Greg's Review of "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom"

You gotta figure fans of the "Noah's Arc" TV series were gonna love the long-awaited feature film almost no matter what it was about. The great news is this: the movie is terrific and worth the wait. I walked out of last night's screening at Raleigh Studios with a smile because I liked it so much, liked spending time with Noah, Wade, Alex, Ricky and Chance again.

Only a cast already this comfortable with their characters and with each other could come up with that kind of chemistry and those kinds of performances in the movie that was shot in just 15 days.

I gotta start out by giving a rave to Rodney Chester (Alex) who is just a comic delight throughout the movie and gives his character the kind of larger-than-life personality that translates well onto the big screen. He has such great energy and timing but also dials it down just right in his two more dramatic scenes. Rodney has great material as his character takes it upon himself to become the wedding planner from hell for Noah (Darryl Stephens) and Wade's (Jensen Atwood) wedding at Martha's Vinyard. (The series is set in LA, but at the time the movie was shot, marriage was not yet legal in California - it is legal is Mass.).

At the end of the second season, the couple had split up and then Wade was in a bad car accident. We learn that Noah nursed him back to health and they got back together, Stephens and Atwood are sweet together, as always. Now, their characters are getting married and the core group of friends have traveled across the country to attend.

The movie covers the days leading up to the wedding where there are all kinds of revelations that take place amongst the group. I won't spill all the details but just know that every character has some major drama and relationship trouble including Chance (Doug Spearman) and Eddie (Jonathan Julian), and the slutty Ricky (Christian Vincent). I like that we peel the onion on Ricky some and learn why he is the tramp that he is.

There are some familiar faces and some new ones too. including Brandon (Gary Leroi Gray) who kind of has the Meg Tilly role if this were "The Big Chill." He's the outsider invited by one of the insiders, in this case Ricky who didn't want to be at a wedding alone for the weekend even though he isn't that into Brandon who is 19 and just coming out.

The character is in one of the movie's best-written scenes. It's at Wade's bachelor party and the kid is asking about gay relationships and male and female roles. Atwood is so good in this scene - the best he;s ever been - as he talks about Noah's feminine attributes and what he goes through inside each time he introduces his love to someone new. What do they think? What does it say about him? Wade has had some drinks and is being dead honest and it feels that way.

I love that scene.

Jason Steed's character of Baby Gat, who was after Noah in the series, is back at it in the movie and I guess is supposed to be comic relief. I found him completely annoying in almost every scene. The only good thing his character did was bring Noah's boss, Brandy (Jennia Fredrique) to the wedding and her scenes with Rodney Chester are high points.

And finally, two very talented ladies grace the movie briefly, but wonderfully. Tony winner Tonya Pinkins plays Wade's mother and in her few scenes, brings all she can to the role of a mother trying to understand. Then there is a cameo from the Pheobe Snow, the great singer who we haven't seen enough of in a few decades. She looks and sounds great and makes the soundtrack to this film (if there is one yet) a must have.

The movie was co-written and directed by Patrik-Ian Polk and hits theaters on October 24. Go to the movie's website NoahsArcMovie.com for more information.

Here is a promo video: