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This coming-out comedy is also a poignant look at one family’s struggle to come to terms with a long buried secret. Outing Riley is most remarkable for its generous spirit: rather than demonize or make fun of its heterosexist characters, it treats their emotions and opinions as valid, if initially misguided.
Bobby Riley — played by writer/director Pete Jones, whose film Stolen Summer won the first Project Green-light competition — is a good Irish Catholic guy from Chicago. He has a great job as an architect, is devoted to his family, loves beer, worships the Cubs and is in a monogamous relationship. Where Bobby deviates from the narrow Irish Catholic norm — and, thus, that of the entire Riley family— is in his homosexual orientation.
Afraid of the consequences of coming out, he remains closeted to all but his partner Andy (Michael McDonald of “MAD TV”) and his no-B.S. sister Maggie. When his father dies, Bobby sees an opportunity to open up to his brothers, who include a by-the-book priest and a pair of hard-drinking, babe-loving dudes. When the time comes, however, Bobby can’t find the words and opts to maintain his straight facade. But Maggie has other plans…
Buoyed by a smart, funny script, Outing Riley attacks intolerance head-on and finds light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes the bonds of family can overcome the ignorance of tradition.
First, a young man reveals his true feelings for his estranged running buddy in Run to Me.
— JONATHAN L. KNAPP