For those of us throwing those AARP offers in the trash with disgust and/or gusto, the fact that Trick is more than 25 years old is a disquieting reality. But it's also a treasure that deserves, if not a reappraisal, then at least a revisit. 

The 1990s was an interesting decade, sort of a coda between the horrific 1980s of AIDS and Reagan and the subsequent world of September 11 and skyrocketing rents. In New York, there was a sense of stability, an easygoing innocence and discovery. Trick is a perfect snapshot of that moment. Its entire premise is based on the lack of technology: two people who meet IRL (is it weird we have an acronym for reality?) have to find a place to have sex. There's no geolocating, no hookup apps, no Airbnb -- just people disconnected in the big city looking for connection, sexual and otherwise. 

Jim Fall did a remarkable job with a limited budget. Trick has a grainy, indy flavor when seen today, but instead of taking away from the experience, it adds to the appeal. It reminds us of a time when talented filmmakers had to make do with limited resources and a 4k camera didn't fit in your pocket. It features a cast of professional, industry-savvy actors who nonetheless come across here as genuine and quite vulnerable. Tori Spelling in particular is a draw. At this point she was a big star from Beverly Hills 90210, but she faced a lot of criticism as the original nepo baby since her father, Aaron Spelling, was the show's producer. She was also continually insulted for wooden acting and in very unkind ways, for her looks. So it's delightful to see her spin all the negativity into a lovely comedic performance -- as somewhat of a nepo baby with somewhat wooden acting skills in this charming role as the annoying gal pal of the gay boy. She is a joy to watch. She's supported by Christian Campbell. John Paul Pitoc, Steve Hayes and Clinton Leupp as his genius creation, Miss Coco Peru. Very few performers can shake the world delivering a two-word line, as anyone who knows this scene can attest. Because ... it burns.

There are a number of very good appreciations of Trick, among them this, this and this, so I won't repeat what others have said better. Only to insert a mention here of a lovely piece of work from a group of talented artists who captured a moment in time that I don't think we're going to see for a while. What stands out for me about Trick is how well it evokes this world: from the very opening moments, you can feel the warm, lazy breeze, the humidity, the yearning and desire, the excitement of these people discovering themselves and each other. Trick reminds us of a place that felt genuine, both physically and emotionally. Although, along those lines, seeing the World Trade Center in the final shot, as the waypoint for these wayward characters, may bring more than a tear to your eye. 

Watch Trick online