Matrimonium (2005) User Reviews

Maybe you have to be gay?

[tjo2922 · 2/10 · 21 December 2005]

I hate reality shows. This "film" is a spoof of reality shows. It follows, then, that Matrimonium would appeal to me. And based on the plot description and others users' comments, it honestly did.

Then I sat down with on open mind and began to take in Matrimonium. As the film neared it's end, I realized that it was a complete and utter waste of my time. Only thing was, I was not near the end of the film. I was only 38 minutes in!

The problem wasn't that it just wasn't stimulating. It actually went the other way, and I can honestly say that I detested this despicable piece of drudgery. It has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting homosexuality or gay marriage or any of that. There was nothing innovative, provocative, nor amusing about this film. The "jokes" regarding stereotypes of homosexuals and southerners have been used to death and just aren't funny anymore. As for the message they were trying to get across; again, I've heard it all a millions times. Personally I agree with it, but anyone who does not certainly will not be swayed by this film. The production value was pretty bad, which I would readily dismiss had there been some sort of worthy content to hold my attention instead. The acting was about what you'd expect from this caliber of a production--nothing special, but not terrible.

I am a film student. I am very open to all forms of cinema and have experienced quite a wide selection of films. This includes quite a few downright terrible films. Rarely have I been so tempted to give up in the middle of a film as I was with Matrimonium. I persevered though, and I almost regret it. There were about two decent lines near the end of the film, which is the only merit I can attribute to this work. It is for these that I give this film no more than two stars.

I was stricken with awe when I saw a rating of 8.5 here at IMDb and I wonder if I watched the same film as these other voters. Well of course I did, which raises the question of whether or not sexual preference makes a difference in how a viewer relates to such a film. That is my only possible conclusion regarding such praise for such a terrible film.

*Edit: This movie no longer has a rating of 8.5 and I am glad to see it.

Bad Acting/Bad Production Values

[sparta_cus1 · 3/10 · 16 August 2005]

Once again, the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival has come and gone. My partner and I unfortunately wasted Sunday afternoon watching this film. I don't understand why we, as a community, put up with bad production values (videotape) and bad acting.

The film is a spoof of reality television--a show that will let a straight man and a gay man split $1,000,000 if they can convince their friends and families that they're getting married on a national TV show.

Malcolm Caufield, the WASPy straight guy, meets the gay country hick, Spencer Finch. From there, things just get worse. Probably the thing that I found most irritating was the insistent stereotyping of Southern people.

Sandon Berg, one of the the writers/producers and stars of the film (playing Spencer Finch), spoke to the audience after the screening. He mentioned several possible ways they were looking at changing it. One was to cut out some of the "six months later" updates at the end. But nothing could really improve upon it other than scrapping the production entirely. Let the cast and crew move on to more worthwhile films.

Reality Shows and Stereotypes

[tyohn · 7/10 · 27 December 2005]

I saw this movie based on the recommendation of a friend. I didn't have much hope it be worth watching. And, when I saw it was recorded in video tape, I grit my teeth.

But, it was a fun little film. It didn't try to be anything more than it was. The movie made fun of reality TV. It did that by using the same stereotypes that reality TV shows use.

The characters were over-the-top, but that is what satire does. It characterizes the people it's making fun of. Loretta was a perfect example of that. She was my favorite character by far.

Congratulations to the cast for using improv and a script to give a more reality-TV-like feel to the movie.

I Now Pronounce You Gay for Pay & DOA

[NJMoon · 2/10 · 7 January 2006]

The adage "truth is stranger than fiction" is proved in spades with this misguided reality show satire. Unforuntately for the producers of MATRIMONIUM, truth is also a lot funnier. I'm a big fan of the reality TV genre, and as such I realize that it is it's own form of satire. So this film is not only unfunny but redundant. Liberal parts "Boy Meets Boy" crossed with "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé", MATRIMONIUM is about as subtle as being hit by a box full of hammers. The characters are stereotypes and the three leads (especially the robotic hostess) are about as repulsive as possible without being in a Troma film. Only the actor playing best man Bradley manages the script's lame premise and tone with any skill. His wedding toast of double entendres is the highest of the low points in this video. The DVD also presents a slew of outtakes and a commentary track that proudly announces that the producers (one of whom is the star) find the film funny and insightful. So much for modesty. I now pronounce you DOA.

I do! I do love Matrimonium!!

[vinsage-1 · 9/10 · 6 February 2006]

Very clever. If they hadn't made this parody/mocumentary, then the industry probably would have made the real deal. Way to jump on a hilarious idea and follow through.

Solid improv performances by the whole cast. I especially loved Deven Green's performance as the Host who acts as though she's just stepped out of a horrific car accident unscathed, dazed and SERIOUSLY confused!! Hilarious subtleties. Watch her closely. She's very funny.

And kudos to Joel Bryant as the Best Man. Very real. Very funny. He's got some great lines; great zingers that perfectly cap the scene. He must have been a riot on set too. The DVD has some outtakes, and Joel was hilarious on them.

Overall, a very strong cast. Great characters.

a train wreck

[eecastleman · 7/10 · 23 April 2010]

ever seen a train wreck? you just cant not watch one. this movie is kinda like that. it funny and you know, you just know, its going to go horribly wrong.

all the acting was good. i especially liked the character of douglas( played by joel bryant i think). there were enough hints to from the first time you met him that he had a secret. he has some of the funniest lines in the movie too, but only if you can hear the subtext. spencer(don't remember the actors name, sorry) was a complete gas, i think he needed to start the day with a Valium or something to take the edge off.

i don't know if this was a good movie or a bad movie, i am not a critic. i can tell you that it was a funny movie tho.

Gay Reality Spoof Gone Bad!

[kevinptown88 · 2/10 · 18 March 2006]

While watching, I kept asking myself why was I still viewing this incredibly bad movie. First off, the music reminded me of watching a 1970's after-school special. The characters and story lines were ridiculous and totally unbelievable. The actors did the best they could with the material provided. This is what a movie looks like without direction. I rated it two stars and was being overly generous with that. I gave one star for the actors and the embarrassment I felt for them. One star for what the story/movie could have been. I can't believe this got funding for production.I also had to wonder what the hell was up with Dre? Was she an alien playing a tranny or what? Her final poses in each of her scenes were what carried me through the movie as I couldn't believe how insane they were.

I laughed my a$$ off

[cwboldt · 9/10 · 17 October 2005]

First off, let me say that I hate ALL reality TV. Because I harbor this intense, seething hatred, I tend to relish anything that skewers, derides, and/or basically pokes fun at the reality TV 'genre'. This movie does just all of this, which in itself is worthy of high praise.

But this movie is so much more than a "two-minutes hate" on Reality TV.

Matrimonium uses the reality theme to spotlight several deeper topics, such as gay marriage, the sanctity of all marriage, and the general 'appropriateness' demonstrated in most reality TV.

Of course, the political flavor is just an undercurrent to the over-the-top hilarity of the whole thing. The loosely-scripted, improvisational style of the movie provides some great one liners that will require multiple viewings to fully process.

The actors do an very credible job of being non-actorish, "real" individuals caught on the show's cameras. The camera-work (and the show's 'hostess') are spot-on imitations of REAL reality TV programs.

All in all, even if I were an elk or a piece of paper, I would highly recommend this film. I can't wait to get it on DVD!

A raucous, hysterical crowdpleaser with a twist

[agandy5 · 10/10 · 6 January 2006]

I saw this film at the Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival this summer, and it was honestly one of the funnest movies I've ever seen. It was kinda ridiculous how much we (the audience) loved it. I mean, I was laughing so hard it literally hurt (i hate when people say that, but we were truly holding our stomachs! Wiping tears!) It was a great big hit at the festival, and the mood afterwards was a jubilant party.

It's a take-off on the reality TV rage that's taken over television. Even the format of the film is drawn for TV, because the film unfolds in half-hour 'episodes', complete with intros and outros...it's just like watching the complete season of a TV show on DVD, one episode after another. Anyway, the cast is bizarre and odd, and just right. Sandon Berg delivers an endearing performance as the center of the mayhem, and hunky Rick Federman succeeds opposite him. There's a surprise twist at the end which I won't divulge, but it comes from a surprising person, and provides a nice reality check.

Michael Akers' direction is smooth and brisk, as it should be for this type of lark. Kudos to United Gay Network for producing a film that strives beyond the narrow market of 'gay interest'.

Interestingly, I don't really think it's strictly, a gay-interest film. Instead, it's a 'general audiences' film that happens to have a gay element, like "My Best Friend's Wedding", and many other recent films.

Get this DVD, invite a small crowd of friends over! It's just plain ol', silly romp, with lots of quotes you'll be throwing around for weeks afterward.

Brilliant scenes throughout

[JeffSmythe · 9/10 · 12 February 2006]

This film contains many quotable scenes, but the one that stands-out for me is when the Hostess is trying to describe the role DNA has in determining what we will become. She is talking to a set of parents, and says, "DNA determines if you will grow-up to be an elk or a piece of paper". Insanely brilliant!

The out takes and deleted scenes are worth it alone. But it actually has a very good story if you catch it. It is like watching an hour of highlights instead of an entire season of a reality show. The hostess, Andre Genous is bizarre, astute and out of this world - she just magically appears and captures the most inane qualities of any reality show host - this is one funny lady (from another planet). Other highlights were the best man and leading men - it looked like they were really friends and I cared what happened to them. Definitely worth seeing since it is one of those vids that is a 'you gotta watch this.' Never boring, no lulls, just fast-paced and really, really funny.

Enjoy, Jeff

Funnier than "Eating Out"

[oberkorn · 10/10 · 14 October 2005]

I also attended the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and I loved this cinematic gem. Matrimonium is a smartly written/improvised mocumentary satirizing reality TV while informing the current gay marriage debate in this country. It was thrilling to watch this comedy with an extremely supportive audience who got it. I, like most of the crowd, laughed from the beginning to the end.

Matrimonium is one of those few films that gets the formula right. The right script, the right pace, and the right cast, with a pitch perfect performance by Devon Green as "Dre" the vacuous TV show hostess.

Thank god for film festivals that prioritizes substance over style and creativity over cliché providing a platform for this kind of quality independent film.

Collector's Gem

[MikeB_503 · 8/10 · 22 April 2006]

This movie may not be everyone's cup of tea but it moves along at a fast past and has some real fun to offer if you are willing to give it a chance.

The real joy for me was to see a completely original character pop out in Deven Green's game show hostess. I guarantee you haven't come across this person in any other movie. In a film that was largely improv she delivers a daring and innovative creation getting full marks from me for the most outrageous straight person in a gay film. If there isn't an award for that there should be.

Just when the story is in danger of falling into the predictable they throw in an unexpected twist during the wedding scene. Joel Bryant's turn as the best man was clearly the best thing about the movie and here is where it really played. You have to go back and watch it a second time to appreciate his subtle performance in a movie that lends itself to over the top acting.

I had to have a copy of this DVD because this guy has what it takes to really break out of the pack. One day this little tale of a gay reality show will be the clip he uses on the Tonight Show when commenting on where it all began.