Rating: 
Summary: Melodramatic, but a worthy effort
Review: This movie is worth viewing for the strong performances turned in by the two male leads ("Alex" and "Paul"). The plot revolving around the fundamentalist Bible school setting was overly melodramatic. With a few changes, this same film could have been made more believable with a "regular" college backdrop, as most of the same "problems" exist therein.
Rating: 
Summary: sincere and heartfelt
Review: What a lovely discovery! This sweet little film by Jeff London examines the lives of three young gay men at various stages of being out, attending a 'Christian' college. Hector (Merrick McMahon) has been outed, is persecuted by the Dean and his jock henchmen, and is shunned by 'friends'. Alex (gently and winningly portrayed by Mike Dolan) is new, though a senior, because his father hopes the religious environment will cure him of 'a certain young man' from home. Paul (beautiful and troubled, played perfectly by Ron Petronicolos) is way in the closet after getting in trouble in a library restroom over the summer. He hides his feelings at first, but soon tells his room-mate and best friend Robby (Patrick Hoesterey). Robby is straight, and surprised, but quickly comes to terms with his fears because of his love for his friend. The four become a little family and try to protect each other from the violence, intolerance, and hypocrisy that surrounds them. Each character is lovingly played, and they all change in remarkable ways. Alex falls in love with Paul and leads him towards the light of self-realization and personal commitment. Hector, unfortunately, is not so lucky. They are watched over by St. Jude, who appears briefly in one of the sweetest moments of the film. There are certain flaws and stretches of credulity in the story, but the overwhelming sincerity and heartfelt nature of the writing and acting help to give the film a full five-stars in my book. Serendipitous are the 'outtakes', being beautifully edited and really funny -- felicitously so after the seriousness of the film. The 'interviews' reveal the actors to be quite the same as they are on camera. And, happily, not one of them feels the need to declare, as so many do in 'gay' cinema, that they are straight in real life. That, being so refreshing, in itself earns an extra star for the disc.
Rating:
Summary: sincere and heartfelt
Review: What a lovely discovery! This sweet little film by Jeff London examines the lives of three young gay men at various stages of being out, attending a 'Christian' college. Hector (Merrick McMahon) has been outed, is persecuted by the Dean and his jock henchmen, and is shunned by 'friends'. Alex (gently and winningly portrayed by Mike Dolan) is new, though a senior, because his father hopes the religious environment will cure him of 'a certain young man' from home. Paul (beautiful and troubled, played perfectly by Ron Petronicolos) is way in the closet after getting in trouble in a library restroom over the summer. He hides his feelings at first, but soon tells his room-mate and best friend Robby (Patrick Hoesterey). Robby is straight, and surprised, but quickly comes to terms with his fears because of his love for his friend. The four become a little family and try to protect each other from the violence, intolerance, and hypocrisy that surrounds them. Each character is lovingly played, and they all change in remarkable ways. Alex falls in love with Paul and leads him towards the light of self-realization and personal commitment. Hector, unfortunately, is not so lucky. They are watched over by St. Jude, who appears briefly in one of the sweetest moments of the film. There are certain flaws and stretches of credulity in the story, but the overwhelming sincerity and heartfelt nature of the writing and acting help to give the film a full five-stars in my book. Serendipitous are the 'outtakes', being beautifully edited and really funny -- felicitously so after the seriousness of the film. The 'interviews' reveal the actors to be quite the same as they are on camera. And, happily, not one of them feels the need to declare, as so many do in 'gay' cinema, that they are straight in real life. That, being so refreshing, in itself earns an extra star for the disc.
Rating:
Summary: sincere and heartfelt
Review: What a lovely discovery! This sweet little film by Jeff London examines the lives of three young gay men, at various stages of being out, attending their last year at a 'Christian' college. Hector (Merrick McMahon) has been outed, is persecuted by the Dean and his jock henchmen, and is shunned by former 'friends'. Alex (gently and winningly portrayed by Mike Dolan) is new, though a senior, because his father hopes the religious environment will 'cure' him of 'a certain young man' from home. Paul (beautiful and troubled, played perfectly by Ron Petronicolos) is way in the closet after some trouble in a library restroom over the summer. He hides his feelings at first, but 'confesses' to his room-mate and best friend Robby (Patrick Hoesterey). Robby is straight, but quickly comes to terms with his fears because of his love for his friend. They form a little family and try to protect each other from the violence, intolerance, and hypocrisy that surrounds them. Each character is lovingly played by the actors, and they all change in remarkable ways. Alex falls in love with Paul pretty much at first sight and, sweetly seductive, leads him out of the closet. Hector is not so lucky. They are all watched over by St. Jude, patron of lost causes, who appears briefly in one of the most moving moments of the film. There are certain flaws, gaps, and stretches of credulity in the story, but the overwhelming sincerity and heartfelt nature of the writing and acting gives the film a full five-stars. The 'outtakes' are a happy surprise -- beautifully edited and really funny -- after the seriousness of the film. The 'interviews' reveal the actors to be quite the same as they are on camera: genuine, cute, and funny. And, most refreshingly, not one of them feels the need to declare, as so many must, that they are straight in real life. That in itself earns an extra star!
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