Fire Island (2022)

Fire Island (2022), directed by Andrew Ahn and written by/starred in by Joel Kim Booster, is a dazzling, heartfelt romantic comedy that reimagines Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice through a distinctly queer lens. Set on the legendary LGBTQ+ vacation destination Fire Island, the film is both a love letter to chosen family and a clever satire of class, race, and romance within the gay community.

The story centers around Noah (Booster), a confident, fiercely loyal friend determined to help his best friend Howie (Bowen Yang) find love during their annual getaway. But things get complicated when Howie falls for Charlie (James Scully), a sweet, upper-class doctor, and Noah unexpectedly clashes—then connects—with Charlie’s aloof friend Will (Conrad Ricamora), an obvious stand-in for Austen’s Mr. Darcy.

While Fire Island is packed with humor, pop culture references, and shirtless parties, it’s never shallow. Underneath the sharp one-liners and poolside glamour lies a rich exploration of friendship, self-worth, and the politics of attraction. The film openly tackles colorism, body image, and the social divides that still persist in supposedly “inclusive” queer spaces.

Booster’s script is sharp and self-aware, blending millennial voice with timeless themes. Yang gives a quietly moving performance as Howie, portraying romantic insecurity with vulnerability and wit. Ricamora brings surprising depth to the initially cold Will, whose emotional arc is arguably one of the film’s most satisfying.

Director Andrew Ahn, known for his indie work (Spa Night), brings visual elegance and emotional warmth to a setting that could have easily slipped into caricature. He balances montage and intimacy beautifully—letting the party scenes pulse with energy while giving the romantic and emotional beats room to breathe.

Critics and audiences alike praised Fire Island for being both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely touching. It’s one of the few mainstream queer romantic comedies to fully center gay Asian American characters—and to do so with style, sincerity, and an understanding of the communities it represents.

Imagine a sequel set one year later: Fire Island: After Hours. This time, the chosen family reunites not for vacation, but for a surprise off-season wedding—Howie and Charlie are getting married on the island. But the cold-weather setting brings new tensions: relationships are tested, personal growth is questioned, and new romances spark amid the fall breeze instead of summer heat.

Noah, now in a long-distance situationship with Will, begins to wonder whether he’s truly capable of commitment. Meanwhile, new guests—diverse in age, body, and background—shake up the group’s dynamic. Old insecurities bubble up, but so do new truths. The film could explore how queer relationships evolve beyond hookups and holidays—what happens after the party ends.

Still packed with wit and heart, After Hours would deepen the emotional resonance of the original while keeping its signature joy and bite. And yes—there would still be karaoke, shade, and at least one scene involving someone crying in a hot tub.