Following up his critically acclaimed third film, 2001's The Sleepy Time Gal, filmmaker Christopher Munch helmed this dramedy about a pair of brothers who embark on a camping trip together. Harry (Bryce Johnson) is the eldest of the two, a 23-year-old former teen idol who has stopped off for the long-promised expedition while en route to a gig in Japan. Max (Cole Williams) is Harry's 16-year-old younger brother, a burgeoning pop star himself. As the siblings begin spending time together in
seclusion, their cordialness erodes and strong feelings begin to come out, exposing old emotions that were never dealt with. Also featuring performances by Michelle Phillips and Rain Phoenix, Harry and Max premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
To consider Harry and Max as being about incestuous feelings would be shortchanging it, because the film is really about the evolving nature of love and the need to define it.
As disturbing and unsettling as the subject matter is what is truly sad is that the performances of the two leads were impressive and they ended up being wasted by the trash content of the script.
Though Williams and Johnson fit comfortably into the European naturalism that's become Münch's stock in trade, they can't quite wriggle out of his high-concept premise and become plausibly real.
...incest...pedophilia...the film seems to be nothing more than an attempt to affirm a sense of I'm-OK-you're-OK normality for any viewers with such issues in their own lives.
The movie is a congeries of half-formed ideas about pansexuality and other social taboos, but Munch fails to accomplish what he seemingly sets out to do.
Chatty scenes ramble on and on, supporting characters are underdeveloped, and all the sibs' angst does little to make their tortured relationship very credible or interesting.
This was a random watch for me, and it ended up being about gay incest (!) However, it's forgettable.... in fact, I can't remember anything about it other than the brothers taking a road trip, and I don't remember any steamy scenes. So... what I can say from it is: This gay-themed road movie is gay. I'm anticipating
the upcoming Brazilian film From Beginning to End (Do Começo ao Fim) by Aluisio Abranches. The trailer makes it out to be everything that this movie wasn't.
June 11, 2009
Richard Cranium
This is not the best movie nor is it the worst. A touchy subject looked at but not explained or judged. Sort of abrupt ending - like they spent their time with the exposition and had to rush to wind it up. See it before you buy it.
No quotes approved yet for Harry + Max (Harry and Max). Logged in users can submit quotes.
Submit a Quote from 'Harry + Max (Harry and Max)'
A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.
Example:
Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Top Critic
