The Trip *** (2002, Larry Sullivan, Steve Braun, Ray Baker, Alexis Arquette, Sirena Irwin, Jill St John, Art Hindle) – Classic Movie Review 13,466

Romance, politics, sex and humour collide during two men’s 11-year journey of laughs, love, self-discovery and adventure, in director Miles Swain’s 2002 LGBTQ+ American romantic drama film The Trip.

Writer/ director Miles Swain’s 2002 LGBTQ+ American romantic drama film The Trip is an uneasy but likeable and reasonably winning mix of comedy, gay romance and politics. There are some good lines, and thoughtful ideas, a fab soundtrack, and some crucial newsreel footage, and the eager, pleasing, good fun performances sell it.

Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun star appealingly as uptight Alan Oakley and free-spirit Tommy Ballenger, opposites who attract as the gay rights movement takes off.

It’s also good to have Alexis Arquette and Jill St John aboard, even if they are pushing their luck in broad sitcom-style comedy turns, camping around something rotten, and Sirena Irwin amuses very broadly too as hero’s friend Beverly.

It’s set in three time periods: 1973, 1977 and 1984, as two men meet, fall in love live happily together, split up and are finally reunited. The film has a good vibe, a warm heart, and a nice spirit, overcoming difficult-to-handle scenes and awkward moments. Needless to say, but I will, the comedy is campy and gay, so good.

But then the film is serious minded too, with historical events as a backdrop, from Anita Bryant’s attempt to overturn a Florida law providing protection of gay rights in the 70s, ending up with a fruit pie in her face, to the AIDS outbreak in the 80s and the callous indifference of Republican President Reagan. Needless to say, but I will, the film has little time for Republicans or Reagan, actually it gives quite a lot of time to bashing them. The film features some of the most dreadful wigs in the history of dreadful film wigs, giving the actors a credibility problem.

The Trip is warm and cosy, and provocative and ambitious all at once. That’s quite daring, and it deserves a good reception for all its many attempts to educate and amuse.

Swain was a resident at Rudolph Valentino’s estate Falcon Lair and was able to film most of the movie there, the only film ever shot on the property.

The cast

The cast are Larry Sullivan as Alan Oakley, Steve Braun as Tommy Ballenger, Ray Baker as Peter Baxter, James Handy as Hal, Faith Salie as Ignored Woman, Dennis Bailey as Larry Jenkins, Alexis Arquette as Michael, Sirena Irwin as Beverly, Jill St John as Mary Oakley, Art Hindle as Ted Oakley, Julie Brown as Receptionist, David Mixner as himself, and Alfred Dennis as George Baxter.

Romance, politics, sex and humour collide during two men’s 11-year journey of passion, self-discovery and adventure.

Director Miles Swain Writer Miles Swain

Stars: Larry Sullivan, Steve Braun, Ray Baker, Alexis Arquette, Sirena Irwin, Jill St John, Art Hindle.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,466

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