Cue the life of Diego Campos; a privately gay man who dreams of opening a five-star restaurant in Phoenix, only to find himself serving the local Latino community with Mexican styled food; that is, when he's not busy serving the sexual needs of his estate agent boyfriend Pablo; a man heavy into role playing but light when it comes
to being open with his sexuality. Not that either of them are destined to stay in the closet for much longer, courtesy of the unexpected arrival of Diego's 'still
on Monaco time' sexual Aunt Bianca and a girl who promptly outs him to one and all and inparticular in front of their homophobic chef, namely a man on a mission
against the number of gays invading 'his community.' One such couple being Wesley and Jonathon, although the term 'couple' is hardly the one to use, given
Wesley cannot help but find himself more at ease in the company of boy next door Diego; a man in dire need of a relationship - but with who?
Hooking you in with an opening scene that would not be out of place in 'Hot Cops #4,' producer, director and co-writer Carlos Portugal here delivers the comical tale
of how to love thy neighbour, only in ways that go beyond the call of duty! Sure this work is ingrained with feelings of prejudice towards outsiders, in as much
as it charts the bigoted views of outsiders to locals. Only such themes are not preached pulpit fashion. For this is not a work on homophobia, nor for that
matter coming out, although both are integral to the plot. Rather this is a gay romantic comedy with a sexy edge to it, as the East LA lifestyle comes
face to face with the demands of West Hollywood boys more used to gyms, coffee shops and tanning salons than - well chilli!
That certain scenes play almost sitcom like, almost goes without saying given the scenario to be had and yet the cast overcome such, delivering the goods with apt comic timing. To that end, Cory Alan Schneider as Jonathon says his lines with such bitchy precision, that it's hardly any surprise to find Steve Callahan as Wesley
falling for the sweet talk and good looks of René Alvarado as Diego. And yet and in as much as the Alvarado and Callahan boys create a vibrant
cinematic pairing, it is the exuberant work of Gladise Jimenez as the Aunt who just 'cannot say no' and Irene DeBari as the grandmother
'in the know' that truly stand out, turns that frankly outshine David Berón's fine portrayal of the supposedly straight
'Pablo' man of the piece.
Laced with a series of spirited performances from leads who are only too happy to drop their shirts and occasionally their pants, let alone deliver on the
man-on-man action, Portugal has crafted an engaging film that is high on both laughs and charm. Yet it is also a work that goes to show why deep-rooted
feelings of jealousy and hatred remain a deadly sin. In short, this is gay romance served hot - just the way us boys like it!
Cue the life of Diego Campos; a privately gay man who dreams of opening a five-star restaurant in Phoenix, only to find himself serving the local Latino community with Mexican styled food; that is, when he's not busy serving the sexual needs of his estate agent boyfriend Pablo; a man heavy into role playing but light when it comes
to being open with his sexuality. Not that either of them are destined to stay in the closet for much longer, courtesy of the unexpected arrival of Diego's 'still
on Monaco time' sexual Aunt Bianca and a girl who promptly outs him to one and all and inparticular in front of their homophobic chef, namely a man on a mission
against the number of gays invading 'his community.' One such couple being Wesley and Jonathon, although the term 'couple' is hardly the one to use, given
Wesley cannot help but find himself more at ease in the company of boy next door Diego; a man in dire need of a relationship - but with who?
That certain scenes play almost sitcom like, almost goes without saying given the scenario to be had and yet the cast overcome such, delivering the goods with apt comic timing. To that end, Cory Alan Schneider as Jonathon says his lines with such bitchy precision, that it's hardly any surprise to find Steve Callahan as Wesley
falling for the sweet talk and good looks of René Alvarado as Diego. And yet and in as much as the Alvarado and Callahan boys create a vibrant
cinematic pairing, it is the exuberant work of Gladise Jimenez as the Aunt who just 'cannot say no' and Irene DeBari as the grandmother
'in the know' that truly stand out, turns that frankly outshine David Berón's fine portrayal of the supposedly straight
'Pablo' man of the piece.
