A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting (2020) is part of Netflix's "Representation Matters" collection, so I figured there were gay characters. Besides I erroneously believed that it was a Halloween-themed sequel to the LGBT-inclusive Babysitter's Club. So I went through the whole movie on fast-forward, looking for the representation.
The plot: Kelly (Tamara Smart) discovers that her charge has been kidnapped by a monster named Grand Guignol (played by Tom Felton), who intends to gather his nightmares for a nefarious purpose. A secret society of monster-fighting babysitters led by the kick-ass Liz Lerue (Oona Laurence) rushes to the rescue.
Liz has a score to settle with the Grand Guignol: years ago he kidnapped her brother.
Meanwhile Kelly has a problem torn straight from the teen-nerd movies of the 1980s: a crush on Victor (Alessio Scalzoto), who is dating a girl so mean, bullying, and downright cruel that you can't imagine anyone wanting to spend more than five seconds with her. Obviously the only reason they are together is so Kelly can "win" him.
Curtis (Ty Consiglio) is the only boy babysitter in the league, so could he be gay? Nope -- upon meeting Kelly, he immediately hits on her. "Cool it, Casanova," Liz tells him. Apparently he flirts with girls all the time.
Well, maybe Liz is a lesbian?
In search of a monster, Liz and Kelly go to a teenage party -- but Kelly's crush Victor is there! She's afraid to go in looking all scuzzy from monster-fighting. "It's just a dude," Liz says dismissively.
Then "He's eye candy. I get it. But whe have more important things to worry about."
Eye candy? Maybe Liz is straight.
But Kelly and Liz seem to buddy-bond extensively. They have to rescue each other a few times.
The movie ends with Kelly joining the Babysitter's Guild (naturally) and promising to help Liz rescue her brother (in the sequel, naturally).
Wait -- not exactly the last scene. Kelly goes up to her room, and her crush face-times her and asks her out on a date -- the middle school equivalent of a fade-out kiss! Heterosexist!
I guess "representation matters" means that the cast is multi-ethnic.
But at least there are some "dreamy boys" for the gay kids in the audience to crush on.
Like Ashton Arbab.
Ben Cockell
And Ricky He.
See: The Babysitter Club
It would have been nice if one of the cute boys was gay but like you said they do give gay kids in the audience something to dream about
ReplyDeleteI really would like to see that, or schoolgirl lesbians, but alas, it was not to be.
DeleteI do kinda wish we had more just "gay bro" types, gay but other than their desire for other dudes, no different from straight characters.
I get it gay bros who are just gay not just defined by their sexuality but in a commercial movie in which you don't have much time to define characters that is the easiest fastest way to do it.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest way to have gay representation in a high school movie is to have two guys dancing together at a party. The next easiest is to have a guy say that another guy is attractive.
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