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2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid - CultureMap 2012 Green Car of the Year -
2012 Infiniti M-Hybrid - Runner-up CultureMap 2012 Green Car of the YearPhoto by Kevin McCauley
Romantic comedies are a genre that don’t get a lot of play in the movie industry these days. Yes, they occasionally still get made, but they mostly exist in the slapdash world of straight-to-streaming movies, with the quality of the films varying wildly. So if a romantic comedy were to succeed as an in-theater experience in modern times, it only makes sense that it offers something completely new.
Bros definitely fits that bill as the first mainstream rom-com released in theaters to feature two gay men as its leads. Bobby Lieber (Billy Eichner) is a perpetually single New Yorker who fills his days as a podcaster and heading up the effort to open the first national LGBTQ+ history museum. His “romantic” life mostly consists of the occasional unsatisfying hook-up via the app Grindr.
Bobby is actually okay with his lack of a dating life until he meets Aaron Shepard (Luke Macfarlane) at a club. The two kinda-sorta hit it off, but Bobby’s standoffishness, Aaron’s social shyness, and their joint commitment problems keep them from going full-bore. Slowly but surely, they break down each other’s boundaries, although they still have to contend with a culture that seems to view monogamy as something to be avoided at all costs.
Directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Eichner and Stoller, the film is packed full of jokes from the gay perspective, something that has been all-but-absent in mainstream movie history. Unless you happen to be homophobic, the jokes are fantastic from beginning to end, offering up ideas that wouldn’t work coming from a straight character, but are extremely hilarious coming from gay characters.
Billy Eichner in Bros
Photo by Nicole Revelli/Universal Pictures
The slyness of much of the humor is what makes it truly stand out. The norm of straight people playing gay people in movies is brought up on multiple occasions, and there’s a great joke in the final minutes of the film that addresses it head on. Movies made by the “Hallheart” channel are a running joke in the film, something that is extra funny since Macfarlane has starred in multiple Hallmark romances as a straight character, including another one coming out this holiday season.
It’s clear that Eichner, the driving force behind the film, has a lot of love for the classic New York rom-coms, as there are multiple references to movies like When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and others. Music and iconic locations from those films are featured throughout, although in ways that gently send them up or give a twist unique to this story.
The most revolutionary aspect of the R-rated film is how unafraid the filmmakers are of showing intimacy and sex between men. Most previous films with gay characters would only allow them a chaste kiss or intimation of sex. Bros treats gay sex as the normal thing it is, with the scenes between Bobby and Aaron (and, yes, sometimes other men) as hot and heavy as any heterosexual coupling you’ve seen before.
Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane in Bros
Photo by Nicole Revelli/Universal Pictures
Eichner, as anyone who’s watched his Billy on the Street YouTube videos can tell, is a force to be reckoned with comedically. He’s not your typical leading man (something he brings up multiple times in the film), but that’s a big part of what makes him so funny. It’s no accident they cast Macfarlane as Bobby’s romantic interest, as he checks all the boxes in the looks department. His acting skills aren’t always on the level of Eichner, but they don’t hurt the film in any measurable way.
Bros is one of the best romantic comedies – and comedies, period – to come out in a long time. It’s taken much too long for a film like this to be presented to the general public, and now that it’s happened, many more are sure to follow.
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Bros opens in theaters on September 30.
Tattoo regret is as old as time itself. A recent poll revealed that more than 78 percent of people regret at least one tattoo. Art that is initially cute or ironic (we see you, dreamcatcher and barbed wire armband) may become a source of embarrassment as years go by.
And, of course, there is always the dreaded relationship tattoo — Sumner + Adam 4eva — can quickly be inked over post-relationship, but not without its fair share of time, money and remorse.
Fortunately, Houstonians can get that ink without remorse thanks to Ephemeral Tattoo, which is opening its first location in Houston and Texas on October 12 in Montrose.
Before Ephemeral Tattoo — known as the nation's first temporary tattoo parlor — opened in 2021, the only options for getting semi-permanent tattoos were henna art (which lasts two to four weeks) and stick-on tattoos (which lasts three to seven days). However, those wanting to experience tattoos without commitment can get one with the first-ever made-to-fade ink.
Ephemeral Tattoo ink is made from safe, FDA-approved materials.
Ephemeral ink is made from safe, FDA-approved ingredients that are slowly absorbed by the body overtime. Chemical engineers and co-founders of Ephemeral Tattoo, Brennal Pierre and Vandan Shah, spent seven years developing the proprietary blend of medical-grade ingredients.
With a price point of $195 to $350 and more, a customer experience at Ephemeral begins with a consultation proceeds to working with a tattoo artist to perfect the design, getting the actual tattoo, and receiving detailed instructions for aftercare.
Tattoos are given by a traditional tattoo artist using a conventional tattoo gun — the only difference is Ephemeral's made-to-fade ink. Depending on a person's skin tone, tattoo design, and placement, the tattoo should fade between 9 to 15 months.
The chill Ephemeral Tattoo Houston studio.
Setting itself apart from traditional tattoo studios, the Ephemeral studio features a relaxing atmosphere with light, natural colors from Pantone's SkinTone Guide and private rooms.
When Ephemeral first opened its doors in Brooklyn last year, there was an eight-month wait to get inked. The lesson there? Houstonians looking for noncommittal body art should set an alarm and make an appointment asap.
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Ephemeral Houston; 1665 Westheimer Rd.; Open 10 am to 8 pm daily. For more information, visit Ephemeral Tattoo.
Kids and grownup kids can soon delight in a toy-lover’s paradise. The Houston Toy Museum will celebrate a grand opening on Thursday, October 6 in the historic Heights. The toy museum (321 W. 19th St., Suite C) will be housed in the former home of thrift store Retropolis.
Passionate toy fans and casual viewers can gaze upon thousands of artifacts, some, like preserved teddy bears, dating back to the 1890s. As they browse, visitors can learn the origins of the toys they know and love while exploring exhibits covering everything from S.T.E.A.M. toys to racial representation and gender stereotypes in the toy industry, according to press materials.
Standouts include a 1985 G.I. Joe U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier, a “holy grail find,” Matt Broussard, the museum’s Chief Toy Officer (greatest title ever), tells CultureMap. The carrier ranges from $1,600 to $2,000 in online auction sites.
A Mickey Mouse dolls from the early 1930s.
Other can’t-miss pieces include an original Mickey Mouse from the early 1930s, vintage Match Box trucks, and a 1972 Batman figure (that totally screams “bam!” and “pow!”) replete with the original cloth costume. A must-have for any Gen-Xer or sci-fi fan: several Star Wars action figures, including Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader.
Barbie fans can enjoy a Barbie — in-box — that comes with additional wigs, circa 1960s, as well as the beloved and popular Malibu Barbie. Strawberry Shortcake fans will delight in several dolls.
Given the rare (read: expensive) status of these toys, items will be showcased behind thick glass. But, as Broussard notes, “you can’t let a kid walk through a toy museum and not let them touch a toy.” Thus, designated play areas feature vintage toys, coloring books, and video game stations featuring original Nintendo , Atari, Playstation 2 consoles. Even infants can indulge via a soft play station.
A Barbie with add-on wigs, circa 1960s.
While a majority of the toys will quickly evoke an “oh yeah!” or “I remember that!” from viewers, some may elicit some side-eyes or even gasps, as they reflect an era of less cultural sensitivity to ethnic groups and women. But they’re all a part of toy history and reflect the culture of the times, Broussard reminds.
Dolls such as this represent an era of less representation and awareness.
A labor of love between Broussard and his wife Sara, the toy museum has been in the works for two years and delayed due to renovations. As the curator, Matt Broussard says his toy collection, which he’s been accumulating for more than 15 years, will be constantly changing and updated.
“The hunt,” he says, echoing toy collectors everywhere, “is never over.”
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Houston Toy Museum; 321 W. 19th, Suite C in The Heights. For hours and more information, visit the official site.