I remember first seeing the trailers for Fire Island, after hearing it was a modern, gay, adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and wondering why there was no P&P in the story. I was wrong. Fire Island follows the major plot points of P&P to the letter. P&P is a great story and this take is funny and fresh.
Okay so the acting might fall on the camp side a little too much sometimes, otherwise the film is a delight. These actors are funny people and the script is peppered with great lines. It's one of those endlessly quotable films that is just so much fun.
But underneath that is more. There is this amazing theme of chosen family, so important to queer people generally, that is highlighted so well in this story. It turns out that these Bennet "sisters" bring the true meaning of family to life. The film touches on other themes as well including commenting on body diversity and racism within queer communities, but the main theme, even over the rom com elements, is the theme of family and what that means for people who's bio families are often not there.
And the rom com bits turn out pretty fun too.
All in all Fire Island ends up being just smart, funny, and sexy. Damn sexy. I loved that the film doesn't attempt to make itself palatable to the straight world. Fire Island is accessible to a straight audience but it doesn't pander, try to make gay culture more straight. Sex positive and romantic, clever and touching. Fire Island is a very satisfying comedy and it's one you should check out right away.
Fire Island
Starring: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, Margaret Cho, James Scully, Matt Rogers
Director: Andrew Ahn
Writer: Joel Kim Booster
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