A by-the-numbers biopic about a gay man made by utterly boring straight men, the tidy Tom of Finland hasn't got a single memorable moment or line in it. Except, perhaps, the unintentionally hilarious outburst at a German police station where Tom's (real name Touko Laaksonen) friend declares something to the effect of "If you're not careful with your art, they're going to put you in prison!" - as the scene already takes place in one. This is the level of intelligence of the film makers.
Aside from an uncomfortably anachronistic performance by Jessica Grabowsky as Touko's sister, the actors are pretty good with Pekka Strang in the lead easily the best thing in the film. Scenes in the U.S. are markedly better than the rest of the movie, but all in all the film fails to deliver anything that feels fresh, daring or new. A truly missed opportunity.
Aside from an uncomfortably anachronistic performance by Jessica Grabowsky as Touko's sister, the actors are pretty good with Pekka Strang in the lead easily the best thing in the film. Scenes in the U.S. are markedly better than the rest of the movie, but all in all the film fails to deliver anything that feels fresh, daring or new. A truly missed opportunity.