Kamikaze Summer

TV Nation meets Road Rules meets Stonewall as two San Franciscan gays travel to Oregon, Idaho, and Colorado--states that in recent years have sponsored anti-gay initiatives--in an attempt to answer the question, "what is the Religious Right afraid of?" Traveling undercover as objective journalists, the filmmakers interview movement leaders (both anti-gay and gay), show clips from right-wing TV programs, and witness gay-bashing demonstrations. While eye-opening for their honesty, the people interviewed on both sides of the question ultimately fail to tell us what exactly they think will happen if gays are guaranteed their civil rights. There is one fellow who tells us that England no longer has influence in the world because of its gay-embracing public policies, but vague references to the "fall of Rome" and "culture wars" do not a compelling case make. Unfortunately, the two interviewers trivialize their intriguing subject with an unfocused approach, inclusion of tangential issues, goofy personal visits to a fair and laundromat, and too much talking between themselves. Not recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Glaser)