The first word heard in “Feeling Randy” is “boner,” which, when taken with the film’s title, promises a raunchy, raunchy comedy. But writer-director Dean Lent’s debut feature (not counting the 1987 anthology “Border Radio”) is prettier and more glamorous than the usual rom-coms about teens trying to lose their virginity. That may be its plot, but this semi-autobiographical project is a far cry from films like “Porky’s” or “American Pie.” Set in the Bay Area in the 1970s, “Feeling Randy” offers a humorous and sensitive portrayal of coming to terms with one’s sexuality.
Announcing its irreverent tone through sly chapter titles written in period-appropriate Recoleta script, and a hilarious voiceover from its eponymous hero (Reed Miller), “Feeling Randy” wastes no time establishing its premise and then keeping the narrative pace flowing. The setup is simple: Four teenage boys plan to lose their virginity by taking a road trip to a brothel in Nevada. They need to find a car and buy some money. Meanwhile, the main character has to deal with his parents, his sister, a new school friend, and a strange older boy who stirs up confusing feelings in him.
His friends call Randy everything from “dude” to “weird,” in the way that teenage boys can be both tough and honest at the same time. To his credit, Lent never explicitly declares the character’s sexuality nor does he make the film a coming-of-age story. Instead, the film is about a teenage boy who the audience identifies as gay but is not fully aware of his true identity. A whimsical sensibility is crucial to the storytelling as the film’s humor and sensibilities are always unexpected and slightly off-center, oscillating between sweet and strange.
On the sweet side, there is Randy’s relationship with his understanding mother (Marguerite Moreau) with whom he shares a love of television shows and who always shows him that she loves him. There’s also the new girl at school, Melissa (Kerris Brooks), with whom he begins an awkward relationship before they both realize that although they have a lot in common, they will never be lovers. Morrow and Brooks give “Feeling Randy” a warmth that both characters and audience can enjoy.
Meanwhile, Randy’s relationship with his father (Jonathan Silverman) is decidedly strange. Dad cares more about his broken-down truck than his family, and engages in strange extracurricular activities that add tension in his relationship with Randy. At the same time, he may be the only family member who knows Randy well, even if her reactions to him range from indignation to cruelty. It’s a great part of the cast, as Silverman is mostly known for comedies like “Weekend at Bernie’s” and here he plays the only character written without a sense of humor.
Blaine Kern III plays the older boy who treats Randy with a sense of humor and generosity unbecoming of teenage boys. Maybe he’ll turn out to be a romantic interest, or maybe he’ll just be a mentor who can guide Randy. The fact that he never becomes one, and his relationship with Randy remains fluid and mostly unexplained, is what gives “Feeling Randy” more of an anarchic, sweet-sounding ability that makes it more interesting than your typical teen comedy.
As with most road trip movies, when the boys reach their destination, things don’t go quite as they thought they would. There is nothing overtly lewd or lewd about their encounters with sex workers; It may be embarrassing, but there is also compassion. Randy in particular is well observed, even poignant, and hints at his true sexuality, even if he’s still confused.
True to the film he’s about, Miller is a warm, optimistic presence. However, there was still a glint in his eyes that betrayed the mischief he was bound to get into in the future. The attractive costume design colors and shapes and cinematography add an authentic 1970s look. In making a film about his formative experiences, Lint uses subtle hints to achieve complete clarity about sexuality without being obvious. This is not easy. That he does this while telling a poignant and funny story is admirable.