Gay-oriented films often take The Boys in the Band (1970) as a model and then construct bitchy dialog between characters that appear to have little in common except for their sexuality. All Over the Guy, directed by Julie Davis, falls into such a rut and never climbs out, though adapted from a stage play, “I Know You Are, But What Am I?,” in which all the principal characters are straight. While a straight couple, Brett (played by Adam Goldberg) and Jackie (played by Sasha Alexander), carry on a reasonably blissful affair in the film, they arrange a blind date for love-hungry Eli (played by the film’s screenwriter Dan Bucatinksy) and Tom (played by Richard Ruccolo). The date proves to be a disaster in which special education teacher Tom knocks down everything that journalist Eli says, but Eli inexplicably tries to keep the flames alive. Although the film is supposed to be a comedy with clever lines, the heart of the movie consists of an analysis of why the two gay men are so incapable of developing a relationship, despite their obvious need to find a mate. The parents in both cases are to blame. Eli’s Jewish parents, while trying to be progressive, made him neurotic, especially about heterosexuality, so he seeks psychiatry. Tom’s Gentile parents are alcoholics, so Tom drinks a lot, yet often liquor does the talking rather than his heart, which he is trying to find. The gay relationship in the film becomes off-again, on-again, and ultimately filmviewers hope that they will end the bickering and just move on. But in the end they decide that they are ideal partners, sticking together perhaps because only neurotics can understand each other and enjoy both verbal fighting and making up. But for how long? MH