Mike (River Phoenix) is a narcoleptic, hustler, and prostitute in Oregon. His best friend is Scott (Keanu Reeves), a fellow prostitute rebelling against his rich, overbearing father, who is the mayor of Portland. Mike wants to find his estranged mother (Vana O'Brien), so he and Scott travel to Idaho to find Mike's brother, Richard (James Russo.) Dick has a last-known address in Italy so the boys hit up a recurring customer, Hans (Udo Kier), for airfare money.
This is part of the queer indie movement from the 80s and early 90s. It just has a much stronger pedigree. Gus Van Sant wrote and directed it, and obviously Reeves' and Phoenix's careers were already taking off. It's not fully an adaptation of Henry IV but there are a lot of elements that cross over. The style is experimental, with time lapses, odd title cards, and fantastical elements. It's not terrible but it's not very engaging, either. These boys' lives are pretty bleak. Still, it's considered a cult classic. It's not streaming anywhere for free but, like its main characters, it is available for rent.
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