The Obscure Film Review: Straight Up
I first watched this film in early 2020 and I’ve been recommending it ever since. For me, Straight Up was an obvious choice for our first Obscure Film Review because quite frankly, it’s a film that deserves more exposure. It’s playful, honest, melancholic, and heartwarming all at the same time.
Written and directed by James Sweeney, who also plays Todd, Straight Up is a rom-com brimming with witty dialogue and millennial angst. Todd, a seemingly gay man with OCD, is terrified of dying alone. However, his aversion to bodily fluids means that he has never been intimate with a man, other than that one time he describes as ‘more of a blow consultation.’ This leads him to question his own sexuality and start dating women, which is when he meets Rory, played by Kate Findlay (How to Get Away With Murder). Despite opposition from Todd’s friends, who tell him ‘this is ricockulous’, he and Rory start dating. But they are both left confused and questioning when their relationship doesn’t meet the expectations of societal norms.
Straight Up features a strong supporting cast that includes Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad), Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat, Wandavision), and Brendan Scannell (Bonding). Shot on a tiny budget, this film is rife with witty dialogue, solid acting, and strong visual aesthetics. But the exploration of asexuality is what sets it apart from other rom-coms because the characters aren’t driven by sexual desire.
Sweeney tackles several challenging topics in his debut film, such as the dismissal of asexuality, the relationship between heteronormativity and sex, mental health needs, sexual fluidity, and the pressure to conform to labels, but he broaches these subjects with grace, humour, and honesty.
I’ve always been fond of stories that push the boundaries of societal norms and expectations, and Straight Up does this fantastically.
Sweeney skillfully delves into the lives of people who are unhappy living within the realm of supposed normalcy. Rory’s and Todd’s search for happiness allows the viewer to question their own sense of normalcy. Why shouldn’t people live in a way that makes them happy? Todd’s questioning of his own sexuality and his relationship with Rory highlights the fact that love is relative. If a couple is happy together, then the functioning of their relationship shouldn’t be anybody’s business but their own. Unless of course, they decide to include someone else.
Straight Up is a touching display of angst, love, and humour. If you only watch one film this month, I urge you to watch this one.
Originally published by Cult Fiction at https://www.cultfiction.co.uk/straight-up/
