedy amongst many others with all-too stereotypical characters and storylines. Christian Campbell (Gabriel) and J.P. Pitoc (Mark) work very well together on-screen in this story of finding love in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Perhaps the most refreshing part of this film is its avoidance of graphic intimacy to convey its message -- while those scenes aren't bad, Jim Fall manages to create in TRICK a film that lets you laugh and enjoy the company that Gabe and Mark share without being disappointed that more didn't happen. Indeed, Gabe and Mark are interrupted at every turn when they try to spend their first night alone, but begin to realize that this quality time is what many relationships lack.
Truly, the only disappointment in this film is that you're left patiently waiting for the second date. Tori Spelling costars in this witty, fun comedy about one evening that neither Gabe nor Mark will soon forget. Relax and enjoy this one! |
| Rating | | | Date | July 04, 2005 | | Summary | "So, can we go to your place?" | Content
| Trick is probably one of the best American queer-themed films ever to be produced. And it's an absolute pleasure the revisit this charming little movie, originally released in theatres in 1999 and now out on DVD. Taking place in Manhattan over a twenty-four hour period, Trick tells a tale of a potentially fulfilling relationship in danger of being sacrificed when sex happens too soon.
As the movie opens, we meet Gabe (Christian Campbell), an amateur songwriter and artist who lives with a whacked out roommate, Rich (Brad Beyer). Rich keeps forcing Gabe to sleep in the hall outside of their apartment whenever he wants to have sex with his girlfriend. The somewhat shy Gabe accepts this torture without putting up much of a fight. His only solace seems to be the humorous comfort of his best friend Katherine (Tori Spelling), a budding actress and incessant chatterbox.
After Gabe and Katherine attend a rather dubious audition attended by Gabe's friend Perry (a riotous Steve Hayes), Gabe decides to walk into a pub. There he sees hunky go-go dancer Mark (John Paul Pitoc) - whose nickname is "Beer Can" - stripping on the bar. Their eyes meet and there is an instant sexual attraction, but the reserved, and shy Gabe doesn't give the exchange much thought perhaps assuming that he wouldn't be found attractive by the muscular beauty.
Just minutes later, however, the two meet again on the subway and Gabe almost swallows Mark up with his eyes. Mark pretends to be asleep while really inviting Gabe to cruise him even more. Things progress quickly from there, and the two soon pick each other up on the subway platform. After some hesitant introductions, Mark propositions to Gabe. But where can they go to fool around?
At first they try Gabe's apartment, but Katherine is there and won't leave because she has to print 500 copies of her resume. And later, after Gabe throws Katherine out, the macho Rich comes home with his new ditzy girlfriend Genevieve (Lacy Kolhl). Frustrated, Gabe asks Perry if they can use his place for a couple of hours, but Perry has just reconnected with his estranged boyfriend, and needs some privacy.
Gabe and Mark gradually drift through the night, to discos, drag clubs, and diners, increasingly discouraged. Why, oh why, is there no place where they can have sex? Yet something strange is beginning to happen: In their somewhat ludicrously vain attempts to find a place to have sex, Gabe and Mark have developed feelings for each other and having sex at this point would probably destroy the newly bourgeoning relationship that both of them seem to want.
Trick is an absolutely delectable movie. The pacing is terrific, the direction tight, and the performances are spot-on. Never before has a film struck at the heart of the gay scene with so much honesty, vigor, and bravado. As the timid, reserved soul, Christian Campbell is adorably likeable and he provides a fitting juxtaposition to Pitoc's Mark, who is occasionally sour, but absolutely smolders with an off-the-cuff, confident sensuality. Both have a blazing, and fiery on-screen chemistry - you can utterly believe that they're hot for each other.
Tori Spelling is a revelation as Gabe's overzealous and clingy friend who just doesn't get the hint. And her monologue in the café towards the end of the film is absolutely priceless. But the greatest performance in the film takes place inside of a nightclub bathroom, where drag queen Miss Coco Peru tells Gabe to watch out for Mark, that he's bad news, and that she once got certain body fluids of his in her eye.
As the evening progresses, Gabe's encounters with his various assortment of kooky, mismatched friends, allows Mark to see him for what he really is, which is much more than just a "trick." Also, as Mark begins to open up to Gabe, the young musician begins to see Mark as far more than just an exotic go-go dancer. Viewers will leave this film with the knowledge that even though the night will soon be over for these two charming, sexy young men; their sparkling new romance is only just beginning. Mike Leonard July 05.
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| Rating | | | Date | May 19, 2005 | | Summary | Trick and Treat | Content
| Let alone the difficulty of meeting someone... "Trick" poses the quest and question of "Where can we be alone, together?" In New York City gay clublife... nowhere. They're always running into somebody they know. So an all-night search begins for our heroes to find the right place, and eventually they get there -- not just physically speaking.
"Trick" is Jason Schafer and Jim Fall's fun telling of what two very different people look for as they seach for someone: a common thread. An aspiring musical writer meets a muscled go-go boy. It's not meant to be "a heavy psychoanalytical movie on the impossibile journey to finding true intimacy between opposites in the cynical age of Chelsea boys." It's a fun, delightful movie to be enjoyed! Any movie that has Tori Spelling do a tap number like that gets my vote! And even a fleeting cameo by George Costacos on a screen is enough reason to enjoy any movie. I was most amused by Miss Coco Peru's "evil" moment and I truly believed Christian Campbell's performance -- not just because it's obvious that he would fall for John Paul Pitoc's inescapable good looks. But because the trick is to trick the cynics that true love can be found even in the most unlikely of cities, matches and circumstance.
By the time we get to sunrise in "Trick," it's bright and clear that love can be found and it's no trick at all. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 29, 2005 | | Summary | Sweet, Sentimental Fun | Content
| Contrived, it is. Full of overblown performances; certainly. Fun: without a doubt.
This is an almost embarrassingly sweet and sentimental exploration of what could happen when two well-intentioned boys get interrupted at every point in their attempts to have a little meaningless sex and find out that they actually like each other.
It's paced well, edited well, has an effective supporting cast, and even a little fun music that works with the movie to make just a little magic. I was impressed. It's good, innocent, light-hearted fun. Worth a watch. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 12, 2005 | | Summary | A First Date | Content
| Christian Campbell, Tori Spelling, and JP Pitoc star in the hilarious film "Trick" that desplicts a not-so-average day in the life of Gabe (Campbell). He works at an office; meanwhile, he struggles to become the next Broadway sensation as a writer/ musician. However, his best friend Katherine (Spelling), an untalented actress/ singer, prevents him from furthering his career. One night, Gabe enters a gay club. There he eyes a go-go dancer Mark (Pitoc) whose night at work turns disappointing. His night improves once he meets Gabe. Desperate to proceed with their "one-night stand", they struggle to find some alone time everywhere they go. What happens the rest of the night will surely change their lives.
Through the chain of events lies a sense of humor that never fades. The writing wonderfully desplicts the lives of the three main characters. The logic between the date and why they connect so well gives new meaning to the film theme. Therefore, this is more than just a gay film. This is also about a guy trying to find himself as a writer and beyond. The numerous details fit together very well. Some of the other added characters unexpectingly add an added entertaining twist, namely the psycho drag queen in the club. Though certain extras don't fit the plot well, their sense of humor and wit wonderfully make up for that.
The main actors wonderfully perform their characters with that same uniqueness within themselves. The chemistry between Campbell and Spelling/ Campbell and Pitoc give this film a great viewing flow. Therefore, it's more than their good looks that make their personas great. Spelling wonderfully makes her character annoyingly untalented and unspacious. Campbell successfully gives his character the charm that many adore. Pitoc gives his character the persons that causes others to remain surprised after every action. Together, they offer their sense of theme that keeps the film highly entertaining.
"Trick" successfully pertains to viewers within and not within the GLBT community. Therefore, this comedy is sure to keep many laughing during every viewing. Regardless of film interest, most will keep thinking of at least one unforgettable detail. |
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