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The AfterEllen.com Huddle: Bait and switch

This week, the publicist behind Desperately Seeking Susan shared the tidbit that the movie poster/VHS cover of Madonna and Rosanna Arquette had made distributors nervous because it looked a bit too lesbian. Observe, the head on the shoulder.

Maybe they weren’t so wrong. Back in the day, when subtext was all we had outside of a few select films you could find in your local video store, we did our best to judge lesbianish content based on those kinds of movie box covers. Ultimately, many were deceiving, and we were left, once again, to our imaginations.

So bloggers, which movies gave you a gay first impression?

The Linster:The Worst. Tease. Ever. has to be Fried Green Tomatoes because, well, Ruth Jamison and Idgie Threadgoode were in love and had a relationship in the book. The promo pictures gave us every reason to be hopeful that the movie would be faithful to the book.

But in the end, we were stuck with subtext. We knew the truth, of course, and lines like, “You’re just a bee charmer, Idgie Threadgoode; that’s what you are, a bee charmer” were dripping with sexual honey. But I will never forgive the producers for surgically removing the truth about Idgie and Ruth. It still hurts.

Heather Hogan: I’ve seen Whip It about 47 times, and every single time, I grow more and more convinced that Pash and Bliss are in love/soul mates. In fact, it’s almost an epic love story. Pash and Bliss have plans to leave their one-horse town far, far behind. Bliss gets a new hobby and new pals. Pash gets jealous beyond the telling of it, but ultimately overcomes her insecurities and helps empower her girlfriend so she can change the trajectory of her whole family.

Yeah. Yeah, that’s the story. And then, probably, they go off to college where “experimenting” becomes their “way of life” and then they live happily ever roller derby after.

Mia Jones: As far as I was concerned – I was convinced Mr. Wrong was going to be Ellen’s big coming out moment. I mean, first of all, it’s Ellen, secondly, there’s a good reason Bill Pullman (and every single other man) was going to be Mr. Wrong. But no, she didn’t meet Ms. Right.

My mom still thinks it’s one of the funniest movies she’s ever seen. Then again, she also watches White Chicks on a weekly basis.

Grace Chu: Blake Lively sitting on that chick’s lap and the phrase “share the pants” are vaguely lesbian-ish.

Courtney Gillette: Wendy and Lucy. Michelle Williams sports a hot shaggy ‘do, wears a hoodie, and is traveling to Alaska with her dog, Lucy. I’m sorry, didn’t we meet at a rally for social justice in 1999? Aren’t you my friend’s ex-girlfriend’s roommate’s girlfriend?

Truth is I loved this film, but did leave the theater scratching my head a bit. (“But she’s gay, right?”) Wishful thinking, I guess.

Lesley Goldberg: Girlfight. Yeah, I know, there’s a guy hinting as the possible love interest in the banner at the top of the movie poster. But would you look at Michelle Rodriguez? Definition of butch. And gay. But nope. The bastards. How much better would this movie had been if her character was gay and if the guy wound up crushing on her.

Trish Bendix: Purposely choosing to ignore the old dude make out session happening, I instead focused on the positives. First, Drew Barrymore and Sara Gilbert in the same movie. Second, the comparison of Drew to Sharon Stone’s bisexual character in Basic Instinct at the top of the poster. Third, the hope that Ivy was a wild bisexual killer temptress, as to fit with many stereotypes.

Were you ever duped – willingly or otherwise?

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