The Journey of Jared Price *** (2000, Corey Spears, Rocki Craigg, Steve Tyler, Josh Jacobson) – Classic Movie Review 13,670

Corey Spears stars as the 19-year-old boy lost in LA in the appealing 2000 romantic drama The Journey of Jared Price, Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black’s first feature film.

Dustin Lance Black’s appealing 2000 romantic drama gay-themed coming-of-age indie film The Journey of Jared Price stars Corey Spears as the 19-year-old little boy lost of the title, who quits Georgia to start a new life in LA.

Arriving at a Hollywood youth hostel, he is befriended by a gay young neighbour (Josh Jacobson), who falls instantly for Jared, who isn’t interested, perhaps isn’t even gay. Jared calls the number on a job ad he sees, and is taken on as care taker for wealthy, old blind Mrs Haines (Rocki Craigg), initially on a day by day basis, then as a live-in companion. But then he starts a relationship with her manipulative 30-something son Matthew (Steve Tyler), who already has a long-term partner.

Jared is painfully sweet, sincere, honest and nice, so we are desperate for him to find a happy story on his Journey. This looks increasingly unlikely as LA is a hostile place, but luckily it turns out that not everybody is as bad as the villainous Matthew, an appalling excuse for a human being, and the worst possible start for Jared on his Journey, which, rather to his surprise, turns out to be a gay one. The Journey is his coming out. That somewhat baffles and mystifies the boy, but then he is easily mystified. He is a simple but good person.

Corey Spears is totally convincing and charming as the boy, which is essential as otherwise the film wouldn’t work. Rocki Craigg is very sweet as the old lady, Steve Tyler is a good sleazy villain, and Josh Jacobson nice as the neighbour.

Dustin Lance Black writes it well and directs it well. The actors have no trouble making his dialogue seem authentic and involving. And the story is involving and feels authentic too, so authentic that you could wonder if it is taken from real life, even Black’s own story. It is low budget, very slightly home movie, but slick and professional enough, neatly edited to keep it crisp and moving.

It’s a long time ago now, but it still seems fresh and relevant. Dustin Lance Black shows a strong moral centre. The film isn’t preachy but it does speak up strongly for love, honesty and good behaviour. Money and sex are good, but not good enough.

It’s a shame that Dustin Lance Black isn’t too happy about the film nowadays, saying he wishes it ‘would stay in the past’. He said he rewrote the script in one day because it ‘read like soft-core porn’. He said he ‘took out all the sex and we shot it in four days for like 15 grand. He said: ‘We all have to learn from our mistakes, it’s just some of our mistakes end up on DVD.’

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,670

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