"Fire Island" a charming, whip-smart, acerbically funny, swoon-worthy slice-of-gay-vacation-life

Fire Island (2022)

Pack your poppers, lube, and rainbow bikini briefs — director Andrew Ahn’s “Fire Island” takes us to the gay mecca off the South Shore of Long Island, and it’s an utter joy. As underrepresented groups often see themselves reflected in tragic stories—in this case, there are so many movies about coming out or AIDS, all of which are important—it’s refreshing to see a charming, whip-smart romantic comedy where men can love men. A relaxed, swoon-worthy slice-of-vacation-life, “Fire Island” is exactly the kind of crowd-pleaser you want to start all over again as soon as it’s over.

“Fire Island” begins with a quote by Jane Austen, and the film could have easily been titled “Gay Pride and Prejudice.” Joel Kim Booster (who wrote the script) narrates and stars as Noah, a sarcastic Bushwick nurse (and Austenite) who’s always been more about hookups than long-term relationships. As a sacred tradition, he’s about to catch the ferry and spend a week on Fire Island with his close-knit friend group. His “chosen family" includes San Francisco bestie Howie (Bowen Yang); uninhibited theater queens Luke (Matt Rogers) and Keegan (Tomás Matos); and the slightly uptight Max (Torian Miller). They’ve all known each other for a decade since they were “broke queers,” and they hope to make it another memorable summer at a beach house, owned by lesbian friend Erin (Margaret Cho, who’s very funny in den-mother mode). Erin then breaks some bad news to her boys: she’s broke and has to sell the house (being an early Quibi investor is a hilariously unexpected reason). 

All the more reason to make their last summer really count, Noah vows to find Howie a boyfriend, or at least help him get laid. At a bar, Howie does eye up a cute pediatrician, Charlie (James Scully), who eyes him right back, despite the judgmental looks from Charlie’s snooty relative Cooper (Nick Adams) and rich, emotionally constipated L.A. lawyer friend Will (Conrad Ricamora). After Noah and Howie’s excitable group takes Charlie up on his invitation to a beach house party, it turns out to be full of smug and shallow elite gays with six-pack abs and expensive booze. They feel like the odd gays out, but perhaps Charlie really likes Howie, and maybe Noah’s annoyance with grumpy Will will turn into attraction. Read the full review at Phindie. 

Grade: A -

Searchlight Pictures is releasing “Fire Island” (105 min.) on Hulu on June 3, 2022.