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Metrosexual: A Chick Flick Not Only for the Women”

 

Sorradithep Supachanya

 

5 July 2006

   
 

Pang, a protagonist in Metrosexual, must feel like the luckiest girl in the world. She has at last found her perfect man—a handsome, rich, smart, sophisticated, sweet, and considerate guy who loves cooking, enjoys shopping, and remembers all the important dates. Too perfect, her friends think. They believe he must be gay and so embark on a mission to “out” him before their planned engagement. What happens afterward is an enjoyable good time with plenty of not-suitable-for-all-ages jokes and a beautiful camaraderie of friends looking out for one another.

Metrosexual is director Yongyut Tongkongtoon’s fourth work, which almost becomes as silly and predictable as his earlier efforts The Iron Ladies (2000) and MAID (2004), in particular the scene in which two of Pang’s friends break into her boyfriend’s apartment but have to scramble for a hiding place in the bathroom and under the couch because he returns home earlier than expected. Fortunately, the film manages to stay focused on investigating Pang’s boyfriend’s sexual orientation that keeps the audience riveted until the very end, and yet finds the time to enrich other characters by delving into the romantic lives of each of Pang’s four best friends (and thus saves the audience from enduring Spice Girls personalities). My only regret is that the writer could have inserted more gender ambiguous elements into the boyfriend character to make the investigation even more interesting.

What Metrosexual lacks in individual acting of the five leading actresses it makes up with their onscreen chemistry. Meesuk Jaengmeesuk, Patcharasri “Kalamare” Benjamas, Kulanudda Patchimsawad, Pimonwan Supayang, and Ornpreeya Hunsart are friends in real life through hosting the same daytime talk show together, and their sisterhood clearly shows in words and actions. In dining scenes, for example, the audience will have no problem believing that these women have been friends for ages.

The supporting cast also does not disappoint. Yano Kazuki is delightfully wonderful in his limited onscreen time as the miming Japanese boyfriend. Panisara Pimpru, whom we last saw in last year’s Dear Dakanda, shines again as a fraudulent fortune teller hired to convince Pang to cancel her engagement plan. And, Michael Shaowanasai, the star of the 2004’s Adventures of the Iron Pussy, provides much of the film’s humor as the out-and-proud big sister ready to dispense advice on detecting closeted gay men.

Sacrificing political correctness for a good-time fun is typical of a Thai comedy, which may make politically correct-inclined viewers screaming “hey, that’s not true” at every gay detecting advice in the film (e.g. the only son in the family, neat freak, flamboyant dancer, etc.). But, I am optimistic that the viewers are smarter than to believe everything they see and hear. In any case, Metrosexual, despite its name and meaning, is not intended to broadcast queer issues but the theme of true love, friendship, and fun.

 

 

 

 

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