THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB:  A ROMANTIC COMEDY
 
US, 2000, 94 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Olyphant, Zac Braff, Matt Mc Grath, Ben Weber, Dean Caine, Billy Porter, John Mahoney, Nia Long, Mary Mc Cormack, Justin Theroux.
Directed by Greg Berlanti.
 
The Broken Hearts Club:  A Romantic Comedy is a film written for a gay audience.  Even in this screenplay, the characters complain about the gay characters seen on screen, especially in Hollywood movies.  This film also contains many stereotypes, especially in the camp behaviour of this group of West Hollywood gay men.
 
The Broken Hearts Club is a restaurant presided over by John Mahoney who is also the coach of the men’s softball team.  The men gravitate to the restaurant – but they are very much involved in their own relationships, their self-image, their coming out, their being seen. 
 
At the centre is Timothy Olyphant as a photographer approaching his twenty-eighth birthday.  He is thinking over his own life and his capacity for relationships as well as supporting the others.  The group also includes Zac Braff as man attracted towards gym types, Matt Mc Grath as a psychology student who is unable to handle his own psyche and relationships, Dean Caine as a narcissistic actor.  There is a subplot about two lesbians, Nia Long and Mary Mc Cormack.  Mary Mc Cormack’s brother, played by Ben Weber, is to be a sperm donor so that they can have a child of their own. 
 
The film is very camp in its humour – and may be something of a puzzle, possibly even alienating, for the wider audience.
 
Concerning the casting, a number of the actors were at the beginning of careers which came into more prominence in the succeeding years, especially Timothy Olyphant, Zac Braff, Dean Caine and Justin Theroux.  John Mahoney, best known as Frasier’s father, seems to be enjoying himself as the wise old man who is able to gather the group together – but also gives them some sound advice, especially as regards looking beyond their gay identity into a broader life.
 
1.            The niche audience for this film?  The wider audience?  The film receiving awards from gay organisations? 

2.            West Los Angeles, the city, the clubs, apartments, restaurants, softball fields, funeral?  The real world for this community? 

3.            The musical score, the songs, discussion about Barbra Streisand, The Carpenters…?  The classic Debussy played at the funeral?  The sensibilities?  The drag acts? 

4.            The cast, its strength, later careers? 

5.            Los Angeles at the beginning of the 21st century, the gay movement in the 20th century, men coming out, staying in the closet, acceptance by the comedy, by family?  The camp style and sensibilities? 

6.            The chapters of the film, the highlighting of words, the dictionary definitions:  meanwhile, neubie, gym guy… and five months later (understood by everyone)? 

7.            The introduction, the group chatting over coffee, the subjects, the gay focus, the introduction to the characters? 

8.            Preoccupations, age, relationships, love, sexuality, friendship, pain, loss, commitment?  Jack and his warnings about maturity, learning other facets of identity?  His own relationship of twenty years with the Purple Man?

9.            Dennis as the centre, approaching twenty-eight, as a photographer, his relationship with his family, not being able to tell his father who died before he came out?  Hesitations?  The party?  His house, Cole as a boarder?  Taylor and his crisis about Paul?  Kevin and his not being out?  The attractions?  Not ready for commitment?  Sexual relationships?  Wanting more?  Taking photos?  Explaining to Kevin why he stayed in LA, with this group?  At the softball, cooking, supportive, talking to Kevin?  Jack and his advice?  The effect of Jack’s death, grief, Kevin feeling he was neglecting him, the final exhibition of his work before he went to Europe?

10.         Patrick, morose, self-image, lack of relationships, his talking?  His relationship with his sister, the request as a sperm donor, discussions about it, his refusal, changing his mind?  Going to the clinic?  Finally seeing the scan?  His speech for Jack?  His sister, her partner, their relationship, wanting to parent, wanting a sperm donor, wanting her brother to contribute? 

11.         Howie, psychology, his glasses, self-image, his way of talking, the broken relationship with Marshall, his interrupting him, the confrontations, self-centred, Marshall bluntly telling him the truth, his coming to Marshall at the end and admitting his being wrong?  Marshall, smoking the pot, attitude towards Howie, the other partners?

12.         Cole, seeming straight, his relationships, his vanity, getting the acting job, the relationship with the actor, finally being stood up by him?  The softball, the bet with the catcher?  His relationship with Kevin, being flippant? 

13.         Benjy, his appearance, talk, relationships, going to the gym, being bashed? 

14.         Jack, his wisdom, genial, the softball?  His relationship with the Purple Man?  The Purple Man speaking at the funeral, playing the music? 

15.         The gallery of background characters, their characteristics, particular names?  Filling in the background of this community and world?

16.         Issues of role models, images on screen for gay identity?  The impact for the straight audience and the story of this world and its style?