US
2004
87 minutes
Language: English
Director: Pete Jones

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

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