In the romantic comedy Maintenance Required, now streaming on Prime Video, Matteo Lane plays into the show’s lush visual style by frequently interacting with plants, but in real life, he says, those green companions don’t fare so well.
During an exclusive interview with Gayety, the comedian and actor responded to a playful jab about being a “plant gay” in Maintenance Required, a quip used in the film’s dialogue, by clarifying his relationship with both plants and that label.
Lane chuckled and replied, “Well, I’m not a plant gay in real life. I have fake plants all over my house. I kill them. I don’t know how to keep plants alive.”
Lane’s admission adds a layer of playful self‑deprecation to his public persona. He continued saying, “The plant gays — they have like 800 plants and they’re upset. My boyfriend’s like, I have to water, I plant. Her name is Samantha.”
And in this romantic comedy, Matteo Lane has one named Mariah and sings to her at 7:00 AM.”
The “her” in question is the plant Mariah, which Lane’s character apparently serenades each morning in the film’s narrative. The contrast between on‑screen gardening devotion and off‑screen plant neglect is stark — but Lane embraces it.
When asked if he contributed this to the writing of the script, he stated, “Of course. Who else is going to write that for me? Some homosexual. No, this is my writing.” He gave a mock exasperated smile, acknowledging the joke’s origin from his own sense of humor.
The star went on to add, “My sister has a green thumb, but not me.” That confession may surprise some, given the botanical motifs in Maintenance Required.
Another joke in the film is that Lane’s character doesn’t even know what a wrench is, and actually had to look it up.
When asked about his real life knowledge, the star quipped, “I do,” explaining that he uses one to open collector’s‑grade Pokémon card cases, especially those encased in sealed plastic packaging. “You have to use a wrench and a thing to snap it open,” he said. The admission elicited laughter, as he teased, “Have I revealed too much about myself?”
The irony is notable: Maintenance Required centers around a mechanic shop, a world where hands know tools and garage mechanisms. While Lane is unlikely tinkering under a hood in real life, he’s clearly not afraid to make fun of himself for not living up to that image.
The film’s plot itself pivots around the collision of personal and professional spheres. It stars Madelaine Petsch as Charlie, the owner of an all‑female mechanic shop confronted by a rival business. Unbeknownst to her, she has formed an online connection with a confidant who is actually that rival, Beau, played by Jacob Scipio. The conceit invites hidden identities, secrets, and misdirection, themes Lane’s humor aligns well with.
Lane is one of several supporting cast members, including Katy O’Brian, Madison Bailey, Inanna Sarkis, and Jim Gaffigan. Maintenance Required was directed by Lacey Uhlemeyer and co-written by Uhlemeyer, Roo Berry, and Erin Falconer. It premiered globally on Prime Video on October 8, 2025.
