“Things Like This” a rom-com celebration of queer joy

The truth is that things have been heavy for the LGBTQ+ community this year. If you need a moment of levity and queer joy, look no further than “Things Like This,” a lighthearted and thoughtful LGBTQ+ rom-com that comes to theaters on May 16th.

This project has been the brainchild of Max Talisman, who has spent the last eight years working on the project as the writer, director, producer, and actor in the film. Talisman makes his directorial debut with this project.

As executive producer and cast member Jake Reiner said, “He really did everything for this film; there wasn’t a thing about this film that he didn’t touch.”

Talisman added that he owes a lot of the success of juggling everything to the other creative people he’s surrounded himself with, who made it much easier to balance everything.

“Things Like This” is a feel-good rom-com centered on two men with the same name falling in love. The closer they get, the more truths are revealed, and the men believe they are destined to be together. However, things aren’t always as easy as they seem, and as obstacles arise, they question whether love is truly enough. How far are they willing to go to fight for each other?

This is truly a quintessential rom-com perfect for rom-com lovers everywhere. “The twist of this movie is that it’s not a gay rom-com, it’s a rom-com that’s what it is, you can watch it with anybody,” cast member and producer Danny Chavarriaga said.

It’s important to have a rom-com with LGBTQ+ characters that is not centered on a coming-out story or tragedy. As Chavarriaga noted, today, many folks still don’t see being LGBTQ+ as normal, but it is normal, and that’s something highlighted in this film.

After eight years of hard work, this film is coming out during a time when LGBTQ+ rights have been under attack; in fact, so far in 2025, there are already 575 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been proposed. The cast and creative team are acutely aware of the political and societal landscape in which this project is being released.

Discussing the importance of creating a film centered on queer joy Talisman said, “In itself, it is an act of protest to live in queer joy, it’s absolutely what we need to do everyday, we need to be sure we are living openly and we are living proudly and that in itself is an act against what’s going on.”

“Things Like This” is exclusively in theaters on May 16th. If you’re interested in seeing this lighthearted film while also supporting LGBTQ+ filmmakers, click here for more details, including where to get tickets.

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In Theaters May 16th - Tickets on Sale

Images by: Mark Sagliocco