tlavideo.com

Amos Lassen wrote on 04/03/2011:

“Theft” from Waterbearer Films is a wonderful “little” film which gives us a positive look at gay life. I say “little” film because it is low budget and overacted but that does not detract from what the movie has to say. It is very, very funny with loveable characters and a whole lot of charm. It is a privilege to have a film that gives the bondage and S/M community a new look and the leather community takes on an entirely different interpretation. It now comes across as supportive and charitable and the leather men are cute as can be.
The star of the film is the riotous plot made up of an hour and a half of surprises as we see the story of a gay bar in a small town and a church zealot. The site of the gay bar is a disenfranchised community that is driven to fight for rights in Liberty Hills, Texas. Produced as a satire, the story of a drag queen’s stolen wig has the viewer laughing aloud.
Guy Simms has been accused of causing the local evangelical church to burn down and this thrusts him into the small town spotlight. He was a shy introvert until this happened but he manages to overcome his fear of authority figures in order to prove he is innocent. The gay bar of Liberty Hills is where the men have met for decades but their somewhat peaceful existence is torn asunder when an ego crazed preacher looks for an enemy in order to get his congregation to up their donations. The preacher scares the men at the bar but a drifter comes to town and decorates it with homoerotic graffiti and the town which had been tolerant erupts into a community of hate. The bar owner resolves to keep the bar open as a safe place for the gays of the town and thereby stands up to the religious zealotry of the town folk and those who seek to run the gays out of town.
Director Paul Bright takes a stand on the victimization of gay film with “Theft” and feels that a film like this is long overdue. It is now time for all of us to realize that as gay people we are capable of leading “normal” lives.
With wonderful background music and a great soundtrack, “Theft” is a movie not to be missed. Even with its low budget performance values, its message is strong and it is not often that we get to laugh as much as we do with this film.

WriterBear wrote on 10/23/2010:

Although low budget, this funny little satire is worth you money. Making it was clearly a labor of love by everyone involved. Not only does it have cute men, a fun plot and genuinely laughable moments, it also has one of the best "Making of" documentaries I have ever watched on a gay DVD. Buy it. You won't be sorry.

Chuck wrote on 07/12/2010:

This is possibly one of the silliest gay movies I have ever seen and it was meant to be. It is a very good satire. The acting was fantastic and the subject timely although, of course, it wasn't written about a real group of nuts...

Conner wrote on 06/06/2008:

I rented this little flick from "NetFlicks", and I watched it last night. As with, Paul Bright's, "Angora Ranch". The movie is honest, sincere, and adorable. I really enjoyed; "Theft", and I plan on purchasing a copy for our movie library

It's an enjoyable, along with entertaining, little flick. The type of movie to enjoy, whenever you needs something to just plain relax with. Not one of the heavier, more intense movies.

TimBrough wrote on 03/24/2008:

Gentle, unassuming bar worker Guy suddenly finds himself in the middle of a conflict he never asked for when he discovers he is the owner of a small-town gay bar in the heart of Texas. But the local Evangelist nut-case has designs on the property. Thus is the basic premise of Paul Bright's "Theft," a fairy tale that involves drag queens, leathermen, small town prejudice and bizarrely twisted family ties.

It is a fun romp through a tough topic. Bright, whose initial film "Angora Ranch" has become a sleeper hit since its DVD release, has crafted a script that mixes topical barbs with goofy comedy. Once Guy realizes that he has inherited the Golden Door Bar, George/Sister Hosanna (David DeLuca) convinces him to stand up for the community, even when the Bible Thumping Hypocrite Sister Susannah (a spot on Cynthia Schiebel) begins attacking The Golden Door and those who would patronize the place. Of course, like most bashers, the sister has other agendas and is more than willing to cast stones. As the community pushes back, she pushed harder...and so the fun carries on.

This is a positive movie about gays, and has less to do with Christian Bashing than it does with making a statement about Christian Hypocrisy. The dueling "Onward Christian Soldiers" scene illustrate this point wonderfully while still getting a laugh in the process. It's hard to say more without giving away the best parts of the movie, but as he did in "Angora Ranch," Bright's script takes on gay topics without getting to overtly cliched while staying positive. It presents leathermen as non-threatening (the total reverse of Cruising) and dreams of a world where this smalltown gay bar would thrive and foster a sense of community...AND take on crazy church ladies.

PS. Watch the credits to the end, and have a BIG laugh at Paul and "Sister Susannah's" exchange at the opening of the extra featurette.