This must be where Smigel and Sedelmaier got the idea for The Ambiguously Gay Duo

MBunge

This middling little movie is about a lot of things. Friendship, politics, betrayal, ambition, classism and idealism are just a few. What it is about more than anything else, however, is how its two main characters are totally not gay.

Peter Burton and Tim Gerrity (John Cusack and James Spader) start out as law school roommates. Peter is a charismatic young man on the move, reinventing himself as he goes, while Tim is the sort of doggedly earnest do-gooder who disdains things like money and power the way only a rich man's son can. Diana (Imogen Stubbs) is the Senator's daughter who comes between them. She starts out with Tim but grows weary of his desire for the small life and transfers her attentions to Peter and his big dreams. And the fact that both guys get involved with the same girl proves they are totally not gay.

Eventually Tim ends up in the Department of Justice and Peter joins the staff of Diana's father (Richard Widmark), angling constantly for his own advancement. Always ready to cut corners, Peter gets a shady developer to bankroll his run for Congress. Always full of integrity, Tim sets himself the task of taking down his old friend. And remember, they are totally not gay.

In most respects, True Colors is a fair piece of work. It's take on political and personal corruption is simultaneously a little naïve and melodramatic, but Cusack and Spader overcome that by giving you an early look at how they'd become such magnetic performers. Richard Widmark brings a little old Hollywood style to things and Mandy Patinkin glimmers as sleek, worldly temptation. Yeah, the story never gets much beyond a superficial level. However, it looks good, sounds good and moves along at a nice clip. This is some professionally constructed entertainment.

And did I mention that Peter Burton and Tim Gerrity are totally not gay? Yes, they clearly care far more about each other than either did about Diana. Sure, they hang out together and vacation together and trust each other more than anyone else in the world. And of course, the film's big emotional climax sees them rolling around on the floor in each other's arms. But they are totally not gay.

Seriously.

Not gay.

At all.

Really.

score 5/10

MBunge 6 January 2011

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2364938/