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Review

Impossibly maudlin and totally "heartwarming" Showtime's Fathers and Sons is a trio of short films about the relationships of men with their son/father. The first film is about all the unspoken words between father and son and is our second favorite of the three. The film traces the course of a father and his son over a thirty year period. The middle film is the story of a philandering airline pilot and his cross-dressing gay son. Not a drag queen, Ron Eldard plays an exaggerated effeminate character who wears woman's makeup and femme-appearing clothing. A bit distracting, this costume detracts from an otherwise interesting film. John Mahoney does an amazing job as the father, Kathy Baker, his wife, and Clea Duvall as a fling. The third film stars Gale Harold of "Queer as Folk" and tells the story of a coarse man who returns home to be with his father at his death bed. The character played by Harold meets a woman and falls in love, breaking his hard exterior down. This film is our favorite because we love the star from "QAF."

Don't expect cinematic wonders here, it's a competent cable film with excellent actors.

 -- Scott Cranin