Poster Boy *** (2004, Matt Newton, Karen Allen, Michael Lerner, Jack Noseworthy, Valerie Geffner) – Classic Movie Review 13,666

Matt Newton stars as the closeted son of a conservative US Senator (Michael Lerner) who meets a boy (Jack Noseworthy) on campus and derails his dad’s re-election campaign.

Director Zak Tucker’s 2004 American independent drama film Poster Boy stars Matt Newton, Karen Allen, Michael Lerner, Jack Noseworthy and Valerie Geffner. The conservative US senator doesn’t know his poster boy son is gay.

Matt Newton stars as Henry Kray, the son of powerful conservative North Carolina Senator Jack Kray, who has gained a national reputation partly by attacking homosexuality, but, unknown to the senator, Henry is gay.

The night before Senator Kray is to arrive at Henry’s college campus to kick off his re-election campaign at a luncheon, Henry has sex with former gay activist Anthony (Jack Noseworthy). The Senator expects Henry to deliver his introduction at the event.

Poster Boy is a quite intense, credible and surprising film covering perhaps familiar ground in a fresh-seeming way, with strong performances from the five main principals, also including Karen Allen as the Senator’s wife Eunice Kray and Valerie Geffner as Anthony’s best friend Izzie.

With conservatism on the rise worldwide, it maintains its relevance, big time. It is intelligently and thoughtfully written by Lecia Rosenthal and Ryan Shiraki, who give a bunch of good actors plenty of fine dialogue to chew over and spit out. There are some extremely powerful scenes and punchy moments. The score and jagged editing help freshness.

Some scenes were shot on campus at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York.

It is dedicated to one of the producers, Herbert Ross.

Herbert Ross (May 13, 1927 – October 9, 2001)

Michael Lerner (June 22, 1941 – April 8, 2023)

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,666

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com