The Curiosity of Chance (2006)

Number Rolled: 17

Movie Name/Year: The Curiosity of Chance (2006)

Genre: Comedy

Length: 98 minutes

Rating: NR

Director: Russell P. Marleau

Writer: Russell P. Marleau

Actors: Tad Hilgenbrink, Brett Chukerman, Aldevina Da Silva, Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze, Chris Mulkey, Maxim Maes, Colleen Cameron, Magali Uytterhaegen, Tony Beck, Danny Calander, Tineke Caels, Joyce Berx, Dirk Calander, Stefan Van Haarlem, Sophie Engel, Didier Matthys, Benjamin Royaards

If you watch Glee at all, then you’re already familiar with this brand of main character. If one were to take Kurt Hummel and put him in a dress, you’d get Chance Marquis, played by a brilliant Tad Hilgenbrink. If you don’t watch or like Glee, no worries, the script is not something you would find in an episode – even if the plot might be.

Chance is a gay military brat that arrives in a new school in Europe during the 80’s, as he puts it, “the era that fashion forgot.” The entire movie is basically a flashback of the characters difficult time spent in school. Bullied by the captain of the soccer team for being gay and dressing flamboyantly, he must survive High School through use of his quick wit. With his friends, Twyla and Hank at his side, he goes on a mission to not only accept himself, but to get the rest of his school to accept him as well.

Most descriptions of this movie would have you believing that it was some kind of European version of Revenge of the Nerds. If that’s what you’re expecting, you’ll be disappointed. There’s some revenge that takes place, but it’s nothing along those lines. If anything, it’s more of a personal revenge.

The movie was pretty good, but some of it was a little much on the ‘stereotype’ side of things. The writer also completely missed the boat on the sarcastic female support character. I know what the writer was aiming for, because you can see the effort, but it did not work. She was a necessary character that could have been written a LOT better. Also, if he could have made the bully character, Brad, any more unimaginative – I don’t know how.

Tad Hilgenbrink as Chance and Brett Chukerman as Levi were the best things about this movie. They pulled off their characters, and the dynamic of their interactions within the given plot, masterfully. I’d watch any movie with either of these boys in it.

If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know my stance on gay rights. Just as close as that issue is to my heart, so is the issue of bullying.

Throughout my childhood and teenage years I was severely bullied. By kids at school, by kids I tried to be friends with, by family. Bullying is something I know a great deal about. Because of that I’ve gone out of my way to help kids that are in the same situation that I was once in. I’ve tried to figure out how to deal with bullies to make them stop and I’ve come to a conclusion that isn’t very popular.

My conclusion is that bullies don’t stop. We’re taught to ignore them, or to ‘get an adult’ when we’re young. As we grow older, the ‘ignore them’ policy remains in effect, but the ‘get an adult’ turns into ‘stand up for yourself.’ I’ve been in situations, and have seen others in situations, where all of those policies make it worse.

I agreed with the spin this movie put on bullying. Throughout the movie Chance both stands up for himself and tries the ignoring tactic with no favorable outcome. That, unfortunately, feels about right to me. The ending of the movie felt about right to me, too.

Whatever you think about “The Curiosity of Chance,” try to take something away from it. Chance got through his ordeal because people helped him. People were there to encourage him to stand up for himself and be who he was. Think about that the next time you see someone in a situation where they are subjected to that kind of treatment. Not everyone makes it through and most who try to get through alone are among them.

No H8.

Overall Opinion – 3.5/5