4th Man Out *** (2015, Evan Todd, Parker Young, Chord Overstreet, Jon Gabrus, Kate Flannery, Jennifer Damiano) – Classic Movie Review 12,327

The good-natured, warm-hearted 2015 American comedy film 4th Man Out stars Evan Todd as Adam, a young man living in Upstate New York who, on his 24th birthday, struggles to come out as gay to his straight buddies Chris (Parker Young), Nick (Chord Overstreet) and Ortu (Jon Gabrus) and to his family. It is directed by Andrew Nackman and written by Aaron Dancik.

4th Man Out is a nice, sweet, feel-good buddy gay movie, so well meaning it nearly hurts. That helps to take down the reality factor, but this is a lightweight and lighthearted spin on the story of four buds, one of whom suddenly want to come out on his 24th birthday. Probably to widen its appeal, the film focuses on the buddy comedy theme and the growing pains and strengths of friendship rather than the coming out thing. But that’s just fine. The four are manly men, but on the sensitive side of manly, new men.

Adam’s struggle is to come out as gay, but his three best friends face a struggle too – to come to terms with their friend’s sexuality, concerned his coming out could change or even destroy their relationships. This is the best bit. Adam’s closest friend Chris finds it easiest to accept his long-time friend and persuades the others they have to be cool too. But then Nick and Ortu get fully aboard, and it’s Chris who really has the problem with Adam. Their closeness had another basis, and Chris doesn’t understand much, especially why he hasn’t known for the last 20 years why he didn’t know Adam was gay and why Adam didn’t tell him. This is the same case as with Adam’s mom (Kate Flannery), who’s also upset she didn’t know Adam was gay and why Adam didn’t tell her ten years earlier. This is good, interesting stuff, though the film keeps it light. Everybody likes everybody. Actually, everybody loves everybody. Maybe that’s true in in Upstate New York. If so, lucky them.

Apart from a couple of obvious villains, all the characters in Albany, New York state, are well meaning and accepting to a fault. So no light and shade here, just light, but that’s alright, that’s what we need right now. The film has a big heart.

The boys are pretty ordinary, and ironically that’s part of their appeal. No movie star glam here, and of course no unhappy ending. It is right that they are ordinary because Adam is an average young man working as a car mechanic who spends his free time with his three close bros, with whom he does everything, except have sex.

4th Man Out is pleasing, amusing and sometimes funny. It is slightly rude but not very raunchy, a good natured, easy going, sitcom-style comedy, which could easily be the pilot of a gay TV show. That is intended as a compliment, by the way, The performances by the four men are ideal and warm, capturing their characters appealingly.

The film received the Audience Choice Award for Best Dramatic Feature at Outfest, and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the InsideOut LGBT Film Festival.

It’s a good advert for Albany, the capital of New York state, which seems a very nice place to live.

4th Man Out (2015, Evan Todd).

Evan Todd says: ‘It’s a coming out story with substance, but it’s not tragic. And it’s a comedy about a gay guy, but it’s not campy. It’s not your typical gay film. I was really glad that the first gay character I got to play, even though his sexual orientation is at the forefront of the film, was presented in a way I felt was really honest and modern.’

Evan Todd (born February 25, 1989) grew up in Kissimmee, Florida. He is of Italian descent and openly gay. He is the co-founder of stART and artsINSIDEOUT, summer arts empowerment programmes benefiting students from his home town and children affected by HIV in South Africa.

Chord Overstreet (born February 17, 1989) is known for his role as Sam Evans on the Fox television series Glee (2009–2015). Here he is hidden behind a ridiculous beard that helps him to look ordinary. All our four heroes are hairy heroes by the way.

The cast are Evan Todd as Adam, Parker Young as Chris, Chord Overstreet as Nick, Jon Gabrus as Ortu, Jennifer Damiano as Tracy/ Rachel, Jordan Lane Price as Jessica, Kate Flannery as Adam’s mother Karen, Richard Lounello as Adam’s father Frank, Brooke Dillman as neighbour Martha, Alex Rennie as Paul the stoner, Doug Moe as Bradstar, Nick Clark as Matt, Christopher Whalen as Ugo, Sean Hankinson as Derek, Lucas Hazlett as Julian, Brandon Gill as Hugh, Jake Epstein as Marc Peters, Laura Harrier as Dorothy Cuda, Tommy Bracco as Giovanni, Danielle Eliav as Michelle, Cristina DiCarlo as Tracy, Karlee Fomalont as Kim, Merritt Reid as Brett, Tracy, and Marquis Wood as Steve.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,327

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