At some point, we’re probably going to grow tired of teens on film wrestling with questions of homosexuality, right? Hmm. Considering we haven’t yet grown tired of teens on film wrestling questions of sexuality in general, perhaps my assumption is wrong. For now, all I know is if the films are this good, don’t stop making them.
Josh Wiggins looks a great deal like Nick Robinson (Simon from Love, Simon). Simon, of course, was the last major teen lead to struggle with homosexuality issues on film. Good gravy, there’s a stereotype for what a kid struggling with homosexuality ought to look like? That’s almost as disturbing as the society that prefers struggling silence to honest openness. Of course, the struggling takes a bit to introduce; first, we have to establish bro culture. Franky (Wiggins) and Ballas (Darren Mann) — Wait. “Ballas?” Yes, Ballas. Anyhoo, these two are bro-culture BFFs. Ballas is the alpha, scoring at will and captaining the swim team. You know, young dudes who are struggling with their sexuality might find swim team an extra challenge for, say, lack of costume. Just sayin’.
Homophobia has become a swim team issue. The team’s homophobic ambassador takes the brave responsibility to haze the kid who came out. Ballas has to break up the fight and in the fallout, coach segregates locker room times for the homofriendly and homophobic. Honestly, this all may be true to life, but swim team sexuality legislation doesn’t make for terribly compelling action. Neither is it all that striking when a post-party sleepover encounter between Franky and Ballas is filmed for the specific purpose of audience bewilderment. Is this a standard reflection on teen experimentation or something different? I mean if this were a decade ago and a sexual encounter between two boys caused one to be confused and the other to turn violent, that would be moving stuff. But I feel like by now, we’ve seen this. Franky’s confusion and sudden alienation look very familiar.
Where Giant Little Ones shines is the aftermath when Ballas restricts Franky’s universal pass into bro culture. I dunno about you, but –personally- where many find bro culture misogynistic and exclusive, I find most bro culture deadly dull. Franky needed to leave that scene anyway. Discovering this new world of hate, however, leads to three thus far unexplored relationships for the sudden outcast: the first is with a fellow outcast, slut-shamed sister of Ballas, Natasha (Taylor Hickson), the second is with his father (Kyle MacLachlan) who left Franky’s family to explore a homosexual relationship of his own, and third is with trans-curious teen, Mouse (Niamh Wilson), who walks around with a prosthetic penis “just for the feel.”
Call me weird, but I find far more fascinating the character who wants to know what it’s like to have a dong than the character who is afraid of the one he has. This is when a dull teen film becomes a celebration.
It occurs to me that bullying over homosexuality has probably existed as long as there has been education. I have no doubt that during one of Plato’s lectures, the classmates of Aristotle ribbed him about which gyro he stuck his kabob into. But it wasn’t right in Ancient Greece, and it ain’t right now. If that and an inexplicable title was all Giant Little Ones had to offer, I wouldn’t have given this film a passing grade. But that wasn’t the film I saw. The standard Act I and predictable start to Act II blossomed into a film I’d gladly encourage any teen to see and admire. It is somehow fitting and alarming that while teen sci-fi has taken a distinct dip, quality-wise, teen films about genuine issues of relationships and burgeoning sexuality are doing just fine. Note to makers of teen film: fewer ETs, more IUDs.
Teenage dystopia claims
Fascination accompanies flames
You can keep your Divergent
And starvation resurgent
I’m eager for relationship games
Rated R, 93 Minutes
Director: Keith Behrman
Writer: Keith Behrman
Genre: The consequences of hate
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: LGBTQ teens
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Mike Pence
