Trick

Trick is quite possibly one of the sweetest romantic comedies I have ever seen. With two appealing leads in Christian Campbell and John Paul Pitoc and a unique premise makes for a memorable and fun film. 

Gabriel (played by Christian Campbell) is a quiet and reserved struggling playwright trying to make ends meet living in New York City. He works in an office during the day and shares a studio apartment with an obnoxious roommate Rich (played by Brad Beyer), who frequently kicks Gabriel out so he can spend some alone time with his girlfriend, of which he has more than one. He is struggling to finish a song for the musical he is writing when his friend Perry (played by Steve Hayes) suggests he get out more and perhaps in the process will find some inspiration. Gabriel takes him up on this suggestion and that night visits a Manhattan gay club where he encounters go-go boy Mark (played by John Paul Pitoc) dancing on the bar. Too shy to say anything and after a couple comically disastrous flirting attempts by other patrons to pick up Gabriel, he decides to leave. 

Taking the subway home, he once again crosses paths with Mark. Still too shy to say anything, Gabriel gets off at his stop and is surprised when Mark gets off with him. Mark asks him if he lives nearby and after a little awkward conversation, the two are off to Gabriel's apartment. To their surprise the apartment is currently occupied by Gabriel's best friend, the quirky Katherine (played by Tori Spelling). Gabriel tries to suggest she needs to leave but she doesn't take a hint and stays to talk to the two boys. As soon as they finally get rid of her, Gabriel's roommate shows up with his girlfriend and one lost coin toss later, Mark and Gabriel are back on the street. This leads to a crazy night as the two try to find a place where they can be alone and in the process coming to know each other on a much deeper level than either had initially anticipated. 

The charms of the film lie with the two leads, Christian Campbell and John Paul Pitoc. While the two are perhaps very different people, they do find a connection over the course of the night and the two leads perform their roles perfectly. Christian Campbell is absolutely endearing as the shy and reserved Gabriel who slowly comes out of his shell as the night wears on and he spends more and more time with the far more extroverted Mark. John Paul Pitoc is equally good as Mark, a guy who is looking for something more than just attention for his good looks. One of the great strokes of the script by Jason Schafer is a late in the film revelation that while Gabriel thought it was only a one night stand, Mark reveals he thought something more was happening between the two which is the reverse of what one would expect. The film is also populated by a slew of amusing secondary characters, including Katherine whose third act meltdown at an all night diner may be one of the funniest things in the film. There is also an extended cameo by famed drag queen Miss Coco Peru (played by Clinton Leupp) who makes a memorable appearance in the dance club Gabriel and Mark end up at one point. The film has a sure hand in director Jim Fall and writer Jason Schafer, who keep the story grounded well and never let things get too wild, with the humor coming from a very human and relatable place.   

Overall, Trick is a sweet and endearing film with two charming actors at it's center makes for a memorable and fun romantic comedy. It's been one of my favorites ever since I first saw it, unashamed to admit I fell as soon as I saw Christian Campbell's smile and those cute dimples. A fun memory I have of the film was a few years back, it was the night before Anime Iowa, a convention I frequently go to with my friends Jessica Walsh, Brianna Lawrence and Chealsey Thomas. We were staying at Chealsey's house for the convention and that night we were looking for something to watch on T.V. Somehow I wound up with the remote and I saw this movie was on and decided my friends and I needed to watch it. Initially resistant, they were soon charmed by the film as I was as a chorus of "Awws" echoed through the room, which probably says something about this film.