Watch The Skinny

Produced by Patrick-Ian Polk and directed by Patrik-Ian Polk and Quincy Le Near, the comedy-drama film The Skinny, released in 2012, follows a group of five friends reuniting for a wild weekend in New York City. Jussie Smollett, Blake Young-Fountain, Anthony Burrell, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Shanika Warren-Markland play the main characters.

The film tells the story of four black gay friends brought together to celebrate their fifth college reunion, during which they realize they are not the young men they once were. The fifth friend, Magnus (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman) joins last-minute and is taken aback by the other friends' behavior. Tensions and old secrets arise as the weekend progresses, with each character exploring their own issues, including relationships, sexuality, career, and race.

The film begins with a montage of the friends in their college days before switching to Gay Pride Weekend in New York City. The group arrives in the city and spends their first day exploring before attending a party in a nightclub where drama first arises between two of the friends. However, the following day tensions come to a head and the seemingly unbreakable friendships are tested.

As the weekend unfolds, each character deals with their own inner demons. Magnus, a closeted man now married to a woman, questions his sexuality, and in doing so, triggers insecurity in other friends. Joey (Anthony Burrell), a self-absorbed choreographer, faces the end of his relationship with Leo (Blake Young-Fountain), causing a rift between them. Langston (Jussie Smollett), a successful media executive, struggles with coming out to his father, and throws himself into a binge of drugs and sex.

The film also tackles issues such as race, as Langston faces rejection after rejection from his father due to Langston's sexuality, while needing to prove himself to his predominantly white colleagues at work. Similarly, Reva, a bisexual white woman who once had an affair with Joey, tries to understand and participate in the black, gay community of her friends, encountering her own prejudice and ignorance along the way.

Throughout the film, the friends learn an important lesson about honesty and trust, realizing their love for each other doesn't have to be conditional on holding something back. They open up about their individual struggles, coming to a greater understanding of themselves and each other.

The Skinny is a heartfelt representation of long-time friends being tested by their individual struggles, trying to hold onto each other, while trying to make sense of their own lives. The movie deals with issues of sexuality, race, and relationships in a thoughtful way, exploring the complexities and nuances of each issue. The characters are complex and relatable, allowing viewers to connect with and care about their journeys.

Overall, The Skinny is an entertaining and poignant film for anyone who has struggled to find their place in society, their identity, or their relationships. It's a reminder to cherish the ones we love, to be true to ourselves and to be accepting and understanding of others.

The Skinny is a 2012 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.