Skinny, The

By: Robert O'Neill
In-House Review - Nov 30 2012

NYC couple Mangus (Jussie Smollett) and Ryan (Dustin Ross) have been almost inseparable since they first began dating. They finally decide to spend a little time apart during Harlem Pride. Four very special people are coming to stay for the weekend and they will require Magnus's undivided attention.

Magnus, Kyle (Anthony Burrell), Sebastian (Blake Young-Fountain), Joey (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman) and their best lesbian gal pal Langston (Shanika Warren-Markland) were once inseparable too ? when they all went to college together at Brown University. It has been one full year since their graduation and the group has been itching to get back together. They plan to spend the weekend partying and reminiscing about old times, but sex, , alcohol and pesky secret crushes keep getting in their way. Worst of all, they discover that Magnus's beloved boyfriend is spending his weekend of independence searching for other hot dudes to meet him at a sex party.

Writer-director Patrik-Ian Polk, best known as the creator of " Noah's Arc ," is slowly becoming the gay, African-American equivalent of Aaron Sorkin. He has an ear for fast, furious and hysterically funny dialog. In some of the film's more dramatic scenes, it borders on being a little "too smart" and ultimately unrealistic, but when Polk is aiming to make the audience laugh, he hits the bull's-eye with sassy, near-relentless wit. One of the best examples comes when Joey explains to young virgin Sebastian, in a speech both clinical and profane, his techniques and philosophies behind douching before a date. This scene alone makes the film worth watching, but the game, incredibly sexy, young, all-African-American cast doesn't hurt either.

By: Amos Lassen

Five black Brown University classmates- four gay men and one lesbian - reuniting in New York City for a weekend of sin, fun, secrets, lies and drama. The film is a comedy about a group of four young, black, gay men and their lesbian best friend who meet up in New York City a year after their graduation from Brown University. The fun gets off to a good start but soon some of the old tensions return and drinking, , hidden desires, lust as well as sexual abandon put the friendships is a tenuous position and even their lives are put at risk.
Patrik-Ian Polk gives us gay men being themselves but he also shows us some important lessons. Even though this is a comedy, the film seriously looks at AIDS, promiscuity and the party scene. While the film looks at the African-American community, race here is not important (with the exception that we get so few movies about this community). What is important are the issues faced in the movie. We see the problems that can exist on a weekend meant for fun and how quickly that fun can change to something more serious.
The script is written with a real sense of the demands of urban living and because of this, I believe, everyone will see someone they know in the film.