Sugar Rush
Reel Affirmations 2008
Review by Will O’Bryan
Rating: 
(3 out of 5)
Tuesday, 10/21/2008, 7:00 PM
Feature presentation, $10 at AFI Silver
Think of it as just a taste — the first three episodes from the International Emmy Award-winning series born in 2005, and soon to air in America on the here! on-demand network.IF YOU HAVEN’T seen it, it’s new to you. It’s so new, actually, that it’s downright fresh. And cheeky. Welcome to the adventures of Kim and Sugar from the Channel Four series, Sugar Rush.
Set in Brighton — the closest thing England has to Atlantic City, without the gambling but with more gay people — Sugar Rush is a coming-of-age serial following the evolving relationship of teens Kim (Olivia Hallinan) and Sugar (Lenora Crichlow). To pepper the pot, Kim is gay and closeted, while Sugar is, apparently, straight and very out. And Kim is jonesing for something sweet.
The story centers on Kim, but it’s Sara Stewart, as Kim’s mom Stella and Crichlow who are the scene stealers. Kim’s story is a drama, with tears; Stella is a comedy; and Sugar can go wherever the story takes her. Still, Hallinan’s Kim gets the best lines: ”I’m a 15-year-old, queer virgin obsessed with my best friend — and her magnificent tits. If I don’t shag soon, I’m going to explode.”
While many teen yarns can be dull for grown-ups, UK-teen characters offer light-years of sophistication beyond their American Pie peers. And for boys who have no interest in lesbo-mondo, then come for the handyman and stay for the story — you won’t be disappointed. As for the prime demographic, youngish sisters of Sappho, plan on spending well more than ticket price after you leave the theater. The full series on DVD runs about $60, and you’d better be sure your machine can play Region 2 DVDs. Ex-smokers, however, should avoid Sugar Rush, unless they’re very good at avoiding temptation.
In a nutshell, Sugar Rush is not a movie, nor a short. And soon enough, it will be readily available outside Reel Affirmations. Sure, it’s just a TV show. But it’s a very well-made one and a great way to spend a Tuesday evening in autumn.
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