Documentaries
recently have begun to fall into distinct sub-genres, with a majority made up
of biographies and those with political and/or social agendas. Though you could
argue elements of the latter in Do I
Sound Gay?, it is more of an investigation of a specific social phenomenon,
never taking a strong stance or carrying a specific purpose. The answer may be
too simplistic for a feature-film discussion, which is why the personalization
of the topic by filmmaker and journalist David Thorpe helps to pad the
narrative.
After a break-up
causes him to reevaluate his life and behavior, Thorpe’s anxiety over the
effeminate manner in which he speaks led him to investigate the cause of speech
patterns known as stereotypically “gay.” Thorpe envies homosexual friends
without the feminine cadence of his own voice, and enlists a series of acting
coaches and linguists to try and change the way he speaks. During this process,
he is also able to explore the reasons why certain people talk the way they do
and how that relates to sexual preference.
Although a
majority of the film works because of the personal exploration by Thorpe, some
of the best moments come from the insight shared in celebrity interviews on the
topic. George Takei, Margaret Cho, David Sedaris, Tim Gunn, Dan Savage and more
celebrities offer up their take on the subject, as well as their own opinions
about their voices. The final takeaway is that many people are insecure about
their voices, and it often has nothing to do with sexuality. We speak the way
we do based upon exposure, whether influenced by region or gender.
The DVD special
features include only the film’s trailer.
Entertainment Value:
5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 5.5/10
Historical
Significance: 2/10
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