aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Snake’s subversive stereotyping

This film is not about plot. But if you care about such things and don’t want to know what happens come back and read this after you’ve seen it.

I went to see Snakes on a Plane this past weekend. Bubble gum for the brain. But tasty. I left the theater smiling. Thinking back, I completely appreciate the way it toyed with gay stereotyping.

The male flight attendant - “Tyler” - appears gay in every way. He makes eyes at the kick-boxer. When a passenger is bit in the behind by a snake, he giddily offers to suck out the venom. Then there’s this production still. What do you think that’s about? [Oops! That’s not Tyler. It’s a married guy on his honeymoon. Another subversion?]

When Tyler makes reference to his girlfriend we all wink, nod and roll our eyes. But after (spoiler alert!) the plane lands safely we see him joyously kissing and hugging his hot girlfriend.

So much for stereotyping!

Meanwhile, the catchy Cobra Starship title track that runs with the credits sticks with you. Spence at IGN.com calls it horrid. I liked it. But I’m far from the target demographic. Check it out…