Fire Island (2022)

Director: Andrew Ahn

Starring: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho

A group of queer best friends gather in Fire Island Pines for their annual week of love and laughter, but a sudden change of events might make this their last summer in gay paradise.

‘Fire Island’ sees a group of gay friends going to Fire Island for a week-long vacation. All single, they’ve been going there for a few years, and every year they stay with their lesbian friend Erin (Margaret Cho). From the onset, they make it clear their mission is to get laid. Being all about sex, the last thing they expected to find on Fire Island is romance.

The friends are Noah and Howie (who are the closest), Keegan, Max, and Luke. I actually enjoyed Max, but of all the characters he was mostly just in the background, which is pity. The film was mainly told from Noah and Howie’s perspective. I did find Noah a bit overpowering at times – as if he was interfering too much with Howie, and never allowing Howie space when I felt he needed it.

Soon after arriving on the island they meet a group of wealthy and mostly pretentious gays. (There honestly is nothing more annoying than a pretentious gay guy!) Among them are Will, Charlie and Cooper. Howie and Cooper are first to connect and although Noah is fighting against it, there is chemistry developing between him and Will.

‘Fire Island’ is modern and relevant and I’m sure single guys, especially, will relate well to the film. Isn’t that what all single gay men want: to get laid? This film explores this, and more. I thought the casting and performances were very good. My biggest critique casting wise, was Margaret Cho as Erin. She was not convincing as a lesbian character. Also, as the only female character in the film, Erin is not a standout character. She needed to be more funky, funny and fresh, and a better casting call would have helped the character a hell of a lot better.

If its eye candy you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. There’s beautiful, ripped, bronzed bodies in abundance! Being a romantic gay comedy, off course the film dishes up a fair share of cheesy moments, but in general this was actually rather enjoyable. The film also has a good soundtrack.

Would I watch it again? I think so, yes.