What makes it different from others?

Dreadfully Boring

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Although I liked the film's visual and musical style, and the production design was good, "Friends And Family" suffers from a terrible script and poor casting. The idea that two gay lovers would be part of a mafia ring is both silly and not credible. And the subplot of the paramilitary militia, as comedy, is stupid in the extreme. When you take these two plot contrivances out of the script, you don't have a story. I don't know what the screenwriter and the director were thinking; but this dreadful concept does not work.The other big problem here is the casting. The two male lead actors (Greg Lauren and Christopher Gartin, both of whom are obviously straight) have zero chemistry as gay lovers. Did they have in their contracts some stipulation that they would play gay roles only if they didn't have to touch each other? That's the impression that their so-called "performances" convey. Whatever reason, their on-screen "relationship" is more like best buddies with girlfriends who never show up. Casting truly gay actors, no matter how little talent they had, would have been more convincing.With the gay Richard character so flamboyant, and with all those drag queens, one wonders if the real intent of this film was actually to perpetuate gay stereotypes.As such, this movie seems like some cheaply made cinematic throwback to an earlier era, say the early 1980s, closer in time to "The Godfather", and when "gay" TV sitcoms and movies like "Tootsie" existed for viewers to laugh at gay people. "Friends And Family" is strictly for the Disney crowd and retro viewers. It's comfy, palatable, shallow fluff lacking in both real-world credibility and thematic depth.

This film is about 2 gay mafia having to pretend that they are caterers, and cater for the father's birthday party.It plays on reversal of stereotypes throughout the film. Gay guys playing the mafia, really tough guys playing camp, and mafia doing the cooking. All these are slightly unbelievable, but incredibly fun. The typical Italian mafia doing camp gestures is totally hilarious! However, the last half an hour is a bit too random and ridiculous, it would have been better if the siege scene was changed to something else.Though it is a gay comedy, there is almost nothing gay about it, apart from one scene where the the two gay lovers holding each others' hands. Despite it being very toned down compared to other gay films, it is still enjoyable to watch.

It's a good movie, although not excellent, but I think I still enjoy it. Those two guys are just damn hot!!! The single one flaw is that they seem more like real close friends than lovers to me. Okay sure for whatever's sake I can understand the no sex act and even no kiss part, but I'm quite confused that I don't even see them do the touching like a real couple would do -- no hugs, no pats, not even hand casually put on each other's shoulder or small of the back -- that's just not feeling right. Okay so they don't do any of these in public, but that scene where they two are sitting at the couch? That's at their own home! And they're sitting half an arm's length to each other! It's just so totally off especially with the topic they're talking. Anyway you can maybe, *maybe* put it for the reason of that "internal homophobia" they're talking about, but I just really having a hard time to buy that.Anyhow, Steven and Danny are HOT. Period. Got cute little scenes too, if only that they could make the feeling of lovers better.

While it does provoke the occasional laugh -- and the actors give it their best, particularly Anna Maria Alberghetti -- "Friends and Family" is a mess. The film- makers couldn't decide what kind of film they wanted: a screwball comedy,a gay farce, a social commentary, or a love story. The result is avery unsatisfying mix of them all with the pleasures of none. The tone jumps all over the place, most of the numerous plotlines make no sense, and too many of the supposed jokes fall flat. Yes, the gay couple is nice eye candy, but that was far too little payoff for suffering through this turkey.