Gay Best Friends are increasingly a staple of high-school movies but the straight girl still takes centrestage – until now. This indie satire sees three popular girls competing for the friendship of Tanner (Michael J Willett), the only gay guy in school to come out, albeit by accident. But the makeovers and bitching sessions are wasted on sweet-guy Tanner, while his camp best friend Brent (Paul Iacono) seethes in the closet.
It’s a witty comment on the effect of a media that promotes both tolerance and stereotypes: these girls automatically expect Tanner to conform to their ‘Glee’-inspired fantasies. It’s also a nod to the fast-moving world of the young (typical reaction to homophobia: ‘I mean, what is this, 2008?’). The joke wears a bit thin and performances vary: this isn’t as slick as the teen movies it draws from, such as ‘Clueless’ and ‘Mean Girls’. But an original premise and earnest tone go a long way, and Megan Mullally brings bite as Brent’s well-meaning mother – her running commentary on ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is priceless.