Watch Say Uncle

Say Uncle, a 2005 independent film, is a dramedy written and directed by Peter Paige, also known for his role as Emmett Honeycutt in the popular TV series, Queer as Folk. The movie revolves around the life of Paul Johnson (Peter Paige), a gay illustrator for children's books, who finds himself in an awkward situation when accused of being a pedophile.

Paul is beloved by his two gay best friends, lesbian neighbor, and her son, Josh (Cole Williams), who regards Paul as his surrogate father. However, things take a turn for the worse when Josh's parents split, and Paul, being concerned about the safety and well-being of his pint-sized pal, becomes overprotective of him. This ends up attracting negative attention from the community, who start to view Paul as a perverted child predator.

Things get worse for Paul when he gets called out by a mother for hugging her young son at a local playground. As the rumors circulate, the once-doting neighbors and friends increasingly avoid him, and he soon finds himself alone and isolated from the community he loves. As he grapples with the negative attention and the loss of those that he cares about, Paul starts to question his own motivations and his own past, and as he delves into his own psyche, he eventually learns to make peace with himself and his life.

Say Uncle offers a unique perspective on the issue of bigotry and discrimination in the gay community. Told with comedic moments that hinge on serious themes, the film explores the absurdity of people's tendency to call out a pedophile where there is none. Peter Paige, who not only wrote the movie but also played the leading role of Paul, expertly brought his rich experience to bear on the project, steering it with an assured hand to focus on the film's moral message.

Among the supporting cast, Kathy Najimy, who was a regular in the hit TV series Veronica's Closet, delivers an impressive performance as Maggie, Paul's best friend, and confidant. Anthony Clark also plays a notable role as another of Paul's friends and neighbor.

The cinematography is exceptional, capturing the striking beauty of the setting, and drawing viewers into the heart of the story. The camera work is smooth and deliberate, blurring the lines between what is real and not. The soundtrack, which includes quirky and upbeat indie tracks and classic tunes, adds to the overall engaging and witty mood.

Overall, Say Uncle is a moving and inspiring film that explores themes of self-discovery, human connection, and tolerance. It offers an excellent example of how biases and bigotry can negatively impact people's perception regardless of one's sexual orientation or gender identity. With a fascinating cast, crisp and witty dialogue, impressive cinematography and a well-crafted narrative, it is a must-see for anyone looking for a nuanced and engaging exploration of the human condition.

Say Uncle is a 2005 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 31.