Kept Man is a drama-comedy movie directed by Paul Etheredge and written by David Ozanich that was released in 2014. The movie stars Wilson Cleveland as Dennis Racine and Hartley Sawyer as Chris. The story revolves around a gay couple, Dennis and Chris, who are struggling to keep their love affair alive after Dennis is fired from his job.
The movie begins with a glimpse into the life of Dennis, a successful lawyer who is suddenly sacked by his employer. This incident leaves Dennis shattered, and he falls into a state of depression. However, Chris, his partner, is always there to support and encourage him. Chris is a model who has become financially successful through his appearance in advertisements and photoshoots.
Chris takes an initiative and suggests that Dennis should take a break from his professional life and focus on his passion for cooking. They decide to open up a Supper Club in their apartment where they host private dinners for their friends and followers. As they gain popularity, the Supper Club becomes a hub for the gay community, and the couple finds themselves in the limelight.
Despite the newfound success of the Supper Club, tensions arise between Dennis and Chris. While Dennis thinks that Chris is fascinated with his financial success, Chris is jealous of Dennis's artistic flair. They both feel as if they want something more from life but are not able to communicate it to each other.
As the story progresses, we see Dennis being drawn to Nick (played by Jonathon Trent), a handsome photographer. Nick is involved in a secret project that involves taking pictures of gay couples living together, and Dennis agrees to be part of the project. Nick is openly flirtatious with Dennis, who is caught in a dilemma.
Chris discovers Dennis's secret while looking through his email, leading to a big argument between the couple. Chris sees the involvement with Nick as an act of infidelity by Dennis, which Dennis denies. This argument puts a major strain on their relationship, with life at the Supper Club also suffering as a result.
As the movie moves towards its climax, Dennis must choose between his passion for cooking and his love for Chris. He tries to make things right with Chris, but the question remains: can they overcome their differences and find a way back to each other?
Kept Man explores the themes of envy, trust, ambition and love in the lives of modern urban couples. One of the strengths of the movie is its realistic depiction of relationships, which are always a mix of different emotions.
The film also highlights the complexities associated with being a gay couple, including the tolerance of society towards them. Kept Man shows how, despite significant advances made in gay rights, being a gay couple still often invites judgement and scrutiny, especially in workplaces.
The cinematography and editing of Kept Man do an excellent job of bringing the story to life. The movie is filled with beautiful, intimate moments that capture the essence of the relationship between Dennis and Chris, which become increasingly strained as they try to figure out their respective paths in life.
Overall, Kept Man is an engaging movie that delicately explores the challenges faced by gay couples in modern-day America. The movie is well-acted, well-written and thoughtfully directed, which makes it a must-watch for anyone interested in dramas with an LGBTQ theme.
Kept Man is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 12 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7.
