Ethan Green (2005) - Gay Interest Film Review

A Gay Independent Film Adaptation of Eric Orner's Witty Comic Book

Jul 2, 2009

The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, an Eric Orner comic strip adapted as a film with Daniel Letterle in the lead role, disappoints but still entertains.

Ever been caught between a rock and a hard place? How about three? Ethan Green (the dazed but good looking Daniel Letterle) has no shortage of boyfriends, or neurosis, with three possible suitors to choose from, but only one that he really wants: his ex-boyfriend, the soon to be married Leo Worth (the exceptional David Monahan). But will Ethan realise the truth before this pointless but fun adaptation of the popular comic strip ends?

Ethan Green’s Film Life Not That Fabulous Either

Director George Bamber does his best with what is, essentially, a heavy-handed script. That’s not to say that The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green is bad, but rather that there are only a few bright spots in an otherwise convoluted and at times needlessly tacky plot that lets down this gay independent film.

There are, however, some very funny moments, mostly rendered by the brilliant David Monahan who is as out of place in Ethan Green as he is necessary to saving it from being completely awful. For instance, a scene at a book signing for his fiancé which Ethan crashes would be lacklustre at best without Monahan’s sharp acting and delivery. The two have chemistry in spades and this helps the film no end.

Monahan can’t save this gay independent film entirely though, and one of the biggest sins it is guilty of is trying to break through its own farcical mold. When David Monahan’s character, his wedding now off, is confronted by Ethan at the end of the film there is the line, "Hey, there's one way to win the game, Ethan... stop playing,” it’s so bad, it could be mistaken for a joke itself.

The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green – A Gay Independent Film Without Bite

Daniel Letterle isn’t a bad actor. Not at all. If he wasn’t quite so personable, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green would be unwatchable. However, fans of the comic strip point out that, whilst agreeable in character, Letterle's physical appearance undercuts the spirit of Ethan Green – in a nutshell, he’s too good looking.

In a similar vein the comic strip embodies an acerbity that this gay independent film lacks in almost every respect, settling for camp melodrama, which does have its place, but gets annoying after a while. That is with the exception of some of the supporting cast who bring The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green to life.

Ethan’s best friend Charlotte (the very proficient Shanola Hampton), who’s lesbian relationship is easily more engaging than Green’s own shenanigans, as well as Hampton’s understated performance, grounds the film enough to make the Ethan Green character more digestible. Similarly, Joel Brooks and Richard Riele as the appropriately named Hat Sisters give life to the stilted story of The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green.

No amount of what is crisp and controlled direction from George Bamber, nor the authentic feel of wealthy California life instilled in this gay independent film’s setting, can really save The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green from being a victim of its own banality. It is a crudely drawn parody of the original Eric Orner comic strip, but it is not without its entertaining moments.

All that said, it is refreshing to see an independent film about gay men and women that doesn’t feature drug overdoses, coming-out angst or the general doom and gloom that gay cinema has been saturated in.The film isn’t a benchmark, it’s just fluff, but heterosexual fluff is what Hollywood has been turning out for years, so in this regard at least, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green scores a point, all be it a wilting one, for gay cinema.

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