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Guys and Balls (R)





Release Date: April 28th, 2006 (Quad Cinema) by Regent Releasing/Here! Films.
The Cast: Maximilian Brückner, Lisa Maria Potthoff, Dietmar Baer, Saskia Vester, Rolf Zacher, Mariele Millowitsch, David Rott, Christian Berkel, Charly Hubner.
Directed by Sherry Horman.
In German with subtitles.

BASIC PREMISE: When Ecki (Brückner) gets kicked off his soccer team for being gay, he has 4 weeks to form an all-gay soccer team to challenge them. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Even with a plot that plays it by-the-numbers and with one-dimensional characters, Guys and Balls still manages to be a breezy, mildly entertaining film. Ecki wants to get back at the team that dumped him, so he challenges them for a match to prove that he’s better than them. He practically asks anyone who is gay whether or not they want to join his new team, including a hilarious group of S&M freaks. With the help of his sister (Potthoff), he rounds a lively, energetic group of gay soccer players. Meanwhile, his father (Baer) refuses to support him for being gay and even plans on selling the family bakery where they both work together—simply because the customers frequently crack gay jokes whenever they come in. Will his father show up to the big soccer match? Which team will win the match? The screenplay by Benedikt Gollhardt doesn’t really allow you to care about the answer to these questions, but it’s still somewhat fun to watch the different stereotypes run around on the soccer field. In one of the most clichéd scenes, they sing-along to the song “I Will Survive” on a bus. Fortunately, director Sherry Horman keeps the scenes moving on a fast pace without any scenes that drag.

SPIRITUAL VALUE: Other than the clichéd message that everyone deserves a chance, none is required or desired.

INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: One-dimensional characters and a by-the-numbers plot.

NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 1

IN A NUTSHELL: A funny and breezy comedy! Just don’t expect anything surprising, refreshing or insightful.

RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: VHS/DVD


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