Michael MacLennan Movies
Old friendship falls prey to new tensions as a group of childhood friends come together for a weekend hunt, but find themselves torn apart by rising tensions and unexpected guests, in this drama from cinematographer-turned-director Thom Best. It's been years since Vaughn and his old buddies have come together for a little male bonding, and when the opportunity for a laid back winter weekend at the family cabin arises, the childhood chums set about packing their bags. The carefree old days have given way to the stress and competition of adulthood, and when new rivalries form and long-buried secrets give way to sexual tensions, the kettle begins to boil and tensions begin to flare. When a knock on the cabin door signals the arrival of some surprising guests, the relaxing weekend retreat becomes a dire struggle to salvage what little is left of the group's tenuous friendship. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Hewlitt, Martin Cummins, (more)
- 2002
Pride Weekend is coming up. Emmett (Peter Paige) plans to join the parade with legendary drag queen Godiva, who is suffering from AIDS. When Godiva passes away on the eve of the parade, Emmett is understandably distraught, and he isn't sure how to best honor her memory. Deb (Sharon Gless), who calls it "The High Homo Holidays," is marching with her PFLAG group and is upset, as always, that Michael (Hal Sparks) won't march beside her. He's worried about being seen by somebody from his job, but Deb's guilt trip gets him to agree to march. Then he finds out that a group of people from work is going to the parade to check out "the freaks," and he changes his mind again. Lindsay (Thea Gill) is less than thrilled when Leda (Nancy Sakovich), Mel's (Michelle Clunie) old girlfriend from her wilder days, shows up for the parade, reminisces about old times, and gets Mel to drag out the motorcycle she's had stashed away in the garage. Ted (Scott Lowell) wants to experience a little sexual freedom, but he's surprised when a hot young stud (Lee Rumohr) picks him up at Woody's and fulfills his wish. When Justin (Randy Harrison) accompanies Emmett to the AIDS hospice where Godiva died, he runs into a familiar and very unwelcome face. Brian (Gale Harold) works on a gay-themed wine cooler campaign for a homophobic CEO (Rodger Barton). ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Michael (Hal Sparks) is having a hard time getting over Ben (Robert Gant). In his efforts to move on, he tries a video dating service, an online dating service (with "image consulting" help from the gang), and even goes to a matchmaker that Deb (Sharon Gless) recommends. Brian (Gale Harold), concerned that Justin (Randy Harrison) doesn't socialize with people his own age, convinces him to go to Daphne's (Makyla Smith) party at her college. There he meets and deflowers a naïve young man, who quickly grows attached to him. Brian is beginning to seem a little worried about the age difference. Emmett (Peter Paige) is a full-fledged star on the web, and when he gets a Tiffany bracelet from a secret admirer, he imagines it's his Prince Charming come to take him away. He ignores Ted's (Scott Lowell) warnings about the dangers of meeting with obsessed fans, and is spirited away in a limousine to a lavish mansion, where his admirer turns out to be George Schickel (Bruce Gray), an elderly pickle magnate. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Michael (Hal Sparks) decides to throw Ben (Robert Gant) a surprise birthday party, and steals his Palm Pilot so he can get phone numbers for all of Ben's friends. Despite Ben's expressed desire to celebrate quietly, Michael enlists Emmett (Peter Paige) to design a big Far East-themed soiree. Michael isn't sure whether or not to invite Debbie (Sharon Gless), who still doesn't seem to accept his relationship. Things go badly when Ben delivers an unhappy surprise of his own. Justin (Randy Harrison) is also having a birthday, but Brian (Gale Harold) lets everyone know that he doesn't believe that the mere act of being born is worthy of celebration. So Melanie (Michelle Clunie) and Lindsay (Thea Gill) cheer Justin up by taking him to a concert, where he's attracted to Ethan (Fabrizio Filippo), a hot young violin prodigy. Justin approaches Ethan after the concert, and sparks fly, but Justin breaks things off to go back to Brian, who, shamed by Debbie, has arranged a Brian-style birthday surprise for Justin. Ted (Scott Lowell), meanwhile, tries to raise Emmett's spirits by taking him to a festive gay church service. There, Ted meets Luke (Jason Knight), and they hit it off. Their relationship develops quickly, but Ted has trouble telling the saintly Luke that he runs a porn site for a living. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Brian's (Gale Harold) return from Miami leads to the revelation that he once had sex with Ben (Robert Gant) at a "White Party" years ago. Justin (Randy Harrison) picks up on the secret, but Brian makes him promise not to tell Michael (Hal Sparks). Michael eventually finds out, and has a difficult time dealing with the fact that his current boyfriend once had sex with his legendarily gifted friend. But, Brian asks, who is he really jealous of? Ted (Scott Lowell) gets a taste of Pittsburgh's gay high society when he meets Garth Racine (Dan Lett). Racine ignores the sycophantic Ted until he finds out about the website. Suddenly, Ted is living his dream of joining the "crème de la crème" -- but there is a hitch. Debbie (Sharon Gless) decides to investigate the recent murder herself, and makes surprising headway in determining the identity of the victim. Her detective work impresses Horvath (Peter MacNeill), the cop assigned to the case. This episode was directed by the series' regular cinematographer, Thom Best. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Leslie Nielsen makes a return appearance as "legendary" Canadian mountie Sgt. Buck Frobisher, as do Alex Carter and Mark Melymick as well-meaning but bumbling FBI agents Ford and Deeter. Frobisher is among a group of singing mounties on board a train bound for an American concert. These redcoated songbirds as hijacked by a group of terrorists, led by Randal Bolt (Kenneth Walsh), who intend to kill everyone on board the train whether their demands are met or not. The climax involves a runaway choo-choo and Frobisher's sudden attack of "excess gas." Drama students will appreciate the character names given the members of the phony movie production crew. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on April 12, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
