This movie is a veritable cameo fest, but that's not what makes it enjoyable. What makes it enjoyable is the wonderful acting of Patrick Stewart, Michael T. Weiss, and Steven Weber in the lead role as Jeffrey. That aside, there is a cornucopia of cameo appearances by a variety of people that you're sure to recognize.

Jeffrey is an actor/waiter in New York City who's gone thru, by his own admission, about 5000 prior liaisons. How's that for hyperbole. Well, maybe it was a bit much, but right away you can see that Jeffrey is not cut out for sex in the 90's. Especially gay sex. Unfortunately for Jeffrey, gay sex in the 90's means AIDS and it's driving Jeffrey mad. So, all at once, he decides to give up sex.

Of course, as soon as he does, he meets Steve (Weiss). Steve obviously has the hots for Jeffrey and makes his feelings known almost instantly. Jeffrey, however, wants to stick to his decision. So, despite Steve's pursuit, Jeffrey spurns him at nearly every turn. At one point, Steve (with a little help from his friends) gets Jeffrey to agree to go out with him. At the same time, he lets Jeffrey know that he's HIV-positive. Resistance turns to avoidance as Jeffrey weedles out of his date. Jeffrey does all of this despite the advice of his good friend, Sterling. Sterling (Stewart) is an interior decorator...er...designer who's gleefully living with Darius (Brian Batt), an HIV-positive chorus dancer in CATS. Sterling and Darius have a wonderful relationship; yet, despite this, Jeffrey is still afraid of what dating an HIV-positive man.

The balance of the movie becomes Jeffrey's journey thru life as he balances his obvious fear of getting AIDS with his lust for Steve. Unfortunately, the journey becomes so tortured that at one point you're looking for The Golden Ticket (from Last Action Hero) just to jump up on the screen and slap him.

What saves your outing are the marvelous performances by Weber, Weiss, Batt, and especially Stewart. Can you say "Best Supporting Actor"? He probably won't win, but he should as he gives a delightfully camp performance that shows his tremendous range as an actor. I don't wanna be too down on Jeffrey. Despite its manipulative scripting and Jeffrey's insufferable whining, the screenplay does hold a couple of surprises. So, things may not turn out exactly as you expect. All in all, Jeffrey is an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours at the movies. It's funny and poignant and there's a moral as well.

10 September 1995