24 Nights (1999)

Jonathan (Kevin Isola) has always believed in Santa, even despite his exasperated sister Marie's (Aida Turturro, The Sopranos) "lies" to the contrary. Now in his early twenties working in a New York gay bookstore, Jonathan knows that despite a string of failed affairs, he can, with a little help from Santa, still find that perfect man! He thinks he's found his present from Santa when he meets new co-worker Toby (David Burtka), a cute southerner and winner of the local "wet underwear" championship. But if Toby really is his gift from Santa, why is he exploding like a party animal all over the New York scene and why has he brought his older childhood sweetheart Keith (Stephen Mailer) along with him? As the shopping days count down to Christmas, Jobathan discovers that Santa doesn't always deliver what sexy gay boys want, he delivers what they deserve.

Santa Delivers

"24 Nights"

Santa Delivers

Amos Lassen

Jonathan wants a boyfriend for Christmas and he asks Santa to bring him one. His life has not been so great so far but he knows that Santa Claus can help him find the prefect man. Spending a day working in a gay bookstore, then going home to live with his sister, smoking a little pot and bumbling through life, he thinks that a boyfriend is what he needs. Jonathan is a romantic and even though he does not have a great deal going for him, he feels that the time has come to settle down.
Suddenly Jonathan gets a new coworker when Toby comes to work at the bookstore. Toby is cute, from the South and has just won the wet underwear contest. There is only one catch--his boyfriend. He also loves to party and Jonathan realizes that this is not what he asked Santa to bring.
Kevin Isola is Jonathan and he is a very sexy man but the idea that he has written to Santa to ask for a man seems to be a bit of a juvenile plot line. Yet I was surprised how convincing the film us. However, the low budget caused the film to be just another movie.
The film is a bit of a farce and there are several truly laughable moments. Here is a new twist on Christmas that is not just funny but is cute and refreshing and somewhat touching. Kevin Isola gives quite a performance as Jonathan but it is Aida Turturro as his sister that is the star of the movie. She has the best and funniest lines. Some of the highlights of the movie include a poker game which is played with old 45 recordings (that most of you have probably never seen) and a scene with Pepe LePew on the nature of love.
Rufus Wainwright sings on the soundtrack as do The Roches and Vicki Lawrence. Even though the movie is set against Christmas, it can hold its own any time of year. If you need a bit of a pick up, here is a film that will do just that.
December 4, 2007

Sweet, delightful, fun, touching, insightful

Yes, I think 24 Nights is a nice little film. All the negative reviews remind me that so many people always view the glass as half empty.

Has the message of this movie been presented before? Yes, hundreds of times. The message being that something what you hunt for is something right in front of you that you don't even recognize.

But this theme was put into the "____ shopping days until Christmas" format and it turns into a simple and delightful film. Of course the main character is moody--he is single, living with his sister who raised him because his parents died/disappeared. It's a sad existance.

So Jonathon does something so cute and sappy...he writes to Santa Claus and asks for a boyfriend. He thinks his Christmas wish was granted when a young man with a Southern accent appears at the book store and asks for a job...could there be a more blatant sign?

But Jonathon was wrong. He found love with another man once he let go of his preconceived notions and opened his heart. February 8, 2006

Give Kiernan Turner A Lump Of Coal

It was a nice idea and had potential. But this film is so uncheerful and filled with unpleasant people, if Ebeneezer Scrooge had watched it on Christmas Eve, the ghosts of Chirstmasn past, present, and future would have joined him in saying "BAH, HUMBUG!"

Here is the story: Jonathan, an early 20-something gay man is haunted by the death of his parents when he was 8 and, partly to cope, still believes in Santa Claus. He lives with his sister, Marie, and essentially waits for his life to begin. The day after Thanksgiving, he writes Santa asking him for a boyfriend, particularly a cute southerner. Well, the next day, in walks Toby, a guy who fits that description, applying for a job in the gay bookstore where he works. Believing Santa has answered his wish, he persues the guy of his dreams, but the object of his infatuation already has a boyfriend, uptight, suspicious Keith. And the story goes from there.

It had possibilities, but rarely makes good use of them. Part of the problem is the very low budget, which would embarrass a porn production. The lighting and sound are bad, and the editing and film quality leave much to be desired. But even worse is writer/director Kiernan Turner's story and characters. Jonathan is a sullen, immature, self-pitying pothead. And the supporting characters are no better. Everyone in this film is either rude, dumb, selfish, and/or noisy. Maybe the last part is because the sound is so bad, the actors felt the need to shout their lines.

The actors are no better. Kevin Isola is convincing as a pothead, but other than that he sulks throughout the movie and never gives us a reason to care about his character. Aida Turturro (of "The Sopranos") basically shouts her lines, and treats us to more Italian stereotypes than an Olive Garden commercial. It's laughable for them to be portraying brother and sister. With his mushy California mumble and her thick Noo Yawk accent, I couldn't believe they grew up in the same state, let alone the same house. Embarrassing, unintentional comic relief comes from David Burtka as the object of Jonathan's desire. His performance consists of a bug-eyed, goofy grin and bogus, honey-chile' accent. Jim Neighbors fans will be happy to know that Gomer Pyle is alive and living in New York City. And, oh, the poor Stephen Mailer. A nice-looking and likeable actor, he's stuck in the thankless role of Burtka's insecure, uptight boyfriend. With his rigid posture and grin-and-bear it manner, it's obvious that Mailer is bored and embarrassed. I was hoping he'd appear shirtless, to see whether he was wearing a back brace. He performance screans, "I can't wait till the filming is over so I can fire my agent." His attitude is understandable, but doesn't make the film any more entertaining.

What's sad about this is not only the good premise, but the fact that a few moments are quite good. The scene where Jonathan mistakes a woman for his deceased mother and follows her to a store Christmas display is genuinely moving. Some of the quiet moments, like Marie confiding how much she cares about her brother or Keith reaching out to someone he once considered his rival, make us briefly care about them. And some of the humor is laugh-out-loud funny. These give you a sense of what could have been. But there just aren't enough of them. November 26, 2005

A WONDERFUL DELIGHTFUL FILM!

I disagree with ANYONE that the film is shot quote "Amateurish"...that's pure rubish! THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS SOOOO APPEALING! NO high tech nonsense! BRIALLANTLY done and well acted by all the characters. Everyone has something that adds a delightful charming appeal to this fun, feel good movie. (Like a nice hot cup of cocoa). I loved it... PERIOD! Makes you really believe that there is a Santa Claus! :) Check it out and you decide! January 9, 2005

Dumb gay holiday film

Aida Turturro could have been nominated for an Oscar for this film. If you are a big Aida Turturro fan, then I won't stop you from checking this movie out. Otherwise, it was just a weak film with a dumb premise. The central character has few redeaming qualities and isn't particularly likeable, so it's hard to imagine why he becomes the hinge of a love triangle. Just because there aren't many gay holiday films doesn't mean we need this one. December 6, 2003

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