Fire Island, the gay reinterpretation of Jane Austen that will make you crave summer love

Your adolescence was certainly shaken, like mine, by the great romantic hits of the summer. In the coolness of the cinemas in the early 2000sI discovered during the summer holidays the romantic relationships (which I considered complex) of young women of which life has found itself upset overnight by a great love story. Luckily, I said to myself between two popcorn for 3 euros (it was not expensive in 2002 remember).

So my room welcomed the space of a summer the giant head of Freddie Prinze Jr and his poster with the rascal smileIt’s so bigscary for both my mother and good taste.

Years passed and the – good – romantic comedies are over, for some reason that I can’t explain but that saddens me. How would my cute little heart manage both the heat wave and the contemporary without these little bubbles of freshness where the protagonists lived happily and had so many super expensive weddings run by a character played by Jennifer Lopez?

Fire Island, Pride and Prejudice under the poppers

The question no longer arises this summer, with the film’s release on Disney + Island of fire accessible with parental control. A great romantic comedy cute which made me want to believe it again at first the magic of romantic comedies but also that of summer loves.

In order not to sulk his pleasure, all this is brought about by a literary energy: Jane Austen’s shadow looms over the entire film, who must never be sorry (don’t lie to you too: who hasn’t had a big crush on Monsieur Darcy?). Inspired by the cult Pride and Prejudice but who would take the poppers, Island of fire follows a group of friends who go on vacation every summer to a friend’s house on Fire Island, an island near Long Island, which, in addition tohome to a gay village since the early 20th centuryit smells like holidays.

love and friendship

We follow the character of Noah, a beautiful nurse who flutters and never wishes to engage with the men they meet, e his best friend Howie, a little blue flower. Both have never been in a serious relationship and make a bet over the holidays with their gang of friends: Noah will not be allowed to have relationships as long as Howie is single. and will not meet the person who will overturn it. They will cross obviously on the way the beautiful Charlie, a wealthy slightly simpleton pediatrician and his friend Will, whose austerity is hiding in fact…. I’m not telling you anything. You have to watch.

A terrifyingly modern romantic comedy

In addition to the pretty decorations, and this feeling of sunshine that anchors them Island of fire in the list of small pleasures of summer 2022Andrew Ahn’s film offers a twist white and heteronormative romantic comedies who really needed it. Why the cliché ” young journalist / advertiser too busy with his career in New York who falls in love with a wealthy client who is sulking but is attracted to her for some reason “we have more than one reason, and that’s great.

Island of fire proposes a modern and queer reinterpretation, sometimes a bit naivewhere the two heroes, played by comedians Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang (one of the brilliant main actors of Live Saturday night), are for once of Asian origin. When we know invisibility in the queer minority film industry, Island of fire offers the possibility for many people to finally feel represented and it is as big as it is important.

Touching roles, but also actors that we hope to see again soon, as they manage to be fun, touching, sensitive and modern. In short, a real breath of fresh air, both on the genre, but also on the works of Jane Austen for the month of pride, which we can only recommend enough. To watch with her friends on Disney +, waiting for hers squash summer invites us to have an aperitif on the terrace.