Ready? Ok!

[Guest ChloëC]

I just watched most of the movie 'Ready? Ok!' on Logo today, which was made in 2008-9 and released last year. I found it very moving with believeable performances by the major characters.

It tells the story of the growth of a sort of dysfunctional family (used loosely here), with a 10 year old boy who shows a desire to join the girls cheer team rather then wrestle, including sitting with the girls at lunch, and considers Maria Von Trapp a role model and dresses as her for a school function. Some other reviews have suggested that he is homosexual because it's obvious the writers have no understanding of gender identity issues.

The mother is divorced (and is having problems finding a job she wants), the father having basically abandoned the family, grandma lives with them and she is understanding and supportive of the child, the mother's brother sometimes lives with them as he is still 'finding himself', but is pretty much unsuccessful at various jobs. There is a single man neighbor who is described as gay, but there are no overt sexual actions by him in the least to suggest that, only that he designs dresses, has a fabulously furnished house, is friendly with the boy giving him a doll (male) with a school cheer outfit on that he made himself, and is very understanding of the boy, calling him 'artistic'.

The mother is desparately trying to get the boy into masculine roles hoping that her brother can fill the 'father figure' role, which he fails at. She berates the neighbor for the birthday present of the doll. The family is Catholic, and the boy attends a large city catholic school where the nuns disapprove of his actions and the other boys laugh at him and call him names practically to his face. The boy is able to maintain a cheerful disposition through most of this because he knows what he wants.

The mother tries confession to find out what to do, but that doesn't lead anywhere, but finally she talks to the neighbor rather impromptu, and breaks down, and realizes through their talk that she isn't looking out for her child's best interests.

At the end (spoiler alert), she takes him out of the church school and enrolls him in an arts academy where he begins making friends immediately, the brother comes around and tries to rejoin the family.

What I found really moving were the interactions between the mother and child, the mother and her brother and the mother and the neighbor. They were as close to natural as I've ever seen in a movie, and I was able at times to know what would be said next, because whoever the writers are, they understand family interactions

The movie doesn't explore gender identity issues so much as it explores family relations and how to deal with a child that exhibits a need to identify with the opposite sex. I highly recommend it.

Hugs

Chloë

[Guest Donna Jean]

Oh my, Chloe....

I've never heard of it, but your review makes it sound like it's defiantly worth a look..

I would like if it explored gender issues a little more , I guess, but I'll have to see for myself!

Thanks, Hon....

HUGGS!

Donna Jean