MovieChat Forums > Get Real (1999) Discussion > Sequel? (SPOILERS!)

Sequel? (SPOILERS!)

posted 8 years ago by Oblio-N-Arrow
2 replies | jump to latest

I’ve read numerous posts clamoring for a sequel (or craving a Hollywood happy ending).

Why on the gods’ green earth would anyone want a sequel? This is not a relationship I want to see pick up again. Criminy, Johnny threw Steven against the lockers and kicked him when he was down. A totally unforgivable sin. Throughout the movie Johnny repeatedly showed signs of untoward aggression towards Steven. I can understand angry but at times he’d react physically, i.e., grabbing/yanking Steve’s arm. The reactions were minor but eventually built up to the final outburst. It bothered me each time.

This was a beautiful story about “first love”. I was moved and immersed in their story. Two like souls found each other in a world where they felt they didn’t belong. However, each was at a different stage of growth. By the end, Steven’s growth took a huge leap forward and, to a certain extent, Johnny regressed.

I personally think it ended appropriately. Steven was free to live the life of his choosing and Johnny would either climb back in the closet or learn to accept who he is. I predict the former. Maybe I’m a cynic but I think it was a happy ending in its own right; realistic if nothing else.

P.S. Steven stole my heart. I’d condone a sequel if I were cast as his lover.

Unveiling my first ever signature... Now where did I set my drink?

[–] caltrans 8 years ago

When you read the Fan Fiction, I believe the sequel wishers belief the latter outcome for John Dixon based upon his apparent grief on the field at the end of the movie.

[–] dunlap-mark64 8 years ago

Like caltrans, I have read numerous fan fiction sort-of sequels to Get Real. One particular fan fiction story has a very believable way for Steven to forgive John for that locker room violence, and so give them a happy reunion. I've thought of a story myself, too, which coincidentally has a few similarities to the one story I referred to.

John Dixon would have to undergo a fundamental change in order for Steven to forgive and to trust that John would never turn violent again. But it hypothetically could happen. Please think about why John Dixon would turn violent whenever he was afraid someone might find out that he's gay. Think also about the emotions John was having when he sat on Steven's bed, crying on Steven's shoulder. John was not merely afraid of someone finding out that he is gay (while he was crying on Steven's shoulder he said, "I'm so scared."), he also felt very much ashamed of being gay. Right before he leaned over to Steven's shoulder he asked, "What's wrong with me?" And remember that on the night John went out on a date with Christina, John admitted to Steven that he had two reasons for going out with her: "If people see me going out with her from time to time, then no one will suspect that you and me are -- ..." but also, "I guess I went out with Christina tonight because I needed to feel good about myself." John saying those two things ("What's wrong with me," "I needed to feel good about myself,") are indications that he has to get over feeling ashamed of his sexual orientation.

Lots of gay men have had those feelings and eventually get over them. Hypothetically, John could too. That's why many of us like to think about what would it take for John to embrace gay pride, and we think doing so is what would make it very possible for Steven to forgive John.