Search - Prom Queen on DVD

"We may have to change with the times"

M. J Leonard | Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Made for Canadian television obviously on a limited budget, and based on a true story, Prom Queen raises some interesting issues about the seemingly never-ending clash between religion and sexuality. As same-sex love and the Catholic Church are once again pitted against each other, Mark Hall, (played in the film by Aaron Ashmore), a fresh-faced, totally out teenager finds himself indelibly caught in the middle.

Mark wants more than anything else to go to his school prom, but there's just one problem: he wants to bring his boyfriend Jason (Mac Fyfe) to the dance. While the Catholic school he attends tolerates homosexuality, and openly accepts Mark as gay, they absolutely draw the line at allowing him to partner Jason.

The stage is set for a battle that reaches all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court as Jason, with the hidden strength of Superman, demands his Canadian Charter rights and fights the Local School Board, an institution that has for years lived by the rules of extreme religious doctrine. Instilled with an almost fairy tale like quality, Prom Queen paints a portrait of a young man who is determined to stand by the strength of his convictions while never reneging on his deeply held faith.

Mark is supported by his surprisingly understanding blue-collar parents, Emily (Marie Tifo) and Audy (Jean Pierre Bergeron). Emily, while deeply religious, decides to accept his son the way he is, and Audy - who works at the local mill where some of his co-workers are getting pink slips - is helped by local union organizer (David Ferry) to quietly and gently, support his son. Meanwhile, Mark's plucky and supportive school friends, Beau (a very attractive Trevor Blumas) and Carly (Tamara Hope) get a pair computer nerds, to start a set up a proactive website to "get Mark to the prom."

When the crusade goes public, and the media come up board, Mark gets the help of a publicity seeking highflying lawyer (Scott Thompson). But he finds his way stifled by the tight-lipped School Board Chair Lucinda Pilcher, (Fiona Reid) who is wonderfully controlling. Help for Mark comes in the form of As Miss Lawrence (Victoria Adilman), his liberally enlightened school teacher. But while the teacher does an excellent job of supporting human rights in the classroom, can she stop herself from caving to Catholic dogma in the courtroom?

Ever mindful of commercial breaks, director John L'Écuyer has done an admirable job trying to let the story flow, employing animated headings to bring the next scene back from black. And for the most part the pacing is good, although the story tends to lose a little steam at the end. We hear of Mark and Jason's breakup, but we never really see it and the eventual court ruling comes our way via fax. Also, the soundtrack often doesn't sit that well with the dialogue, with the often inappropriately placed dance music often coming across as over-loud and clangy.

Despite its shortcomings, Prom Queen is a delight to watch, and it shows just how much the world around us is changing. Gay teenagers are coming out at earlier ages, and are becoming increasingly politically active, and also more accepted by their peers - especially in enlightened countries like Canada. It's such a pleasure to see a film about the triumph of the "little man," a small town teenager who had the guts to take on a bigoted institution and risk his future for a slow dance with his boyfriend. Mike Leonard August 05.
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More than meets the eye

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 07/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"PROM QUEEN succeeds not only because it is a controversial subject based on a true incident, but also because of the light touch director John L'Ecuyer adds to the dimension of storytelling. Writers Michael MacLennan and Kent Staines have pieced together the facts from a now famous 'hearing' in Quebec concerning one teenage boy's challenging the Catholic Church school policies about sexual preferences in preventing him from attending a highschool Prom and have fleshed out the characters to make the story not only meaningfully important but also entertaining.

Marc Hall (Aaron Ashmore) is a fun-loving, blue-haired gay lad who has a partner Jason (Mac Fyfe) and is comfortable in a semi-closeted way, and who attends a Catholic highschool in Quebec. He is fortunate to have a band of accepting and supporting friends like Beau (eye candy actor Trevor Blumas) and Carly (Tamara Hope) among others who encourage Marc to bring his boyfriend to the upcoming Prom. The school officials - principal and school board - are adamant that the Catholic Church regards same sex relationships as sin and refuse to allow Marc to consider attending the Prom with Jason.

Marc decides to 'come out' to his parents Emily (Marie Tifo) and Audy (Jean Pierre Bergeron) and they warmly assure him they have known for years ("Your hair. It's blue. And you have a poster of Celine Dion on your wall. We know.") With the support of his friends and a gay lawyer Lonnie Winn (Scott Thompson), Marc agrees to challenge the school/church stance and in a touching courtroom drama Marc pleads his case. Though due to the familiarity of the case the audience knows from the beginning that Marc Hall won his right to attend the Prom with Jason, it is in the telling that the story takes flight.

Though 'made for TV' budgetary constraints and format are obvious, PROM QUEEN boasts some fine actors and manages to bring to the screen another important hallmark in the Human Rights field. While some may avoid this film for fear of its being a 'gay movie', rest assured that the content is handled in a touching and realistic way. Recommended for all audiences, especially the teens who need to see both sides of a bit of history. Grady Harp, July 05"

Touching and Moving Film About the Fight for Human Rights

C. Clay | St Paul Minnesota | 01/10/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A touching film about that battles the hierarchy of the Cathcolic Church and homosexuality. Based on a true story (I very much enjoy films based on fact), following the plight of a young Private School teenagers' quest to take his boyfriend to the prom. In taking his case public against the school (and Catholic church), and eventually to the courts, the young Marc Hall risks alienating friends, teachers, his family and the very partner he hopes to escort to his High School Prom.

All the actors in the film are excellent in their roles. It's a shame movies like this are not picked up by the major networks like ABC, NBC and CBS. This is a film about human rights, Catholic Church injustice, and believing in yourself and who you are as a person. The writing is outstanding, and while many scenes are dramatic and touching, there is ample humor to keep the movie light. The ending is uplifting, and gives us all hope that one day no one shall be persecuted for being themselves.

The movie hails from Canada, and while I would love to give this film 5 stars, it could be mistaken for an ABC Afterschool Special, Made-for-TV movie or an episode of DeGrassi Junior High (an excellent program in and of itself). A MUST SEE for a family, or anyone dealing with a youth coming to terms with their sexuality. When are we going to see films like this make mainstream TV? Thank goodness for cable channels like LOGO."

Everyone should watch this one

queer movie lover | 07/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't be fooled by this campy title. John L'Ecuyer's "Prom Queen" is a necessary and heart-warming tale of the charming high school student Marc (Aaron Ashmore) taking on the Canadian Supreme Court, a homophobic school environment, and the Catholic
Church in order to bring his boyfriend to prom. Even though some parts, particularly the ending, seem a bit too picture-perfect, don't worry: this film is totally believable and the plot and script remain solid and interesting throughout. Not to
mention the actors are absolutely adorable and talented.

Sexy and humorous, political and educational, Prom Queen should be required viewing in every high school.
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