Two of the Sweetest Guys on the Planet

My online friends, Gary and Larry Lane, will be returning to Tennessee this coming week to screen their film Hollywood to Dollywood at a pair of events. I want to wish them the best of luck and that the trip is very successful. Although I've never met the twins in person they have always been total sweethearts to me online. I hope to meet them at some point in the future.

(Amazon.com review but I share all the opinions) "Hollywood to Dollywood" documents the struggle that two identical gay twin brothers have in trying to get a movie script (that they have written) into the hands of their idol Dolly Parton. After sending the script to Dolly's management in Nashville where it was returned as unsolicited material, Gary and Larry Lane, two beautiful looking and intelligent guys, decide the only way to get the script into Dolly's hands is by meeting her at Dollywood, Dolly's theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at its 25th Anniversary opening. Knowing Dolly always makes appearances at the park's season opening the Lane brothers are hoping they will somehow get to meet Dolly and hand her the script.

The film starts in Los Angeles, where Gary and Larry live, and they decide to rent an RV promptly named by them as Jolene, in reference to Dolly's #1 song from 1974, and decide to travel cross country to Tennessee. On their way there with Mike Bowen (Gary's boyfriend who does the driving) the twins encounter various people who also idolize Dolly and recount their feelings toward her.

"Hollywood to Dollywood" also addresses the issue of homosexuality, people's prejudices toward our sexual orientation (yes I am gay too) and the problem the twin's mother has in dealing with having two gay sons.

The movie shows actual scenes of the terrible flood in downtown Nashville which occurred in 2010, the damage to one of Dolly's then businesses "Trinkets and Treasures" and their eventual arrival in Pigeon Forge. I will not say if Gary and Larry meet Dolly, but the ending is not to be missed.

Gary and Larry supported the financing of the documentary from their own pockets (they were winners on a network reality series called "Wipeout") and the film has won dozens of "Best Documentary" awards.

The film is simply beautifully produced, has a ton of cameos with people like Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black (screenplay writer of "Milk"), Chad Allen, Beth Grant (who starred with Dolly in the 1999 TV film "Blue Valley Songbird") and funny Leslie Jordan who recounts the time as a teenager he went to see Dolly in 1970 when RCA recorded her "A Real Live Dolly" album at her high school. When one of the twins (I can't tell them apart) actually gives Leslie a copy of the rare CD recording of "A Real Live Dolly" you can see the love Leslie has for the one and only Dolly Parton.

Dolly had a hand in the film herself as she allowed Gary and Larry to use 16 of her original songs to be used in the soundtrack at no cost. Her classics like "Coat of Many Colors", "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" only add essence to what is already a remarkable film. 10% of what the movie makes goes to Dolly's Imagination Library Program.

There are several bonuses such as 90 minutes of features never before seen including what the boys have been up to since the film's release, their appearances on the "Marie Osmond" and the "Jeff Probst" talk shows, an interview with director John Lavin, a Question and Answer session with Chad Allen and Gary and Larry at the New York City Film Festival and so much more.

I adore "Hollywood to Dollywood" as not only does it show the love that Dolly's fan base have of their idol as well as her love for them, but it's underlying theme of the acceptance of anyone, no matter what your sexuality, is really what love is all about.

"The Hollywood Reporter" says the film is a "Casually road trip doc about aspiring screenwriters desperate to meet their showbiz idol".

I am proud of you Gary and Larry, what you have done for gay rights, your respect and recognition for the greatest entertainer that has ever lived and for being proud of who you are!

Much love to you both!

Here's some photos from the guy's modeling days and their extreme game show appearances: