“Eating Out: All You Can Eat” somewhat departs from the series’ gay spin on the raunchy teen sex comedy in favor of semi-sincere romantic comedy — after a crass and abysmal first stretch, that is. The theatrical blip made by this could-be-worse low-budgeter, opening in San Francisco and New York on Oct. 9, will be followed by more suitable/profitable ancillary biz.
The main attraction is “Eating” mainstay Rebekah Kochan as blonde, buxom L.A. “fag hag” and (hetero-)sexual carnivore Tiffani, who comes across more as an old-school drag queen than a biological female. (The thesp’s comedic timing deserves a better showcase.) Viewers who make it past the dreadful opening funeral-parlor scenes get to see Tiffani’s initially disastrous attempts to match new-kid-in-town Casey (Daniel Skelton) and local hunk Zack (Chris Salvatore). They’re eventually righted in a decent equivalent to the first “Eating Out’s” standout phone-sex setpiece. Scattered quotable quips aside, the script panders to its target aud via zero-body-fat casting and routine campy sensibility. But thesps and first-time feature helmer Glenn Gaylord modestly elevate matters when the material allows. Brief full-frontal views suggest MPAA rating isn’t a goal.
