A FAMILY AFFAIR (2024)

Directed By: Richard LaGravenese

Written By: Carrie Solomon

Cinematography: Don Burgess 

Editor: Melissa Bretherton 

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Joey King, Kathy Bates, Sherry Cola, Liza Koshy, Sarah Baskin, Olivia Macklin, Wes Jetton, Ian Gregg 

An unexpected romance triggers comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her boss, grappling with the complications of love, sex, and identity.


I won’t lie if this had made it to a movie theater it probably would’ve turned a decent profit as it is intriguing enough. Even if it’s a basic Hallmark type of story. It has the element of a younger man, falling for an older woman, and both of them are ridiculously successful and good-looking. So of course, this movie is obviously identifiable for the audience, with its feel-good ending.

Neither the film nor the filmmakers really add anything to set it apart, other than having two big stars in the lead recognizable actors throughout the film. 

Joey gives her all and she saves this film overall with her energy and comedic timing.

Everything else throughout this film is predictable and basic, not even in a quirky to present things differently.

Even the supporting characters aren’t really characters they’re just standings for the leads to either talk to or complain to, and then at some point or given a little bit of in her life when it’s time for the characters to realize that other things are more important in the world.

It’s hard to really get into a film that is just out-and-out pure Hollywood where everyone is pretty successful and even the people in their 20s who should be struggling seem not that battle and everyone is picture perfect pretty or attractive and there’s no real heavy drama I understand it’s meant to be a romantic fantasy feel-good comedy and if you are in the audience and want This film will be good for you.

It just seems like the typical Netflix movie where they are more concerned with getting star names in the project and then seem to worry about the script if at all later and when it comes, you’re probably not going to get any good quality, but if you’re comfortable with the Hollywood films of yesteryear you’ll get it here but not with any flex of imagination.

As there are no surprises and even the hint that there will be sex and or nudity in the trailer is quickly flirted with an abandoned. By the end of the film, this is not believable, but a perfect fantasy for some audiences to get lost in.

Now one will admit this is my type of film and the only thing that made me want to watch it. It was again the comedic antics it seemed of Joey King in the trailer.

The biggest shock came when noted Screenwriter Richard LaGravenese directed this film though did not write it. He has written and definitely directed better films than this. Even if romantic comedy and drama do usually fall into his wheelhouse.

Grade: D+

ANYONE BUT YOU (2023)

Directed By: Will Gluck 

Written By: Will Gluck and Ilana Wolpert 

Story By: Ilana Wolpert 

Cinematography: Danny Ruhlmann

Editor: Kim Boritz-Brehm and Tia Nolan

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Glenn Powell, Gata, Alexandra Shipp, Charlee Fraser, Bryan Brown, Dermont Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, Joe Davidson, Darren Barnet 

After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben’s fiery attraction turns ice-cold–until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.


A sexier romantic comedy that plays like a sex comedy. Only lacking any truly carnal action, but flirts around with it, In a more innocent manner.

The whole movie is of course a will they or won’t they. Where they feel like they are fooling their friends and their friends feel like they have the upper hand over them.

The film tries to breathe life into a tired staple or genre. The results aren’t terrible. As the film stays entertaining fluff. That you will forget about soon after watching. 

It is a bunch of beautiful people in impossibly lush locations and privilege-loving fantasy lives. So it plays like a fantasy for the audience. 

the film keeps trying to make Sydney Sweeney into a more physical comedian and less an object of desire but never goes fully into quite embarrassing humor or anything truly juvenile. 

Luckily the movie focuses more on the comedy and less on the romance until it is needed. 

Hollywood keeps moving Glen Powell into being a star for good reason. As he is a movie star handsome and charming. Though you might find yourself obsessing about his hair throughout as it is usually perfect and never movies but doesn’t look stiff. 

It’s an across-the-board film as it is diverse and includes every kind of demographic a mainstream film could aim for. 

It’s nice to see Bryan Brown and Rachel Griffiths on the screen again and clearly having fun Even if the movie casting seems all over the place. Though definitely filming in Australia as most of the supporting cast seem to be natives and we see all the popular sights. 

Not to mention while you can understand Powell’s character being tempted by his ex. Played by Charlee Fraser, As she is gorgeous and it’s flattering she needed such a good-looking guy to replace him and get over him. Sydney Sweeney’s ex in the film played by Darren Barnet is there in appearance but gets nothing to do or any real character Arc. Really he’s the only character who really has nothing to do but is just there. 

This seems like the movie the Justin Timberlake movie FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS was supposed to be, only here the leads are likable and insistent like it is chasing any trends or trying to be cool. Instead, this movie just remembers to be sexy. 

This seems a starter movie for both the stars here, trying to see how much box office power they have with them as the main stars.

Grade: C

THE SWEET EAST (2023)

Cinematography & Directed By: Sean Price Williams

Written By: Nick Pinkerton 

Editor: Stephen Gurewitz 

Cast: Talia Ryder, Simon Rex, Jacob Elordi, Ayo Edibiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Andy Milonakis, Keith Poulson, Rish Shah, Mazin Akar, Gibby Haynes, Mimi Ryder, Jack Irv, Ella Rubin, Betsey Brown, Earl Cave

A picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina. She gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C.


The film has an Alice in Wonderland quality. they coming of age tale. where we follow this girl who right after losing her virginity goes on a school field trip to Washington DC gets mad wanders off and kind of gets involved in all these kinds of extreme groups and gets involved with these characters who have such great passion for their beliefs that she seems to put up with as long as she can, and they take care of her, but then soon grows of them and moves on, especially leaving them and ruin when she does

as it seems like all of those, she gets involved with seem to put their ideals dreams, and wishes upon her as some kind of fantasy is going to help them or save them or make them successful and she’s quite the opposite as she is just a schoolgirl trying to survive and trying to have fun

I think this film might’ve been a little stronger been directed and written by a female because as it plays, which might actually work and its favor seems more to go throughout this film as a kind of young female seen through the male gaze so she’s constantly made into a fantasy. it is directed by noted cinematographer Sean Price Williams.

The film doesn’t make her a victim, though it shows that she’s not that innocent and that she kind of enjoys the power that she gets from all these experiences as these types of scenarios and with the female being victimized, it’s kind of refreshing to see a film, where the female is the one who realized that she has the power and takes control, even though she doesn’t know how deep or dangerous the waters she’s stepping into truly 

The film is very experimental as it even has a musical sequence early in the film and seems to be mostly handheld gorilla style though has some beautiful shots the film does keep a sense of humor, but also has a kind of shock value that it produces every now and then just to make sure you’re paying attention 

as in one section of the film, she ends up staying with a white supremacist who is more of an intellectual than an actual member of the KKK who he spoils like she’s a pet, but never touches, though she keeps offering peaks and glances. He never makes a move, though he wants to and generally respects her, which makes her quite fast

she goes from there to African-American filmmakers who keep talking about being revolutionaries and even dress the part in 1970s wardrobe, but then when we actually see that the film they are making it some kind of merchant ivory-type production that is more about Caucasian characters in the pet in the past which proves to be one of the most, but also shocking sequences in the film

those throughout there are no real consequences for her character and the film tries to throw the audience off just as when she ends up secretly staying with what seems to be a Muslim paramilitary group. They are more of a music group dance and very secretive. so this film keeps to survive.

no, by the end, it doesn’t really seem to have all that much to say and still feels like the musings of a middle-aged Caucasian man declaring his thoughts on modern-day subcultures but putting it through a young female point of view, making it seem more open and not so fitting closed off.

In the end, it’s not quite an adventure. I’m sure most audiences will want to make but if they do, they might find something that captures their interest throughout. As the character travels through the eastern seaboard.

That is a great showcase for young actress Talia Ryder. as she constantly plays the main character, but also that character has to play the role that she is given by all these different people she comes across and even using other stories as her own to get more sympathy

in the end, it kind of amounts to a movie that seems like it was a hip hang-out for most of the cast that was made up as it went along to touch on certain subjects and meanings

Grade: C 

MR. NICE GUY (1994)

Directed By: Samo Hung 

Written By: Fibe Ma and Edward Tang 

Cinematography: Raymond Lam

Editor: Peter Cheung and Chi-Wai Yau

Cast: Jackie Chan, Richard Norton, Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, Miki Le, Karen McLymont, Vince Poleto, Barry Otto, Sammo Hung, Peter Houghton, David No

A Chinese chef accidentally gets involved with a news reporter who filmed a drug bust that went awry, and is now being chased by gangs who are trying to get the videotape.


Jackie Chan usually defends himself in fights. That leads to death-defying stunts and he seems so acrobat. As he is, the initial attacker is never malicious or aggressive. 

Why he comes across so bad when he does. He seems up or had enough of it and he’s not using so much as truly fighting for a reason. Still the reluctant hero.

This is also why usually his films are more noteworthy for their action sequences than the plot as the story is the connective tissue that holds it all together and leads us to these scenes. There isn’t truly any just the cosmetics that help everything else cook.

This film is set up in Australia, and not starring most of his usual costars. Except for Richard Norton playing the villain. 

Thankfully, this is not another body-action comedy. This film also isn’t as sanitized as his usual more English language films, which sometimes end up being more for families and kids. There is more action with comedic scenes sprinkled throughout. But still, it’s an action film throwing through one just wishes the film could’ve been better overall.

That piece of work, though not as fun, loving, or inspiring as his non-English language films. The film becomes over-the-top ridiculous especially with it’s at least giving him a challenge. The henchman outfits are definitely 1990’s garb.

Directed by fellow kung fu legend, Sammo Hung. Who is more known for comedy and directing and acting with fight scenes and kung fu sprinkled it. 

It gets a little racy, but nothing too offensive. That is an ending that offers pure destruction. 

This ends up being a noteworthy film of his overture.

Grade: B-

CITY HUNTER (1993)

Written & Directed By: Jin Wong

Based on the Comic By: Tsukasa Hojo

Cast: Jackie Chan, Richard Norton, Gary Daniels, Joey Wang, Kumiko Goto, Ching My Yau, Leon Lai, Paul Sinn, Ken Lo, Tzui-Pin Wei 

A self-indulgent private investigator winds up on a cruise ship full of rich patrons, gorgeous women, murderous terrorists, and scarce food.


This film comes across more as a cartoon with the requisite sound effects and visual effects with over-the-top comic antics even fantasy sequences that at times are supposed to be sexy, but come across as silly.

As it is way more comedic than his usual films.

At least the camera barely stays still for any elongated scenes or pieces of time, though it outdoes shots for so-called style. 

The film feels like an indulgent 1980s fantasy film grounded in reality where the second half plays like the movie under siege, but there are plenty of comedic antics. In both parts

The problem with the film comes from the heart of the film, which is that Jackie Chan’s character is a great detective who seems very clumsy, daydreams a lot, and always seems to be after sexy women. He is helping to take care of his partner’s daughter. At first, it’s like they have more of an uncle-niece relationship at times, it seems like she wants to make him jealous by going on vacation with a cousin so that it may be a romance on her part towards him, but he also seems to show a certain jealousy when other men are interested in her and this seems to be part of the romantic comedy elements were a force of the movie.

it’s made all the more inappropriate seeming as the girl he is taking care of looks like a teenager as well as the girl whose case he is working and he is noticeably older than both of them so seeing him try to romance them in certain scenes feels very uncomfortable.

The film feels more trashy than the star’s usual fare. They will try to maintain innocence and say it’s all in good fun as it is a stupid comedy that’s more physical and less action and more stunts action. There is also more comedy and less stunt work.

There is no nudity but fixated on the female costar’s cleavage and body, and finding funny things to do with them and come across more as character traits than an actual character.  As there are many scenes where he seems, the female characters are groped for comedic effect that comes across as a little bit more exploitative. 

It also makes life seem cheap. As there is tons of abuse towards women played off more as comedic. This is horrible especially when the Supporting female characters here are actually more fun and funny than the main actor.

The film is a screwball comedy without a good script. Even the villains henchman here seem to be wearing uniforms that look like costumes left over from V: THE MINISERIES.

Again, at the halfway point, this movie turns into Under Siege, the dyslexic version. The second half of the film is better than the first half.

This seems like a role less significant for Jackie Chan as it seems or feels like almost anyone could have played it because of physical and comedic skills were why he was called and offered him a chance to play an actual role outside of his usual persona. 

It’s fascinating how ridiculous this film is especially anytime. Visual effects are used that feel more like a live-action comic book. 

It has strange bits of humor like a scene that has a street fighter-themed fight with various characters playing the video game characters. Do video game antics and sound effects. That comes across more as a parody.

Grade: C 

PROM DATES (2024)

Directed By: Kim O. Nguyen

Written By: D.J. Mausner

Cinematography: Bradford Lipson

Editor: Daniel Reitzenstein 

Cast: Julia Lester, Antonia Gentry, Kenny Ridwan, Jordan Buhat, JT Neal, Zion Moreno, Terry Hu, John Michael Higgins, Chelsea Handler, Arianna Rivas, Emery Kelly 

“Prom Dates” follows best friends Jess and Hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom. Despite the impending changes that college will bring over the next four years, the two are committed to honoring their prom pact. But with only 24 hours left before the big event, everything falls apart when they break up with each of their dates. Jess and Hannah are left with one night to find new dates and live out their middle-school fantasies.


Automatically other films will come to mind while you watch this film most likely BOOKSMART. as it has a kind of similar structure of seemingly two days and one wild night in between with two best friends seemingly on a mission that they are united in, but slowly reveal their insecurities and problems they separate goes in their own direction.

Booksmart is probably a better well-made version of the story. This film is the more over-the-top gross wacky, comedic brand that is actually pretty fun and funny. This might be considered a low-rent version, but it is still enjoyable. 

It comes across as more sexual also while having an open-minded pro-LGBTQ plus characters throughout. With a wild night of partying, booze, drugs, and sex in between yet, the film never becomes too exploitive and still manages to be over the edge and funny.

The two leads are great Antonia Gentry is the more conventional pretty girl who for some odd reason always comes across as desperate, even though she should be in control and Julia Lester as her best friend, the kind of tomboy lesbian who gets all the best physical comedy scenes also more of the gross humor, but becomes the most identifiable character throughout.

Throughout the film, they run into challenges, but failures that do help define the night and them, and truly show the resilience of the characters.

Even though the ending is a little unexpected and offers a few little twists that one didn’t see coming, but still makes the film worthwhile and feels a little more realistic and its depiction. 

A subplot that involves one of the character’s brother and a secret hook-up or romance is needed to help flesh out his character, but also just seems tacked on and unnecessary. 

I can definitely give the film points for having a diverse cast. even having comedian Chelsea Handler in an unnecessary cameo role that helps add star power to the film, but at least gives parental representative throughout other than the principal played by John Michael Higgins.

The main characters’ parents are largely absent throughout the film, which also seemingly gives them room to really have no boundaries as there is no nagging looking for them or wondering where they are, which is one of the only parts of the film that might feel a little bit unrealistic parts of the film that it tries to present.

This is definitely a modern film, but it kind of feels like a throwback, it doesn’t offend, but it also seems like the film isn’t afraid to for a scene to work.

It’s definitely worth checking out as you will definitely have a laugh with this coming-of-age film, but it’s not necessarily things you haven’t seen before.

Grade: B- 

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE (2024)

Directed By: Mark Waters 

Written By: Robin Bernheim

Cinematography: Ed Wu

Editor: Travis Sittard 

Cast: Brooke Shields, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Sean Teale, Chad Michael Murray, Rachael Harris, Michael McDonald, Wilson Cruz, Tasneek Roc, Dalip Sondhi 

Lana’s daughter Emma returns from London and announces that she’s getting married next month. Things become more complicated when Lana learns that the man who stole Emma’s heart is the son of the man who broke her years ago.


This is pretty much romance novel, a romantic comedy for an older audience as it shows. It’s never too late to find love. 

This tale starts out seeming like it’s for a younger audience. It slowly reveals itself to be more of a romance for the parents or the Older Crowd.

It’s nice to see many familiar faces amongst the cast who are clearly enjoying themselves. so that you can’t help but feel comfortable with the cast and characters. The film still feels a bit slight but then again I’m not the audience for this film. 

follow the formula of romantic comedies, seemingly to be aimed at older characters. I don’t know if it’s because feels like the air of Romantic comedy came and went and while there is an audience for it, it’s only the audience that was a fan of those movies in the 90s and 2000s, who are around the age of the characters in this movie?

Watching this film, you’re not going to see this for the filmmaking or the script you know what exactly is going to happen so you just sit there and wait for it or see how it’s going to happen on this beautiful foreign island with beautiful characters surrounded by nothing but opulence and money so that it is a fantasy come true.

The characters might seem ungrateful and annoying as mishaps happen throughout. As this is a film nothing offensive really happens and it feels like a more cinematic hallmark movie. As it has various cultures throughout and representation of most.

That is all positivity and hope and the problems that are brought up. Seems so minor that you wonder why the characters are making mountains out of molehills.

this is a pretty simple film and I believe you will enjoy it as long as you go with it and you will know if you’re a fan just by either watching the trailer or reading the synopsis because what you see is what you get with this movie.

Directed by Mark Waters, who also made the original MEAN GIRLS movie. He knows the territory. He knows the genre and he makes everything pretty and everyone looks amazing.

Grade: C- 

THE RE-EDUCATION OF MOLLY SINGER (2023)

Directed By: Andy Palmer

Written By: Todd M. Friedman and Kevin Haskin 

Cinematography: Filip Vandewal 

Editor: Tim Rush 

Cast: Britt Robertson, Nico Santos, Ty Simpkins, Cierra Ramirez, Jamie Pressly, Holland Roden, Zach Scheerer, Paul Soter, Emma Holzer, Carlos Alazraqui, Jonathan Lipnicki, Wendie Malick

To save her job, a young lawyer must go undercover, enrolling as a freshman at her old alma mater, in order to resuscitate the well-being of her Boss’ terribly awkward teenage son.


This film does have similarities to the recent Jennifer Lawrence starring movie NO HARD FEELINGS” wow that one was certainly raunchy yet had a certain innocence. This one tries to be dirty but still comes out kind of more teen-friendly.

Have no idea whether this film came first or no hard feelings came first if one copied the other, though both films are very different. This one feels a little more generic. it’s like the no-frills brand. It feels like a carbon copy with no flare. It feels like it should be trying but it’s not and it really needs help. 

While the film does have its risky parts in trying to give a full version of a little bit of the party lifestyle of college. I was a bit shocked, considering who the audience for this film seems to be that it went to certain lengths. it still stays in certain perimeters that feel like it will most audiences. 

This is not a film you really watch for artistic quality it’s more of a feel-good movie that simply gets to the point it’s very predictable, but it entertains fully throughout.

Lead actress Britt Robertson is one of those actresses who always seems to play in these films. She always seems to be the lead and films that are OK, but not good, and usually, She’s one of the best things in them, but then when she’s in more of a studio film, she usually is in a supporting role and she shines. Even as she just can’t seem to find the right material that would truly make her a star that would. At least she’s solid in everything that she appears in.

Just like actor, Nico Torres always seems to play the wildly, gay, best friend, in all of these Netflix-branded films. I mean it works and he has one of the most hilarious scenes in the film. though, I wouldn’t mind seeing him play. A different role shows a bit of range, but get where you fit in.

This film does have or commits to a cliché, While I admire it for being risqué to a certain extent it also has this plot point where the romantic rival for the girl who the nice guy likes and has chemistry with is always a jerk, but the film doesn’t even try to make the jerk nuanced. He’s just bad news from frame one, so you don’t see any of the charms that made the girl fall for him in the first place and maybe only shows the side when he’s not around her or when there is a rival. it would be one thing if the film at least was truthful and maybe she sees attitude-wise why this guy doesn’t work and maybe even personality but she’s just attracted to him and is trying to find something deeper than that to justify her dating and staying.

 This happens all the time in high school in movies and even regular rom-coms when the guy is just attracted to a girl more physically and stays around even though eventually wises up, I just wonder why in these types of movies when the girl is dating a jerk it is always unexplainable other than looks why she stayed with him in the first place.

Even the montage makeover scene does not come off as fun, but kind of lame as it just seems like they just dress him more plaid than before. It also doesn’t help. The only thing that seems to be wrong with the man she’s here to make over is that he’s awkward and shy, but he has boy-good looks and looks way too old to be a college student like most of the cast. 

It is particularly funny in scenes when all the college students remark on the age of the two lead characters, even though they look about the same age themselves none of them college age. 

While most of the film’s material is generic it stays entertaining and the cast truly tries to liven it up. They give it their all you just wish that there was a film to match that energy and skill maybe some stronger jokes too. Even the third act feels so ridiculous.

Grade: C 

AM I OK (2022)

Directed By: Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne 

Written By: Lauren Pomerantz 

Cinematography: Cristina Dunlap

Editor: Kayla Emter and Glen Scantlebury 

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Kiersey Clemons, Jermaine Fowler, Molly Gordon, Sean Hayes, Whitmer Thomas, Tig Notaro, Odessa A’Zion 

Lucy and Jane have been best friends their entire lives. Only when Lucy embarks on a personal journey, will she face a test of her friendship, and her sense of self, on a path she may not be entirely ready to take.


Strangely, this film was delayed as it was finished in 2022 and Dakota Johnson filmed this movie back to back with THE LOST DAUGHTER & CHA-CHA REAL SMOOTH in which she gave acclaimed performances in the two other films here maybe this is where she started to feel fatigued as her performance here seems to falter in comparison to the other two. as this film only became available in 2024 HBO Max, bought it right out of Sundance and then waited two years to finally release it.

This film is pretty simple as you pretty much know what’s going to happen along the way you’re just wondering what kind of presentation you’re going to get.

One can appreciate that it deals with the situation more realistically, Where it takes big decisions, and instead of presenting them as that. It more tackles them a little more subtle and a little more minute detail.

That is the thing the film has going for it. The two protagonists, unfortunately, are a bit annoying as the one character by Dakota Johnson can’t seem to make any decisions in her life, and once she makes a big dramatic one she is still so wishy-washy her best friend winningly played by Sonoya Mizuno is the hipster who has a successful career who pretty much has taken care of her most of her life and now that a big changes land to separate the other is jealous. It seems that the other one is leaving and the more successful one finally realizes they don’t necessarily need the other person as they have all these other things going for them the date for the move comes more challenges come her way once she realizes who truly has always been there for her who truly is her friend.

Another aspect, I can appreciate about the film is that while it does deal with a character discovering their homosexuality, the film doesn’t become only about that or you know, finding love and romance, it shows the In and out of dating as a queer person. Also, what looks to be a love match could just be a hookup and Sometimes might just be looking for a good time or experimental.

Along the way, the film throws in quirky characters not so much situations, but weird reactions to situations. That makes it more like a movie or even just a story where little light touches are made to enhance the more dramatic or even comedic storylines.

The characters are supposed to be likable, but at least for this critic, I found them more annoying than anything, by the end. It only enhances that there for one another or one seems more like a mother and the other child, and even when one character comes to realize her sexuality, even then she goes into it so wishy-washy that at first, you believe the film is going to be her realizing she’s in love with her best friend and how her best friend deals with it but instead it’s just they are having midlife crisis, reaching different milestones. Though out of the two I could stand Mizuno’s character the most. When her character experiences a downfall, it is more truly felt and surprising.

the successful one feels more like he could’ve been a gay best friend type character as he seems to be there to drop in and tell a few jokes disappear and only adds drama for one scene when he decides conveniently to tell his girlfriend that he’s probably not going to move with her.

this phone just wasn’t for me. You have to be in the right mood and have the right amount of patience to watch this film, but it’s not horrible. It just wasn’t that great. 

The film does offer some prime California background and locations that all look modern and meditatively beautiful.

Grade: C 

ALL OVER THE GUY (2001)

Directed By: Julie Davis

Written By: Dan Bucatinsky 

Cinematography: Goran Pavicevic 

Editor: Glenn Garland and Mark Morrisey 

Cast: Dan Bucatinsky, Richard Ruccolo, Adam Goldberg, Sasha Alexander, Lisa Kudrow, Andrea Martin, Joanna Kerns, Christina Ricci, Michael Harris, Doris Roberts

While the flame of Jackie and Brett’s attraction intensifies, Eli and Tom, the unlikely pair they attempt to bring together, appear destined to spiral out of love rather than make any sort of progress toward becoming a genuine couple.


I can remember seeing bits and pieces of this film before I don’t know if I’ve ever watched it from beginning to end, but now that I have watched it from beginning to end, I have quite a few thoughts and things to say

The way this film is edited for some odd reason. The cuts seem to be perfectly made for a TV movie, which shows you how deep the film gets.

This is ironic, considering this is a gay romantic comedy that has a couple in it that I am guessing helps certain audience, members or allies feel a bit more comfortable in the film or seems to want to parity or be irony of how gay relationships are in straight, romantic comedies where they’re given Very little to do except either be support Relief or help set up the main couple and get them back together in general.

Hear the Straights portrayed by Sasha Alexander and Adam Goldberg feels so predictable in their own way and stereotypical playing the straights or the street best friends of the couple at the heart of it seems to be intentional

This film is filled with irony as it either condemns or criticizes, other gay romantic comedies at the time that are more mainstream while itself being kind of light when it comes to the material that at least gets deeper into the characterization and sex lives of its gay characters 

Maybe, because it takes place in Los Angeles major city it seems like none of the films is all that controversial everybody accepts everybody for who they are. There is no prejudice, which is nice as it has a positive supportive message while working that is obviously taking place in the 90s, maybe early 2000s and all of the culture of that time is on full display if it had been made modern-day and at that time it would be accused of over saturation of a time. Because this is totally a time capsule, including the leads and the situation they find themselves in OK because it’s supposed to be a comedy so it works within the perimeters. It doesn’t get too deep, but it is entertaining for what it is.

No color whatsoever like an Ally ship movie it’s written and produced by its star Dan Bucatinsky and a lot of the big-name members seem there to help fill out the cast list, but obviously seem here more for support or doing a favor someone associated with the film because it’s their roles are pretty much cameos as they are not too much to shine in except for maybe Lisa Kudrow And Andrea Martin, who seems to can’t help but be funny when she’s in a film or show, though she has a big role that most of the other big names and she ends up being the most memorable part of the movie. S they get the best material. Especially Doris Roberts’s monologue near the end 

No, I am highly critical of the movie watching it through modernize. I’m sure at the time it made its Mark as it was one of the few mainstream, independent gay romantic films back when that was still considered either controversial taboo or strictly for the art housing oh, how the times come, even though the material feel so basic.

The only depth of the film seems to be in one character’s alcoholism, which is more dealt with in the background, than as a major part of the film.

Not to mention a bit of top culture in the form of the Planet of the apes obsession, which gives it a kind of Tarantino tint, and also just helps the geek culture

What are the problems with this film? Is that one character seems to of course, be the more manly and messed up character from years of alcoholism and his family, and not getting along with his parents, or as the other one more uptight, even though his parents have been nothing but supportive, and this is the usual character type in romantic movies, everybody, obviously everybody has a reason for why they are who they are but yet, once a couple seem to be attracted to each other and their basic personalities or even at their worst, but must go through before they can be happily together, which is probably the truest part of these films. 

look everyone deserves love, but it’s not that interesting watching too such bland characters. Take their time and finally come together and get their issues in order to try and accept love and have a romance. it seems like you’re asking for much with this film and maybe it’s just me. I just really found these characters not that interesting.

The film offers no real surprises, but at least it’s fun

Grade: C+