Retake (2016 film)

Retake is a 2016 American independent romantic drama film directed by Corbin Bernsen and written by John Wilder. The film stars Tuc Watkins and George Takei.

The plot revolves around Jonathan (Watkins), a wealthy man haunted by a past love. He hires a male escort, David (Brent Gruber, face obscured until later revealed to be Takei), to recreate specific moments from a road trip he took decades earlier with his former boyfriend. Each stop on the "retake" journey is meticulously planned, and Jonathan becomes increasingly emotionally invested in the reenactments.

The film explores themes of grief, memory, regret, and the attempt to control the past. It examines the ethics of recreating personal experiences and the potential for healing through revisiting painful memories. Retake received generally mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of Watkins and Takei, but noting the potentially problematic premise and the film's uneven pacing. Its exploration of LGBTQ+ themes and the complexities of relationships garnered some attention. The film premiered at various film festivals before its general release.