The Skinny (film)

2012 American film

The Skinny

Directed by| Patrik-Ian Polk
Written by| Patrik-Ian Polk
Starring| Jussie Smollett
Anthony Burrell
Blake Young-Fountain
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
Shanika Warren-Markland

Release date

* April 6, 2012 (2012-04-06)

Country| United States
Language| English

The Skinny is a 2012 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Patrik-Ian Polk, the creator of the Logo television series, Noah's Arc.[1] It was released on April 6, 2012, in select theaters.[2]

## Plot[edit]

The film tells the story of five friends who are Brown University classmates—four gay men and one lesbian—as they reunite in New York City for a tumultuous Gay Pride weekend.[3] Magnus (Jussie Smollett), an affluent young medical student, is happily in a five-month relationship with his boyfriend, Ryan (Dustin Ross). Magnus's Brown University college friends join him in New York City for Gay Pride for the weekend: lesbian Yale University PhD student and gay-porn aficionado Langston (Shanika Warren-Markland); innocent and sometimes childlike Sebastian (Blake Young-Fountain), who has just come back from a year in Paris paid for by his parents' trust fund; promiscuous Kyle (Anthony Burrell), now living in Los Angeles and enjoying a career in film production; and witty and sarcastic Joey (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman).

## Cast[edit]

* Jussie Smollett as Magnus
* Blake Young-Fountain as Sebastian
* Shanika Warren-Markland as Langston
* Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman as Joey
* Anthony Burrell as Kyle
* Jennia Fredrique as Savannah
* Dustin Ross as Ryan
* Robb Sherman as Junot
* B. Scott as Candy
* Darryl Stephens as Nurse
* Seth Gilliam as HIV testing worker
* Wilson Cruz as Dr. Velasquez
* Derrick L. Briggs as Rapist #1
* Dewayne Queen as Rapist #2
* Zeric Armenteros
* Bassey Ikpi as herself
* Phat Daddy
* Hot Rod

## Release[edit]

The film screened at several festivals and has a limited theatrical run before premiered on Logo on July 8, 2012.[2]

## Reception[edit]

The film received mixed reviews from critics upon release.[4][5][6] Variety reviewed the film; critic Dennis Harvey dubbed the film a "likable seriocomic ensembler".[4] Further, Harvey wrote: "Performers, including several prior Polk players, make for pleasant company. Production values are decent on a budget, though the Manhattan setting isn’t used to maximum advantage."[4] The Hollywood Reporter praised the film's depiction of gay black men, but criticized some of the vulgarity, concluding that the film "deals refreshingly, if at times too candidly, with the love lives of black gay characters".[5]

## See also[edit]

* List of black films of the 2010s

## References[edit]

1. ^ Jasmin (2012-04-03). "Patrik-Ian Polk ("Noah's Arc," "Punks") Releases New Comedy "The Skinny"". IndieWire. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
2. ^ a b Thomas, June (2012-07-06). "Black, Gay, and Posh: Talking with Patrik-Ian Polk". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
3. ^ Patrik Ian Polk's new film, The Skinny Archived October 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Thefutureforward.blogspot.com
4. ^ a b c Harvey, Dennis (2012-05-03). "The Skinny". Variety. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
5. ^ a b "The Skinny: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
6. ^ "Essential Opinion: The Skinny". The Gay Essential Film Blog. 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2018-03-16.

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* The Skinny at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Works by Patrik-Ian Polk

Films|

* Punks (2000)
* Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (2008)
* The Skinny (2012)
* Blackbird (2014)

Other works|

* Noah's Arc (2005-2006)

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