4TH MAN OUT (Andrew Nackman). 86 minutes. Opens Friday (February 5). See listing. Rating: N
I’ll say this about 4th Man Out: it seems to have been made with the best intentions. As coming-out comedies go, it’s reasonably mature and considered, and in a week that also gives us a gay-panic comedy as stupid and regressive as What An Idiot, that’s not nothing.
That said, 4th Man Out’s good-naturedness is sadly incapable of overcoming its essential blandness.
In upstate New York, 24-year-old mechanic Adam (Evan Todd) comes out to his three best bros (Parker Young, Jon Gabrus and Glee’s Chord Overstreet). Adam’s revelation triggers a series of uncomfortable silences and awkward misunderstandings, absolutely none of which is touching, funny or entertaining.
Gay or straight, all the characters are one-dimensional idiots, and the talented cast seems increasingly challenged by the flatness of Aaron Dancik’s inane script.
Only The Office’s Kate Flannery and Broadway actor Jennifer Damiano manage to flesh out their throwaway roles. I’m sure everybody meant well, but Fourth Man Out is just terrible.
