http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/moviestory.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/2799406
Sept. 16, 2004, 5:46PM
By STEPHEN WHITTY
Copyright 2004 Newhouse News Service
Growing up is hard enough without having to do it in secret. Still, that's the difficulty faced by gay teenagers every year.
They struggle with the same issues as every other classmate -- sudden crushes, awkward dates, unrequited love, sexual experimentation. Except most of them struggle in silence, unable even to confide in a best friend.
It's a common problem -- so common that many gay movies take it as their natural story line. It appears, once again, in You'll Get Over It, a new French drama -- and it's showing its age.
Its hero, Vincent, is a 16-year-old role model -- a smart and well-liked student with a pretty girlfriend and some record-breaking exploits on the swim team. What Vincent's friends and family don't know, however -- even as it's starting to register on the "gaydar" of other young men -- is that Vincent is homosexual.
Julien Baumgartner is appealing enough as Vincent, at first, and Julia Maraval is sweet as his clueless girlfriend, but the movie isn't very dramatic. Vincent's family, teachers and coach are all remarkably understanding when he's forced, finally, to come out. Although there are some taunts at school, they subside quickly.
Vincent, meanwhile, grows slightly less appealing as the movie goes on. When his father awkwardly professes his support, he merely stares at him. When a teacher stammers out the facts of his own sexual orientation, Vincent struggles, unsuccessfully, not to laugh in his face.
The intent may be to show how confident Vincent has become. Instead, he seems only rude, and because the film presents him with few obstacles to overcome, it has nowhere to go.