Did the Adam
Sandler comedy about two firefighters pretending to be gay
intentionally schedule its premiere opposite the biggest gay
night in Hollywood?
Universal
Pictures is prepping to walk its upcoming comedy I Now
Pronounce You Chuck & Larry down the aisle
during what will likely be a glitzy, star-studded premiere
in Los Angeles July 12. The picture boasts major movie
stars (Adam Sandler and Jessica Biel) and a supergay
story line (two firefighters fake a gay relationship
to qualify for domestic-partner benefits). And with no major
protests from gays and lesbians, one would expect
Hollywood's top homos to show up at the world
premiere.
As it turns out,
the Dennis Dugan–directed picture unspools the same
time as the 2007 Outfest Film Festival, one of the
main attractions of the year for Tinseltown's gay
crowd. This year Outfest is celebrating its 25th
anniversary, and opening night features Robert Cary's SaveMe, described as a tender love story set within
an "ex-gay" ministry in the Southwest. True, Chuck
& Larry isn't direct competition for
Cary's film, but considering the plot lines, both are
likely to be major draws for Los Angeles's gay set.
So the question
is, Did Universal know about a potential rainbow-colored
calendar collision when the premiere date was set? A
Universal spokesperson had this response: "The fact
that our film premieres during Outfest is merely a
coincidence. The date of the premiere is predicated
solely on when the film's talent is available during their
very busy schedules promoting the film in the two weeks
before its release. We consider I Now Pronounce You
Chuck & Larry a mainstream comedy whose
message is inclusive and positive, and we hope that
the film appeals to a broad variety of moviegoers."
Some industry insiders, however, are raising
their eyebrows over why Chuck & Larry didn't
marry itself to the Outfest schedule or move out of
the way to accommodate the gays. Sandler, James, and
Dugan all declined to speak to The
Advocate for our Summer Movie Preview. Universal also
failed to provide anyone who could speak on behalf of
the film.
"One would think the gays would appreciate the movie, even
if it is in jest," said one source with ties to the
festival. "You sort of have to wonder why Universal
didn't go with Outfest in the first place."
But as far as the festival is concerned, exec director
Stephen Gutwillig says its big night is always a big
draw no matter what other events are standing in their
way. "It's both one of the biggest nights of the gay
calendar for Los Angeles and one of the biggest nights for
the gay Hollywood mafia." A mafia that won't include
Sandler or costar Kevin James. They'll have their own
coming-out party when the film opens in theaters July
20.
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