Breakfast With Scot

• BREAKFAST WITH SCOT (DVD MOVIE)

The lives of Eric, an ex-hockey player, and his partner Sam are thrown into turmoil when they are forced to take in Scot, a flamboyant 11-year-old, who is not the sports-loving “boy” they expected. Starring Tom Cavanagh, Ben Shenkman and Noah Bernett. Like most couples, Eric (Tom Cavanagh, Ed) and Sam (Ben Shenkman, Angels in America) have their differences. A former NHL player, Eric broadcasts sports news, while Sam practices corporate law. If Sam seems comfortable with his orientation, Eric keeps their four-year relationship a secret for the sake of his career. When Sam's wayward brother Billy's girlfriend passes away, the Toronto couple takes temporary custody of her 11-year-old son, Scot (the unflappable Noah Bernett). Until he makes his gardenia-scented entrance, Breakfast with Scot appears to be a comedy about gay parenting, excep! t Scot isn't a typical boy. He sings show tunes, wears feather boas, and makes "T"-shaped pancakes (because his first name ends with one "T"). As an ex-Toronto Maple Leaf, Eric finds Scot's flamboyance discomforting, so he encourages him to play hockey. To his surprise, the kid takes to the ice like a fish to water, but as Scot spends more time with the athletes than the outcasts, he develops a mean streak, which presents even more of a challenge to his guardians. Further, Billy (Colin Cunningham, Da Vinci's Inquest), who lives in Brazil, expresses greater interest in his ex-girlfriend's insurance money than the child that comes with it. Loosely adapted from the novel by Michael Downing and paced like a sitcom, director Laurie Lynd presents few storyline surprises, but the basic premise is sure to resonate with parents of all persuasions. In the end, Scot teaches Eric that it's better to be yourself than to conform to constricting gender roles. --Kathleen C. Fenne! ssy