Here’s something extremely rare, a thriller/action movie with gay characters in the leading roles! It’s happen before and after, for example Deadly Skies with Antonio Sabato Jr (but the gay theme got censored in several countries to easier attract their demography of young, immature men between 15 and 99) and the Jackie Chan produced Enter the Phoenix. After hearing of Raising Heroes from a good friend in Italy I just had to check it out, because the weird trailer (see below) promises a wonderful mix of naive and good-hearted drama and bloody shootouts.
John (Troy Sostillio) and Paul (Henry White) is a successful gay couple who are about to adopt a child, the son of Paul’s best friend; a victim of cancer. One day when buying milk John witness a brutal mafia murder and escapes home, but is seen by one of the baddies. To not risk their adoption, the final decision is in two days, he choses not to tell Paul… but danger’s ahead when the mafa tracks John down and threatens to kill him and Paul. Shit hits the fan - my favorite expression in boring recaps - and blood will flow!
You might sense it in the trailer, if you look beyond the eccentric, dark music: Raising Heroes is a very naive movie. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but to feels and looks like its made by someone who’s making his first movie - and what I know it was Douglas Langway first foray into feature films. The biggest thing is that it’s going forward with the help of a very cheesy voice over (from Sostillio), who tells the story and shares us his emotions and fears. If this was for the trailer I wouldn’t have cared to much, but this is through the whole movie! But then, on the other hand; it’s terribly adorable also.
I think that’s what makes Raising Heroes important, it might be the only film I’ve seen when the gay couple lives a truly happy life. John and Paul is romantic, sometimes on the verge of parody, but they really care for each other. Forget all those bitter, constantly arguing gay couples who lives some weird love-hate relationship. This couple kisses and lives a normal life, which is so rare that I almost thought I was watching a science fiction movie - until I realized me and my partner does the same thing. It’s just so rare to see in a movie!
Checking every cliché in the book, Raising Heroes is surprisingly entertaining. It’s very hard to dislike it, mostly because it feels like an honest try to make something different. I wished the writers would have spent more time on the script, because there’s one side story I really think could have been a stronger force than it is now, but it’s ended quite abrupt and that’s a loss for us.
Looking at the imperfections of Raising Heroes you see something more, an honesty. Filmmakers and actor who wants to have fun. The blooper reel included on the US DVD shows some insight in the playfulness on the set, and it’s fun to see. But if you want to see some action then? Yeah, there’s action - mostly at the end, and it’s bloody and lovingly referencing John Woo and the heroic bloodshed genre. The squibs is actually huge! And bloody! And graphic! There’s some surprisingly graphic violence when our bear and chaser strikes back to those who want them bad!
Everything is accompanied by the highly original score by the mysterious Fractured Cylinder. Who is that? And is it released on CD somewhere?
Raising Heroes might be forgotten now, but this movie have all the chances in the world of becoming a midnight movie hit, a modern Rocky Horror. Something like Miami Connection or Massacre Mafia Style. It’s campy and not especially original, but if you - like me - love movies whose agenda is something true and good-hearted, Raising Heroes truly is something special.
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