Cute and not ordinary film. "The Broken Hearts Club" is another one of those films with a well-known cast, seeking to standardize homosexual cinematic narratives. Despite the attempt, it is clear that there is still a lot to work on regarding this issue: almost twelve years later, films where men kiss and fight for space among themselves are still part of the forbidden stories and confined to ghettos.
In the film, we have the typical group of friends constantly questioning their place in society and their lack of luck in finding a good boyfriend. In short, they are dramas about relationships that well illustrated the episodes of the series "Sex and the City" (in this case, only comparative in terms of approach, after all, the series presented the universe of four friends in New York, with different profiles and questioning the role in society and other themes) during six seasons: betrayals, concerns about physical fitness, stereotypes and clichés of the homosexual world, insecurities or whether that guy is really that into you.
Dennis is the main character, the center of the script. Their friends circulate the narrative: Cole, played by Dean Cain (TV's Superman, remember?) is a handsome actor who keeps changing men like changing underwear. Benji is the confident one of the group, his own man and who thinks he dominates all his partners through his good form. Patrick is the most insecure, who seeks the gym as a way out of his weakness of mind. Howie is the psychologist who still hasn't managed to let go of his ex-boyfriend. Jack is the patriarch of the group, a fan of Shakespeare and owner of the pizzeria that houses his friends every night off.
Delicate at times and stereotypical at others, "The Broken Hearts Club" pleases almost everyone: at the same time as it addresses the clichés and frivolities of the fashionista world, it exposes William Shakespeare in one passage or another, especially the comedy "The You Like It." Even touching the literary canon, the film is nothing more than a romantic comedy. Yes, it allows for some reflections, but nothing so profound or that you haven't already seen in other films – or even in your life.
The Broken Hearts Club. Available on DVD. Rating: 6.
* Leonardo Campos writes every fortnight in this space about cinema and DVD releases. He is a researcher in cinema, literature and culture at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and professor of literature.
