Men To Kiss

Robert Hasfogel's movie "Men to Kiss" is a charming visit to the flamboyant world of Tobias R�ckert (Udo Lutz). Tobi has a circle of equally colorful friends, but his boyfriend, Ernst (Frank Christian Marx), a straight-laced banker, is starting to feel the strain.

Tobi's madcap "playgroup" includes best friends Leo (Marcel Schlutt) and Steffi (Sascia Haj), as well as Leo's on-and-off partner Alex (co-writer Andre Schneider fills this role) and Steffi's comparatively staid, and much younger, boyfriend Kurt (Dominik Djialeu). Ernst and Tobi complement one another nicely, with Tobi giving sparkle and fizz to Ernst's life, and Ernst providing stability and practicality to Tobi (even Tobi recognizes that he is "pure chaos" to be around).

But there's one irritating detail: Ernst feels that he and Tobi don't have enough time alone together, and he also misses having his own group of friends. He's well primed for a visit from his BFF, a glamorous young woman named Uta (Alexandra Starnitzky) who has spent the last few years working for the Israeli secret service.

Uta disapproves of Tobi. More to the point, she wants Ernst for herself. But she's no hopeless fag hag who shrinks into a corner and looks on forlornly; instead, Uta hatches a plan to break the lovers up and claim Ernst for herself. Tobi calls on his friends to intervene, and even resorts to the big guns when he calls in his mother, Rutia (Marcus Lachmann) and a Valkyrie-like thug named Grundel (Luise Schnittert); but will their combined might be enough to fend off Uta's bulletproof fashion sense and match her ruthless combat style?

All's fair in love and war, and "Men to Kiss" is a foamy, even silly, combination of both. This amusing movie addresses some serious issues in a colorful, fun way and possesses enough zip and energy to keep things crackling along.