"Adventures of Felix" is a mediocre movie that wants to be better than the average gay-themed film, but it can't help to fall to the ills of cultural stereotypes at various points throughout its quirky setup and oftentimes well-paced execution. The material is thoughtful, even insightful at certain turning points, and it contains characters whose charisma is hard to forget. If only it didn't step wrong the way it does in portraying Felix in an unfavorable light.

Opening with a bicycle sequence cut to a musical number that practically screams "Queen!," we get our first glimpse of Felix (Sami Bouajila), a middle-class gay Frenchman who has just been laid off from his job at the ferry station. His boyfriend, Daniel (Pierre-Loup Rajot), worries about his situation, but Felix seems unmoved, spending his days sleeping in and watching his favorite soap opera on television.

One day, after cleaning out what is left in his mother's now-sold apartment, he finds a small box with some photos, and letters from his father, who left them before he was born. Deciding to take a trip from his home in Dieppe to pay him a visit in Marseilles, Felix bids Daniel farewell, gives him a ticket to meet him in five days, and sets off on his journey by foot.

It is here that the movie introduces a murder subplot, as Felix bears witness to two men attempting to throw a man from a bridge; after an encounter with one of the men, he flees in fear. This plot angle will pop up at various different points throughout the movie; why it was introduced in the first place is unknown, as it does little to enhance the overall effectiveness of the movie as a whole.

The film digs its grave even deeper with the introduction of a young boy into Felix's life. The two meet when Felix makes a stop in a small town, and Felix returns home with the boy to spend the night, though nothing happens between the two. Of course, it's not without a lack of effort on the boy's part: we can see that he is instantly taken with Felix, who steals a car and takes his newfound friend to a dance club, a scene full of sexual provocation and longing that only serves to give one cause for disdain over the way in which Felix blatantly teases this impressionable youth. This aspect of his journey left me with a feeling of discomfort for Felix.

But that's not all. Later in the film, Felix, supposedly satisfied and content with his relationship with Daniel, hitches a ride with a man whom he ends up making love with in the out of doors. This leaves me wondering just exactly why such a scene is important to the story... how does it enhance our sympathy or understanding of the character? Are we to believe that all gay relationships benefit from this type of undisclosed infidelity? If anything, this area of the plot is a nuisance rather than an advancement.

This leaves for a feeling of awkwardness and disbelief once the movie reaches its conclusion. Without telling you anything, I simply wish to ask one question: how can we come to feel for Felix's reawakening and reuniting with Daniel after bearing witness to these two instances that threaten the movie's stability?

The movie hits high notes with the various other characters Felix meets on his way to Marseilles. He unknowingly hitches a ride with a female cop, en route to drop her three children off at their three different fathers' homes for Father's Day. It's an awkward sort of bonding session, but it gets the job done. I especially enjoyed the spunky Mathilde Firmin (Patachou), the elderly woman who enlists Felix's help in rearranging her furniture, all the while regailing the story of her loveless marraige. In her, we see a true reawakening of sorts as she carries on conversations with Felix, and there is a slight glimmer of light in his own eyes as well. This is the film's most profoundly examined relationship, the one we attain the most enjoyment from.

If only the movie didn't succumb to the stereotypes associated with the homosexual culture. Felix's infidelities to Daniel, both physically (the older man) and emotionally (the impressionable boy), present an obstacle that almost tanks the entire experience. I enjoyed "Adventures of Felix" a good deal, moreso than I had hoped. The film is charming, uplifting at times, and well-told, but could have been so much more.

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