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Floating

[1997, Movie]

Floating: Review

An earnest coming-of-age movie that borrows elements from ORDINARY PEOPLE (as well as just about every gay-themed TV movie ever made) and bobs along on waves on adolescent self-pity and angst. A sort of Afterschool Special with profanity, it glibly juxtaposes heterosexual and homosexual teen crises. After his father crippled himself in a car accident and his mom abandoned them, teenaged Van (Norman Reedus) grudgingly assumed the parental role in his household. Putting his college aspirations on hold, the resentful Van cares for his perpetually soused father and dabbles in petty crime with high school buddies. Without consulting Van, his pals store some stolen goods in a house that Van's parents once owned but which now belongs to the parents of straight-laced new kid Doug (Chad Lowe). In order to retrieve the merchandise, the teens strike up a friendship with Doug, a champion high school swimmer who appears to be living an ideal life. As the rebellious Van's relationship with Doug deepens, he decides to emulate his new friend and pursue an athletic scholarship. Meanwhile, Doug secretly envies undisciplined Van and isn't leading the charmed life Van imagines: Doug is secretly gay and terrified of disappointing his homophobic father. Fortunately, Van accepts Doug unconditionally and allows him to accompany the gang on a house break-in. But Doug behaves recklessly, as if he wanted to get caught, and the cops track down the juvenile delinquents. Will Doug and Van survive this ordeal, or will they both continue to float through life without confronting their inner demons? This low-key film about the tragedy of missed opportunities lacks the intense writing or unique directorial perspective that might have elevated its superficial psychologizing above the level of "problem picture" cliches. Doug's home life seems like a parody of THE GREAT SANTINI, while Van's is a suburban version of TOBACCO ROAD; Reedus and Lowe's sensitive performances can't give this shallow tale about compensating for the damage caused by imperfect parenting depth. --Robert Pardi