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Matrimonium | 
| Director: Michael D. Akers
Actors: Sandon Berg, Joel Bryant, Dotty Carey, Bruce Cronander, Courtney Donnelly
Studio: Wolfe Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $22.49
You Save: $2.46 (10%)
New (19) Used (16) from $8.84
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 119930
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 88 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 823857135523
EAN: 0823857135523
ASIN: B000BVM24A
Theatrical Release Date: 2005
Release Date: December 13, 2005
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Reality TV's Finest Hour November 25, 2007
E. Fudge (Riverside)
I'm not a fan of reality television. And here's a movie that takes the reality television concept and twists it into an enjoyable experience. I think when reality TV has run it's course, and I hope it won't be too long, people will look back and think what the heck was that all about? This film will stand the test of time and we'll look back and say, not everyone got caught up in that crap. I loved the costumes, I don't know where they could have found those clothes. The characters are wacky and funny. I loved Malcolm's practically catatonic mother. She was probably the only sane character trying to come to grips with a world gone mad. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. In conclusion if you hate reality TV you will like this film.
 You really should read the bad reviews on this one....... October 14, 2006
Darien Wells (Tulsa, Oklahoma USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This film encases a plot that is absolute genius......... had they been serious about it. Instead the retards that wrote this manage to insult gays, straights, family, reality tv, society in general, the President and even Jesus, in about the sickest way possible. Furthermore, they thought it would be funny. Well in all seriousness it would have been a funny, dramatic production had they made a serious movie about a straight guy pretending to be gay and marry a gay man in order to win a million dollars. That's the whole concept around which they promoted this production. What you REALLY get is a stupid, off the wall, sarcastic, skit very similar to something you would find on Saturday Night Live, on a bad night. I would LOVE to see someone with ability take this concept and DO IT RIGHT! If you've read the descriptions of this film, what you read is awesome. It is not what you get. This thing makes Lucy and Ethel look serious and dramatic. Rick Federman is hot and would have been perfect (with a well written plot) for the part of the straight man. In fact, Sandon Berg would have been good as the gay guy in a serious dramatic role without all the hideous nerdy, flaming queen overkill. Picture quality and sound were good, casting was good considering the roles being cast. This film was a cheap shot at anyone and everyone, including the viewer for being stupid enough to be duped into watching it. I was not at all impressed but highly challenge someone REPUTABLE to remake this film into the masterpiece it could have been. I am so very disappointed!
Michael D. Akers WHAT WERE YOU THINKING! June 3, 2006
Alex (Seattle)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I loved "Gone, but not forgotten" and couldn't wait for the next Michael Akers film. But this film, "Matrimonium" is just plain awful. The idea is great, the execution of it was unimaginable. The host of the reality show was wooden, the "gay guy" is the steriotypical gay guy (lisp,flighty. The gay guys family are rednecks, they cooked possum for dinner! This movie insults the south, the gays, the straights, and somehow they even insulted the reality shows. This movie is not funny and it actually took two tries to get through the bad acting to finish seeing this movie. Don't waste your money.
 "Are you really going to marry that man?" May 27, 2006
M. J Leonard (Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA United States)
With gay marriage the center of so much debate in the United States and throughout the rest of the developed world, one would think that Matrimonium would be a noble contribution to the cause. Unfortunately, the movie is so bad, so amateurishly made and so intent to promote stereotypes, that any redeeming social comment kind of gets lost in the muddle.
Made by something called the United Gay Network, Matrimonium has been doing the gay and lesbian film festival circuit and will probably only ever be seen by about three people - which is just fine, because although the film purports to be an improvised mockumentary, skewering the phenomenon of reality television and marriage, the film just isn't that funny.
Malcolm Caulfield (a really hot Rick Federman) is about to lose his inheritance. So in a moment of desperation decides to go on a reality show, where he stands to win a million dollars if he can convince everyone he's gay and marrying another man. His life partner is the effeminate and adorable Spencer Finch (Sandon Berg), who also wants to win the money so that he can escape from his backwoods family.
The catch is that in order to for them to win they must also convince their respective families to attend the wedding. Malcolm convinces his hunky best friend Bradley (Joel Bryant) to attend, but can he convince his homophobic parents? Meanwhile, Spencer invites along his best girlfriend, his alcoholic mother and his pregnant, born again fire and brimstone sister, with her country bumpkin husband.
It's all rather silly and strained, with much of the dialogue looking as though it's made up as they're going along. The film is full of both gay and straight stereotypes - the hunky shallow straight man who is intent to sell himself out for bucks, the lispy, effeminate gay guy, the white trash chain smoking relatives, and the aging, sexually frustrated homophobic dad.
Matrimonium was developed by the duo of Michael Akers and Sandon Berg and they obviously had noble intentions, but any relevant social messages about gay marriage and living life out of the closet gets lost in sea of obvious - and well-worn - punch lines about gays, sex and well, marriage.
The film also looks cheaply made - shot on digital video - and probably for about five dollars - in Los Angeles, the directors have used some exteriors, bit most of the action takes place inside. Is it supposed to be bad? One thing is for sure, the outcome is totally predictable and it's just not very funny. Perhaps the only saving grace is Rick Federman as Malcolm, he does indeed have looks and charisma to kill, and I'm amazed that he's not doing more in the business.
I guess you could wrap up Matrimonium by saying that it has some cute moments, but generally falls flat. Perhaps with a bigger budget and some better actors - Federman and Bryant excluded - and a cleverer script the film could have made much more of an impact.
It's a great idea, and Akers and Berg have obviously put a great deal of thought into what it would be really like to have a same-sex reality wedding based on lies, however, it's just a pity that their implementation is lazy and somewhat lacking in originality. Mike Leonard May 06.
 Campy & Overdone March 7, 2006
J Sparrowland (St. Paul, MN)
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
"Matrimonium" is one of the most obnoxious and campy films I have seen. The storyline could have been very creative and entertaining with major adjustments and recasting. First a new TV Show Hostess who was much more believable and realistic would have been required. Deven Green as Andre, TV Show Hostess, lacked substance and appeal. Joel Bryant as Bradley DuBois, best friend of Malcolm Caufield (the straight guy desperately searching for a quick buck) was my favorite character and the most believable. A good concept gone sour!
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