Search - Danny in the Sky on DVD

Simplistic story, good but could have been better

Bob Lind | Phoenix, AZ United States | 12/08/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In the 2001 French-Canadian film "Danny In The Sky," the title character (played by the adorable Thierry Pépin) is the 19 year old drop-out son of a fashion model mom who committed suicide and an aloof gay father. Danny tries to replace the love missing in his life with the attention and adoration given to fashion models, and aggressively seeks out success in that industry, even to the point of sabotaging (and nearly killing) a cousin who competes with him in one modeling contest. He also gets in and out of relationships with a couple of girlfriends based on how they can benefit or fit into his chosen career path. Eventually, it is a quick trip from modeling to acting in a straight porn movie and stripping in a club that caters to gay men, as Danny continues to try to find happiness.The film is beautifully made, with good acting from an attractive cast throughout. The plot reveals a few potential side stories that would have been interesting if explored (such as the gay father forcing himself to "play it straight" for the sake of his son), perhaps more interesting than the story being told. It's not a gay film, per se, though obviously homoerotic in parts (such as the dance sequences, and in the porno film sequence, in which Danny plays a football player). Some may be bothered by the scene in which the father comes into the club where Danny is dancing and buys a private "lap dance" to talk to his son, before leaving the club with Danny's roommate. All in all, I'd rate this an "average" 3 stars, not really a bad film, but not likely to be in anyone's "favorites" list. The DVD offers three versions: the original French, the French with English subtitles or (the default) version dubbed in English. Sound quality and musical score is quite good."

Danny In The Sky is a dark movie that will provoke thought

Porfie Medina | Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA | 09/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a powerfull dramatic tale of a sexy young aspiring male model who says he is straight, but yet finds every aspect of his life making him seem like he is in to the gay lifestyle. Danny (Thierry Pépin) is good-looking young man and has begun to use those looks to his benefit. He working as a model and stripper. Everyone thinks he's gay, and they certainly are given reasons to believe that he is. Even though his career and perfect appearance seem to make him happy, Danny has an openly gay father who despises his sons career path, and his mom used to be a model before she died of a drug overdose. So the question remains if he is gay? He will rebel against everthing and fight with his idenity crisis."

Beauty fades; dumb is forever

Jay Dickson | Portland, OR | 06/14/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Thierry Pepin is a truly beautiful young man, with a great body and beautiful curly hair. This movie in which he stars is also beautifully shot and composed. Beauty, however, only takes you so far, and then you're faced with the utter stupidity of the screenplay of DANNY IN THE SKY. Danny is a young beauty, kept at arm's distance from his hunky repressed gay father and forever mourning his mother, a fabulous model and suicide. He suffers exquisitely, betrayed by his father, his girlfriend, and his handsome cousin, whose chances at winning a modelling competition away from Danny are scotched when Danny drugs his drink and puts him into a coma. Running away in horror at his own actions (this is the kind of movie where there are endless shots of the hero running away from something), Danny coveniently (and literally) bumps into the stripper who is a former boyfriend of another love interest, and then... oh, who cares. You get to see lot of shots of Pepin shirtless (which is wonderful) and also even more stupidly unlikely coincidences before the movie is mercifully over almost before it began."

Danny in the sky with diamonds

M. FUSCO | NEW YORK, NY | 05/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is one very good reason to watch this film: Thierry Pepin as Danny. He is one of the most exquisite boys on film, with a stunning body and a profound natural sexiness. He also happens to be a very good actor, a fact which might well be overlooked because his beauty and physical presence are so overwhelming.

Danny's life is gut-wrenching. He has been orphaned by the death of his mother. He is further alienated and wounded by the coldness and brutality of his frustrated gay father. In fact, there is not one unselfish or thoughtful person in Danny's life. Desperate to be loved, he uses his staggering looks to get it by modeling and, eventually, stripping in a gay club. Danny equates worship with love.

His father's distance and anger derive from a decision, supposedly for Danny's benefit, to `act straight' as he raised his son. It was an unfortunate choice for them both. His behavior is a study in the pathological effects of repression and, after one act of violence and cruelty too many, Danny leaves home for good.

Coldly rejected by his father, abandoned by his girlfriend, and betrayed by his cousin, Danny commits an irresponsible act of revenge which goes horribly awry. He immediately regrets it, but the damage is done.

Danny's degradation is complete when his father finally decides to embrace his homosexuality. But, truly malicious and hateful, he does so by sleeping with his son's only friend. Danny is now truly alone. One can only hope that Danny will live to find the peace and love he consciously, and so heartbreakingly, seeks."