User Reviews

The approach taken to this gay-themed light-drama is so low-keyed and matter-of-fact, it makes the whole idea of homosexuality seem rather staid. And that's a nice change of pace, although it's not exactly invigorating for the picture! Young gay Australian plumber lives with his widower dad; they both want a serious commitment with a special someone, and both find the path to romance rather rocky, but dad is fully committed to seeing that his "poof" son finds a partner who won't break his heart. It's based on a play, with the two leads occasionally speaking into the camera--yet this is an idea that isn't intrusive or unpleasant. Just the opposite: the film is so good-hearted that it borders on bland. The most surprising thing you can say about it is not the (discreet) man-on-man make-out scenes, but rather the fact it's Russell Crowe acting in them. Crowe, young but not green, is very affable in this movie, shy and sweet and tender, however it's raffish Jack Thompson as his papa who steals the scenes. **1/2 from ****

The first time I saw this film I liked it for it's ability to reach such a wide audience. Male, female, gay, straight, young and old. With superior acting and a quiet, simple tone, it's stellar on so many levels. I like this movie more each time I see it. I usually hate when character's speak to the audience but this is one of the few occasions where it works well. One of Crowe's best performances. It was great to see a gay character that wasn't stereotypical in any way... just a guy but a guy that isn't afraid to be sensitive or tough without being wishy washy or macho. A great dead-on performance of an everyman who just happens to like men. Supporting cast is great. All performances feel natural. Directing is straightforward and the editing is lyrical. If you're heterosexual, don't be put off. The themes here are universal. A great slice of cinema no matter what your sexuality.

A very surprisingly wonderful film. I can't believe a film like this was so popular in Australia in 1994. I'm also annoyed that films like this don't get more exposure in the US. I liked it very much and Russell Crowe's performance was really touching. He really projected a sincerity that is rare in film, and even more rare in gay themed cinema. I also liked the father's character and the "reasoning" he presented - too bad all parents can't think that way. I thought the actors speaking to the audience worked, flowed very naturally, and was not overdone. With so much junk coming out of Hollywood, nice indie films like this are a welcome reprieve.

Saw this again for the first time for almost a decade, on the Sundance Channel during their Pride Festival. The character-to-camera (audience) device seems a lot stagier now than it did when I first saw it, but overall it doesn't mar any of the film's inherent bittersweet attraction.

I've always been a sucker for good father/son relationship movies, and this ranks up there with the best, and not because of the twist: Harry's (Jack Thompson) almost too-willing acceptance of his son's gayness. What makes it ultimately work is the true love, respect and affection that they have for one another, a bond that is sorely tested in the film's third.

Thompson is funny and engaging in a kind of role that he's not usually known for, (for that, see the excellent BREAKER MORANT.) And as for Russell...I saw this for the first time only weeks after seeing ROMPER STOMPER, and not only was it a startling contrast, but a sure-fire sign that this boyo was a talent to watch even in the early stages (now proven a thousand times over.)

And here's another refreshing difference: nobody's in OTT drag, (you can rent TO WONG FOO for that), nobody gets AIDS, OD's, commits suicide or otherwise meets the Grim Reaper most tragically, as gay characters are wont to do in most big-budget Hollyweird "gay-friendly" dramas.

David Stevens writing remains true to the joys of "Australiana" (a new word that I love, thanks to an earlier reviewer here), which means that some less-experienced viewers may find Harry's extremely tolerable demeanor and the turn from comedy to tragedy off-putting. (For other references to similar scenarios, see MURIEL'S WEDDING, SWEETIE and of course, MOULIN ROUGE.)

But for me, it's a rare-look back at the kind of risk-taking that Russell may never again explore in his career. More than worth the cost of a rental or your time, if you can catch it.

"Aussie" Film Stars Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe as father & son "best friends", looking for lasting love/companionship with a life partner. The aging "dad", who is a widower, habitually tries to play cupid for his gay 20-something son, seemingly spoiling all chances of "success", and eventually starts a search for his own second love.

This film is hilarious, filled with great gags throughout. The deeper message of tolerance towards gays and lesbians, as well as loyalty to a loved one in need (when the father suffers a stroke, the son refuses to abandon him, caring for him like a parent would care for a small child) is not diminished by the brilliant humor which surrounds it. "Sap-lovers" will get their fill as well!

Honored with many International Film Awards, "The Sum Of Us" adds up to a big winner! Highly recommended!

Now that the charismatic Russell Crowe has become such a well-known and sought-after film actor, it's interesting to review this earlier-career work. Having established himself as a chameleon-type screen personality, notable for his gritty, macho, action-hero roles, "The Sum of Us" allows him to display more sensitive, romantic emotions.

Crowe captures the subtleties of his young bachelor character in search of a significant other, with both humor and pathos. Assisted ably by Jack Thompson as his father and John Poison as his new friend, Crowe handles the lead, pivotal role with skill and conviction.

The dramatic device of having characters address the audience (the camera) to share their innermost feelings, is done as naturally as possible, yet for myself it is a bit disappointing to have the "dramatic illusion" broken in the midst of certain telling scenes. What probably worked well in the off-Broadway, (Cherry Lane) production, seems less effective in the realistic film medium.

"The Sum of Us" emerges as a quite off-beat, interesting story, nicely framed in the colorfully picturesque setting of Australia. As for Crowe's subsequent array of widely varying roles, I personally prefer his work in this film as his most truthful and ingratiating.

I was coming out to myself.. I had this warped image of being gay that I had to develop a lisp and become high camp just to conform with being gay (I repeat I was 13 and living in the sticks.) I saw an ad for this movie TSOU and I just had to see it. With alot of precautions I caught a train for 2 hours to a movie theater that was far enough away so no one that I knew would see me going to a "gay" Film. Any way Sitting in the theater I was presented with an image of a gay man that didn't fall into the stereotypes I had been so used to, I guess the film taught me I could be gay with out being faggy. To simply label this as a gay movie is to miss the entire point its a Romance movie, both father and son looking for a partner of same/different gender. To make a tired point I love this movie Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson are brilliant.. I wish I had a dad like Henry.... or a boyfriend like Jeff :)

Wow! This movie was much more than I thought it would be. I thought it would be just another gay movie along the lines of "Beautiful Thing", at least that's what I was told before I saw it, but that is just a sub-plot. First of all, this is a story about the relationship between a father and a son, and the problems they have to deal with. It is extremely sad, and be sure to have a handkerchief ready, but it's a great film, even though it gets a little too sentimental at the end.

This movie is the most delightful example of REAL family values ever made. Russell Crowe is adorable as the rugby-playing gay son of a charming Sydney widower played by Australia's favorite actor, Jack Thompson. This movie was number one at box offices across Australia when it came out, and it is a pity it never got wider showing in America, because it is brilliantly made, beautifully performed, and so important that it should be required viewing for all families.

What goes around comes around. The gay son's dad is supportive of him and his search for love, so in the end, when the father has a stroke, the son is there to take care of him. The beautiful and true statement made by this film is enough reason to see it. But add to that some truly stunning views of Sydney, some great comedy, and a really charming romance between the father and a woman he met through a dating service, and you have one of the great cinematic delights of the 1990s. See this film and you will be glad you did.

No question about it, Russell Crowe is adorable as a "poofer" (as he calls it), lazing about in his tight little shorts and grinning his most irresistible grin. And Jack Thompson is perfect as Crowe's more-than-understanding dad, doing everything but having sex with his son's date, Greg, FOR him. This is good stuff, a lot of potential here. But the film unfortunately becomes far too heavy-handed by the end - not to mention flat-out GRIM - to make it really great. I would still recommend it, though, especially if you're a fan of Crowe's (as I am), or if you're in the market for something daringly off the beaten path (and no, that was NOT supposed to be a pun).

This movie is very well-done, and you immediately care about the main characters. Father and son stories are usually a drag ("Nothing in Common"), but not this one. A couple of scenes will break your heart; I cried like a baby at one point. It is especially worthwhile if you are gay, and discovered that about yourself as a child.

Russell Crowe's movie, The Sum of Us, can be found at Amazon.com for $12.95 (dvd version). They also have it on VHS, too. Available new or used...What is hilarious, is it has subtitles!?! The subtitles are in English, French & Spanish. According to the "powers to be" I need to have a minimum of ten lines or my "comment" won't be considered valid, so I'm trying to extend so I can share this info of where to find this movie with other film fans. A very cute looking Russell Crowe is on the cover...So what happened to him since then? Haven't checked Barnes & Noble's website for the film. I hope I don't get blocked for trying to make this entry long enough to be able to get the information out...

I love this movie because it really adds another face to Russell Crowe's versatility. Everybody remembers him for Gladiator, L.A. Confidential and possibly Romper Stopmer, well, here he's an affectionate gay plumber with an eye for a boy at the bar. Within the first ten minutes you'll also be over run with Aussie-isms such as "two ticks" and "Yonks". When I first thought of the plot, I was thinking, "Gee, this could be jazzed up a bit," but then I figured the simple unpolluted nature of the characters doesn't really require much more of a rollercoaster plot. After seeing this movie, I feel compelled to go to my local australian bar to find hopeless romance in a that boy across the counter. I recommend Breaking Up and Proof, if you liked this.

This movie was very important to me back in the 1990s when I was coming out as a gay man, and well-adjusted, sane, relatable gay male characters in entertainment (who weren't a punchline or self-hating) were few and far between. The Sum of Us was groundbreaking. Seeing it again 25 years later, it still holds up as a very sweet film that has lots of heart. To its credit, this movie isn't about gay people or straight people...it's about people. It's about a father and son who share a bond that nothing can break. It's about forgiveness and second chances and rolling with the punches. It's about balancing love we seek with love we have. Unfortunately, some aspects of the filmmaking feel dated now (like breaking the fourth wall, which was edgy then but now seems awkward) and a few scenes that may have been comical or charming in 1994 are now a bit cringey. But overall, the sentiment and the message hold up just fine.

This movie took me by surprise, it is personable, sincere and utterly Australian. It explores its themes in a beautiful manner, through the relationships between family, especially father and son. Don't be put off by Russel Crowe. I myself almost didn't watch it because he was in it, but I have to say, he did a brilliant job. He took the character and made it his own, and I feel no one else could have played the part any better. Take into account that this movie was originally a stage play, so there are various monologues and direct engagement with the audience. This at first is a little surprising and perhaps even uncomfortable, as we are so used to being purely observers when watching a movie. After initial surprise however I found the technique refreshing, it gave the film a more personable and intimate quality. I revel in how Australian this film is, the fact that I use the same brands of mustard and soy sauce which at one point appeared at the dinner table, made me unusually delighted and also pulled me into the realism which the film tries and succeeds in conveying. At risk of sounding patriotic, it almost made me proud to be Australian. This is probably one of my favourite movies, in its exploration of love and how it should not be dictated by the limits of our society.

Here we have a 24 year old gay guy(Crowe) living with his father. It's just the two of them. The son is totally out and his father is totally accepting to the point that the father doesn't even mind seeing his son get it on with other guys in the house. Crowe looks terribly miscast and mal-dressed in this film. Half the time he looks like an out of shape flapper from the 1920s in shorts that are way too short and tight while maintaining a poor posture. Not a believable film. Seemed to be making a gay rights political statement more than a realistic depiction of being gay in Australia. Acting was OK. Didn't care for the chats directed at the audience.

A very special Aussie film dealing with the strains of gay males and society issues in their path. Top performances by Russell Crowe and John Polson , with monumental support from legendary icon actor Jack Thompson as the understanding and supportive father. A must see film in my book , as reality meets society , with a realistic feel for todays cinema.

Unlike many other of Crowes films , this one is very serious and addresses very real issues in todays multicultural society , and especially the gay movement of Sydney , Australia. This film hits the viewer head on with the unknown side of single sex relationships , and their effects on both family and friends.

This movie was a double treat. Not only did I get a chance to see Jack Thompson, whom I've enjoyed since Breaker Morant, but it introduced me to Russell Crowe. Both do solid work as Harry and Jeff Mitchell, a father and gay son living together in small town Australia.

Unfortunately, the material doesn't quite measure up. The movie is a light comedy, which means your credulity is going to be stretched a bit (it probably needs the exercise anyway). Some of the plot devices seem a bit too pat, and the script does a major left turn about midway through that makes it a candidate for the tv-movie-of-the-week.

Harry's monologues, however, are quite entertaining, and his well-meaning intrusion into his son's date is quite fun to watch. Crowe is always nice to look at, so much so that you almost forget that this is one of the stronger actors working today.

I just saw this movie on the Independent Film channel, which may be showing because of the popularity of Brokeback Mountain in theaters now, which has another young Aussie's, Heath Ledger, award-winning portrayal of unrequited love for another man. In "The Sum of Us", Crowe (at age 30) portrays a straight-acting but fully "out" gay man, (Jeff Mitchell) a plumber and rugby player in his mid-twenties subtly acting his disappointed love for another gay man his own age.

Crowe's brilliantly nuanced performance underscore his acting genius and the viewer can favorably compare this work to his captivating work, three years later, as a tough cop (Bud White) in love with a high-class call girl in "LA Confidential." "The Sum of Us" however has a more universal theme, as Jeff and his widowed father also work out their relationship: Filial love is contrasted with romantic love. Also, black and white flash-backs to his beloved grandmother's long-term lesbian relationship highlight the universality of the movie's theme. This is no skin-flick; it is raw emotion in a compelling plot, artfully and sensitively written, acted, directed and filmed. Kudos to IFC channel for broadly showing this film, which deserves wider distribution on DVD in the US.

This is an amazing movie. It digs into deep personal feelings, no matter if you're gay or not. It shows a beautiful side of being human. This movie talks about love. It is cliché, but it is so true. It talks about friendship with love, how important it is for most of us to have the right partner and the supportive family to be just happy. If you are not a fan of Russell Crowe, watch this movie anyway. It may give you another sight of his early career I was myself ignorant about. And I don't need to say how brilliant Thompson is.

I wish the tale would have a longer time line, and talk about what happens after.

As a polemic to conservative Australians, it hammers the message home. It might have worked as a piece of theater but as a film it fails. Preaching to the converted? I think so.

No sexual chemistry between the leads...neither gay or straight. Russell's helmet-head, hawk-nosed, super hair-sprayed boyfriend doesn't convince.

Everyone tries hard and fails. It has a low-brow streak of melancholy running throughout. A bit like a soap without the continuity.

That this qualifies for inclusion in the top 100 gay films of all time on AfterElton can only reflect low expectations.

Wanted to like it but didn't. Disappointing

What's this, Russell Crowe playing it gay in a low budget Australian flick, could that be true? It doesn't sound like it from the surface, but digging a little deeper and that really is exactly what you have in The Sum of Us, a freakishly good low budget movie from 1994. The Sum of Us is basically the sum of a story of looking for love, first the widowed dad is looking for love and his 'Miss Right' whilst his twentyish son is also looking for love, but in the shape of his 'Mr Right'.

This surprisingly endearing movie made on a budget less than most films spend on catering and cakes, is a witty and funny tale of love and laughter. The Sum of Us is not your typical gay movie in that nobody is dying, activism is not on the menu, nor is there a historical horror or an aggressive and overbearing father preventing the closet door from opening and not even the slightest hint of drag! Nope, this is a good and happy sort of soft tale, which has some nice funny bits and a couple of tender scenes to pique the heartstrings.

The Sum of Us is taken directly from the stage play, as such, some of the lines are more 'stagey' than 'filmy' but get over those, and you have a very enjoyable film. Funny, interesting, charming, touching and rather refreshingly free from overt stereotypes, which can dog so many other gay films.

Read more and find out where this film made it in the Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time book, search on Amazon for Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time, or visit - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007FU7HPO

A sweet, sensitive movie on an original topic, especially for its time.

Making a movie that features a homosexual man, his relationship with his father, how his father accepts him and loves him unconditionally, and their trials and tribulations, makes for a very original and special story. In 1994, when the movie was made, it would have been even more novel.

Sensitively told story, based on the play by David Stevens.

Great performances by Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson as the son and father, respectively. The banter between them is one of the highlights of the movie.

A timely reminder of how much acting talent Russell Crowe has, here demonstrating his range. This was to be his last local (ie Australian) movie before hitting the big time. His next movie was a Hollywood one - The Quick and the Dead - and he got third billing...