At the End of the Day

If you're going to watch this movie, remember that it's a small indie flick. Because it looks like it.

As an indie flick, you can expect the usual small-budget issues of bad music, mediocre script and inconsistent acting. Dialogue is occasionally cringeworthy and while the lead actor is definitely nice to look at, as someone once said, he has the acting range from A to B. Plot and character development also sometimes leave a lot to be desired.

On the plus side, however, the film's message and heart are in the right place. I can think of a few million holier-than-thou "Christians" who should be strapped into a chair and forced to watch this movie all the way through. If it makes at least one of them get off their soapbox about gay people, then mission accomplished.

Having survived the Plebiscite inflicted onto us here in Australia by a homophobic religious conservative government a few years ago, I have seen homophobia first hand. Thank god we voted in marriage equality but it was ugly and disgraceful and tarnished Australia's international reputation. Having said that, I love watching movies and tv series that depict same sex relationships and show homosexuality in a positive light. This film does that. It shows a christian professor who teaches wildly inaccurate and downright harmful information to his students, but when he infiltrates an LGBTQIA group and begins to learn about them and the gay community first hand, his internal growth begins. It's a sweet film, slow paced and gentle, and while it does have it's flaws, the acting can at times be wooden and it did get a little cliched at times, it was still a movie that conveyed a message of love and acceptance. Something we all sorely need right now.

A film that emphasizes love for you neighbor and show the impact a life filled with loving those around you with quiet joy should be watched by as many people as possible. We all need to remember to love.

They tried pretty hard with this one, but at times, so hard that it's almost hard to watch. The film has a few redeeming moments, but it really struggles to stay cohesive, which weakens the plot and makes it hard to stay invested. There's a definite lack of realism here, and while the characters are somewhat compelling (for the most part), they fall into stereotypical, almost cartoonish tropes.

In the end, it's a commendable effort with good intentions, but it unfolds in a way that's all too predictable. The important message it's trying to convey is there, though, and while it doesn't exactly knock it out of the park, it delivers decently enough.

This is a great movie that should be seen by more people. It shows a story that could happen everywhere. Love is Love.