A pair of best friends set out to have a legendary week-long summer vacation with the help of cheap rosé and a group of eclectic friends.
When this film opens, Noah (Joel Kim Booster) stands out as the unpredictable yet protective and fun-loving social diva. The “Mamma Bear” of the group is loud and proud as he ditches his date because he is running late for his annual trek to Fire Island. He clarifies to all who listen that his primary mission on this last trip is to find his best buddy Howie (Bowen Yang), a link to get laid. While Howie has shown up with good intentions every year, the magic hook-up never seems to happen, and Noah has promised himself and Howie that he will do without until Howie gets laid. When the entire group gets together, they reiterate what the mission is, and they are determined to have a great time now that their friend Erin (Margaret Cho), who owns the lakehouse on Tuna Walk, will no longer be able to host them due to financial constraints that are forcing her to sell the house.
No sooner than we are introduced to the group of virile men who will keep us in stitches throughout the film, we are also introduced to their shortcomings as well as their inability to forgive the high-and-mightiness of the new group of men from Ocean Walk who seem to look down on them from the very first introduction. While they say they won’t allow anything to get in the way of their sexual goals for the trip, they become entrenched with the idea of proving to the Ocean Walk team that they are no better than anyone else. The one thing that becomes a thorn in Noah’s side is that Howie has seemed to develop an instant attraction for Charlie (James Scully), who appears to be unbothered and way out of his league. Will seems to have an underlying affection for Noah, although he seems to be unphased by the entire treatment plan that his Ocean Walk buddies are giving to the Tuna Walk team. While things are heating up between the teams, Noah’s team intends to have a good time, regardless, and are trying their best to focus on cheering Erin up and spending quality time together so their last memories of the island won’t be negative.
In a twist of fate, Noah and Howie fall out because Howie doesn’t understand how Noah, who was so intent on Howie getting laid, appears to be fighting tooth and nail to keep him from getting into a relationship with Charlie that Noah feels isn’t suitable for him. While Howie’s non-appreciation of his attitude puts out Noah, Will finds a way to be less aggravating and more attuned to becoming Noah’s friend instead of his enemy. On the other hand, Charlie and Howie’s relationship ends because Charlie refuses to acknowledge how much Howie means to him.
As the trip on the island comes to an end, Team Tuna and Team Ocean have finally found a way to bridge the gap, and Noah and Howie become best buds again as Noah loosens the reins on Charlie and himself, and both are better for it. The team then decides that they can still gather together in the future at another place and make new memories with old friends.
Director Andrew Ahn uses the most significant features of “Fire Island” to provide the best backdrop to tell Booster’s story. The various personalities and characterizations give us the best and worst of real men trying to live their best lives despite what others’ opinions of them are. The overwhelming greatness and subtleness of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” themes made for a great story about the human nature of men who happen to be gay. This proud gathering of Island Queens shows the true spirit of diversity and introspection while using flaming hot characters to teach us about living our best lives despite the obstacles.
Streaming exclusively on Hulu Friday, June 3rd
