Touch of Pink

Pleasant gay romantic comedy, but overly familiar. Viewers who aren't acquainted with flicks before the advent of Lindsay Lohan may be enthralled, but if you've seen LA CAGE, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, MONSOON WEDDING, PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM, or any one of several dozen oldies but goodies, you'll recognize various bits and pieces as they float by here. However, an engaging cast, some laugh-out loud funny lines, the odd surprise twist in the screenplay (dramatic situations old when Thespis hauled that second actor up on stage will suddenly blossom into territory we've never seen before), and a general our-heart's-in-the-right-place air here make it worth a watch.

There's a quite a number of good, low-budget films coming out of Canada these days. Like the recent "Mambo Italiano," "Touch of Pink" focuses on the pressure of an immigrant son from a large Canadian city (Toronto here, Montreal in 'Mambo') struggling to balance family responsibility and sexual identity. 'Pink' is well done and presents that dilemma honestly - kudos to Ian Iqbal Rashid for writing and directing a nice little tale.

The real surprise here? Kyle MacLachlan, who is outstanding as 'the spirit of Cary Grant.' It's a spot-on impersonation. Who knew this guy had this talent? MacLachlan's effort alone makes 'Pink' worth your time to rent or buy.

Oh, just how low-budget is 'Pink'? Low budget enough where co-star Kristin Holden-Reid gets credited as Kristin Holden-Ried. No spellchecker? Now, that's pinching pennies.

Cute story! Cute actors! A piece of romantic fluff, but a pleasant way to spend 90 min.

Think Bend it Like Beckham with a La Cage Aux Folles twist, then you'll get a Touch of Pink.

In a fun nod to the comedies of the 1950's, with modern implications, Touch of Pink combines a culture clash with a generation clash, with an end result that's predicatable but fun. Written by Ian Rashid, Touch of Pink stars Jimi Mistry as the hapless protaginist Alim, forced to throw his life, and his saucy boyfriend played by Kristen Holden-Reid, back into the closet when his noisy Muslim mother decides to visit him in England. Alim's invented an imaginary friend in the form of Cary Grant, played refreshingly by Kyle McLaughlin, who offers advice through the film, not all of it good.

What follows is fairly predictable, and anyone can see the ending from a mile away. But still, the journey getting there is a wonderful ride. Rashid's script is witty, and several lines earn a good hearty out-loud laugh. The performances are sharp, especially Suleka Matthew, who's obviously way too young to be Alim's mother, but delivers her lines with zing and zest and a great deal of fun.

I recommend getting a Touch of Pink if you'd like a touch of fun and a good evening at the movies.

"Touch of Pink" is a charming and entertaining story. Many new gay films aspire to leave behind the stereotypes, and dig deep into their respective subjects. Yet, I find this film leaves behind most, but keeps just enough of the stereotypes to make it enjoyable. The film doesn't aspire to be just another version of reality, however. It is a story, with make-believe movie-star friends, family, love, and cross-cultural clashes. "Touch of Pink" is all of this without high melodrama, and without over-the-top steam scenes. It is a good watch, and a good laugh.