Defying Gravity is a 1997 independent romantic drama film directed by John Keitel and starring Daniel Chilson, Niklaus Lange, Don Handfield, and Linna Carter.

[2] John "Griff" Griffith, an average college student, is active in his fraternity and lives in the frat house.

Pete is also there browsing the stacks and overhears Griff inviting girl flirt Gretchen to a fraternity party.

He runs into Sam, an out, loud, and proud activist, who is passing out flyers for a "community action patrol" to help prevent gay bashing.

The juxtaposition of "closeted" and "out" gay people heightens the drama and serves as comic relief at the same time.

The next day Griff and his fraternity brothers are amazed to find out that Pete has been viciously attacked and is comatose in the local hospital.

Griff is obviously shocked and disoriented, but the others are concerned about the negative impact on their upcoming rush week of having a gay member of their fraternity.

The tragic situation completely changes Griff: he drifts along in a daze, ignoring his friends, classwork, and fraternity responsibilities.

At the coffeehouse he sees Denetra, an African American fellow student, and his need to talk with a sympathetic listener motivates him to become friends with her.

When Griff and Todd get back to the frat house they see Doogie's friend Smitty there with his black truck.

[5] Lawrence Van Gelder from The New York Times on 9 July 1999 stated the movie "plods along, never catching dramatic fire, sometimes suffering from amateurish acting and often relying on its intrusive and treacly music to impart mood and rhythm" and "good intentions don't necessarily make good drama".

[6] Emanuel Levy from Variety on 29 June 1997 said "modestly agreeable feature directorial debut" and it was "made with a good deal of charm".

[8] Wesley Morris from San Francisco Examiner on 16 July 1999 wrote on "a budget so low the shoes seem to have walked off and left their strings", and it "is ransacked by its public-service announcement performances".