Whole Hog Homophobia

Whole Hog Homophobia

Given the rampant homophobia motoring through Touchstone/Disney’s latest comedy, “Wild Hogs,” it seems fitting that screenwriter Brad Copeland’s credits include writing for TV’s “Arrested Development.” Arrested development … not just a sitcom, but perhaps an explanation for Copeland’s sophomoric state of mind. (The film opened at #1 this weekend.)

Copeland might have looked to the 16-year-old “City Slickers” for clues as to how to write about midlife male bonding without resorting to sniggering scenarios of ewww, you’d better not touch my man parts with your man parts or I’ll scream.

If 1991’s three “City Slickers” could make it through a two-week cattle drive without resorting to “Deliverance” jokes, couldn’t 2007’s four “Wild Hogs”‘ do the same? Maybe not.

According to “Wild Hogs” actor William H. Macy on the homophobic nature of the film, “We were all sensitive to it and cut a lot of it … because it went into bashing mode.”

Hmm—then such scenarios as a stalking highway patrolman hoping to get in on a four-on-the-floor-way, or a prancing Kyle Gass crooning “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me,” or the quartet caught in the act of cuddling half-naked on an inflatable mattress, then scrambling for cover in shame … this is sensitive?