dan_90802 If you're looking for 90 minutes or so of mindless entertainment, you could do worse than The Curiosity of Chance. As others have mentioned, it is not original in any way. The gay stereotype as creative outsider is old. The jock as thick-headed homophobe is tired. And the supporting characters are nothing more than stock creatures from any coming-of-age, coming-out-of-the-closet story set in high school.Set in "the 1980's", TCOC seems to repel some viewers because they do not understand the setting (an American high school in Flemish-speaking Belgium). While this is not explained anywhere in the film, there are a lot of clues. The houses are not typically suburban America, the license plates are clearly foreign, the big sport is soccer, people have accents, etc. I'm not clear why the writer/director did not make this clear, as it might have added some interest. Instead, it seems like he tried to keep it country-neutral, as in, this could have been anywhere. But that simply leaves a viewer scratching his head wondering why all these "American" high school kids and their teachers speak English with a Flemish accent.Set that aside. Just pretend that you know that this is set in Europe, in an American-style, English-immersion high school. Ex pats send their kids there, so there are some Americans. Then you can enjoy the flick.Think part Edge of Seventeen, Get Real, Rock Haven, and Grande École mushed together. There are worse ways to spend an hour and a half.

petersonteddy The story is about the obviously homosexual but even-more smart, charming and eloquent youngster Chance Maquise crossing the ocean to attend an International Highschool. As obligatory for a film set in a highschool scenario, he had to fight bullying, teachers and parents and his own weaknesses. But Chance Maquise way to discovering his own personality is therefore funny and more interesting than in a usual growing-up-movie.Unfortunately no one beside a few freaks can understand or even handle this extroverted guy. But Chance - starting as a lonely wolf – takes his chance and converts strangers into friends and convinces, at last, everybody that a certain touch of curiosity is a benefit for everybody. Though some aspects make CoC appear more than the usual teenage-entertainment, it is definitely not. That it's situated in the 80's has no further intention than showing fancy clothes and place some acceptable jokes about accent differences. Any attempt to recapitulate the upcoming gay-movement in the 80's or at least a slightly different atmosphere poured into the superficial highschool-scenario could have changed this a lot. That said, for pure entertainment value you won't be disappointed with COC.

nyghtweaver While this movie has a gay lead character, it is not an in your face flamboyant movie. I say that only to point out that anyone can watch and get something from the moral theme of this movie. It is a must see for anyone gay, and also for anyone who has ever been a misfit or an outcast. It is funny and endearing with a plot that is full of heart. The movie follows the basic message that everyone should find and make peace with who they truly are. Its not always an easy journey, and sometimes there are obstacles and people who are determined to get in your way and bring you down. The finale is a fantastic song, shouting out the anthem of standing up for who you are. The actors all do a great job, and the drag queens positively steal the show. Give it a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

NJMoon There seems no earthly reason to set this film at an "international" high school (is there even such a thing?) in the 80's other than to provide some weak visual and aural humor. But funny accents and funny clothes do not a good film make. Curiosity apes the real thing: "Edge of Seventeen" - all to no avail. Stick with it long enough the leading man (as usual in high school flicks, nobody looks like a teenager) somehow manages to push through the arch, unbelievable dialogue and predictable plot to find some sense of truth. In the end, the title character may get to live happily ever after - or maybe he just wants us to think so.