MovieChat Forums > Chuck & Buck (2000) Discussion > Chuck and Buck aren't about being Gay

Chuck and Buck aren't about being Gay

posted 16 years ago by homercles12000
5 replies | jump to latest

as I read the posts on here, people talk about them being gay and all. the movie wasn’t really about being gay and dealing with it. it was about the bond that was created between the two of them as children and Bucks infantilism, being unable to grow and change.

Buck was warped by the sexual games he and Chuck played as kids when they would spend the night. the whole concept of "spending the night" meant something to him that it doesn’t for other people. When he tried to “spend the night” with Sam, he didn’t understand why Sam was so upset with him. He didn’t know how to act as a male friend other than what he and Chuck had. As we watch, the only attraction to men he has is to Chuck and the actor that so closely resembles Chuck, who is playing the ideal he has of Chuck.

Carlyn, the fiancée, put it best as Buck was describing to her the games they used to play when they were kids and what it did to him. She responds by saying "Sometimes little boys do those things growing up". I know that is true. boys I grew up with tried to get me to play games like that as well. I caught boys doing those things as well. its really unsettling and I don’t quite understand why but it does happen. and usually those boys grow up to be fine functioning members of society, and not necessarily gay.

Chuck moved away and during this time he grew up into an adult. Is he really attracted to women? Who knows. Is he really in love with his fiancée? probably. Does he still have sexual feelings towards men? Maybe, but probably not in the same way. These aren’t the point. He left a childhood bond that he never dealt with and when that bond returned and had not changed (Buck and his mentality towards their relationship) it threw him off.

Chuck probably had forgotten most of this until Buck re-entered his life and then all things began coming back to him. And Carlyn became very aware of this. She tried to help clear things up and resolve the issues, which weren’t about being gay. Carlyn was never threatened by Buck and even after finding out what had happened, she still wanted to help Buck and make Chuck accountable for what he had not resolved himself. And I don’t think that was Chucks true sexuality, I think it was the sexuality between him and his childhood friend, who needed the help more.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Bradley-drake 15 years ago

I really value your point, and you might be right. I guess the point of a movie is too see how people interpret it.

I really thought about Chucks reaction to Buck, not only in the hotel room but on a general level. I had the idea that it was about repression. Buck didnt grow older than Chuck mentally and they way he treats him is pretty shameful when he first showed up. Though your right he admits to his wife what he did as a child, but it was easily accounted for ... as you said children experimenting. What he does in the hotel room is sexual, and its cheating... so its not something he felt he could hold back, its something he did because it was within him. They aren't children anymore and Buck is a grown man.
At the end of the movie the issues are resolved and Buck is in Chucks life happy as ever. If Chuck was at ease with his past actions (As he should have been as he had already told his wife) surely this friendship would have been resolved at the beginning, so something must have changed in their relationship... perhaps its Chuck not only admitting to his wife and himself what he had done, but the accepting the feelings associated which could be a homosexual feeling beyond childhood and something he wanted supressed.

I think Bucks hero worship of Chuck can be seen as innocent, and he could see sex as a way to show friendship, When its not kindly accepted by that dude he meets he sort of doesnt understand why it was taken wrongly. Or, he could just be gay and wants some action.

Gretchen: You're weird.
Donnie: Sorry.
Gretchen: No, that was a compliment.

[–] SWLinPHX-2 15 years ago

I actually thought this was more similar to the popular slew of "bromance" or "man-crush" movies out there, prominently featured in most Judd Apatow films (even bordering on homoerotic); they even collaborated with Apatow on "Freaks & Geeks". People can fixate or become possessive of those they know of the same sex in ways that aren't always (or only) sexual. The difference is that with guys in our society, it is harder to recognize or acknowledge that, in fear of being construed as really "closeted gay".

I'm surprised how many truly heterosexual guys like to joke about "gay" things in a playful manner. Ever see the extended, deleted scene from the "40 Year Old Virgin" DVD between Paul Rudd & Seth Rogen playing video games on their recliners? Or more mainstream even, the episode of "Seinfeld" where Jerry is upset about Elaine spending so much time with the pro baseball player he also befriended?

Jerry: You're seeing him again today? Didn't you guys already spend most of yesterday together?!?
Elaine: What's the matter, you jealous???
Jerry: Well, it's just that he already promised he and I were gonna go do something today.
Elaine: Wait a minute... Are you jealous of him or me?!?

I wish people could be free to feel whatever they feel when they feel it without being afraid it will subsequently define their entire sexually in the eyes of others. No two people's sexualities (like fingerprints or DNA) are exactly the same.

http://www.blogtv.com/People/SWLinPHX

[–] Ithilfaen 10 years ago

You make great points in the first two paragraphs of your post and then you completely lose the plot.

I caught boys doing those things as well. its really unsettling and I don’t quite understand why but it does happen

How about because they're gay? Sexuality and sexual orientation manifest themselves long before society has hammered into our heads what is "wrong" with us. The reason it happens is because they are gay but later on in life, they are shamed into thinking it was just some silly game they were "playing".

and usually those boys grow up to be fine functioning members of society, and not necessarily gay.

Right. Because gay people are non functioning members of the society.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] crazycharlie 10 years ago