Just six days before the vote on Proposition 8 (If you have to ask, then you probably are not this film's target audience), geeky Paul (a decidedly non-geeky Matthew Montgomery) decides that he wants to get married to the man of his dreams. At the same time, he's assigned to an ultra-conservative client at work and attempting to reconcile with his parents. What a strange journey it's going to be!

Headed for a DVD release on the LGBT arm of Breaking Glass Pictures, QC Cinema, writer/director Billy Clift's I Want to Get Married is a timely gay comedy with a unique turn by star Matthew Montgomery, an actor for whom the word "geek" would seldom enter the picture. Montgomery has tackled just about every type of role in gay cinema, and he's quite convincing as Paul Roll, an ultra-nerd with a loving circle of friends and a good heart.

He just wants to get married.

The odds are pretty strong that if you're continuing to read this review then you're either a fan of gay cinema or, alternatively, the idea that everyone should be able to get married is a foregone conclusion. Given societal reaction, as we've painfully learned, this is definitely not the case. Clift, for the most part, avoids the dramatics and political angles involved in the discussion and instead focuses the entire film on the hopes and dreams of Paul Roll as he searches for Mr. Right, attempts to deal with "The Family," a conservative conglomerate and major client and, of course, the dramas still left back at home.

Montgomery proves once again that he can handle most any role thrown at him, giving Paul a humorous but heart-filled center that only occasionally crosses the line into caricature. That, perhaps, was what bugged this writer the most about I Want to Get Married ... too often it crossed the line into caricature with broad, stereotypical comedy that wasn't particularly funny. It's almost as if the film was crying out to be taken seriously. There was something about Montgomery as Paul that really made you want to see less broad caricature and more of what really made him tick. Montgomery made him an intriguing character, but the script never really went anywhere with it.

The supporting cast was fine, as well, with a delightfully and unexpected appearance by Jane Wiedlin, formerly of The Go-Go's. Ashleigh Sumner and Emrhys Cooper are also noteworthy among a talented supporting cast.

I Want to Get Married hits home video on December 15th and fans of Montgomery will no doubt still enjoy the film despite this critic's reservations. While it doesn't feel like the film ultimately accomplishes what it sets out to do, it's worth a view for fans of gay cinema and definitely for Montgomery's fans.

For more information on the film, visit the I Want to Get Married page on the Breaking Glass Pictures website.


© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic