Dating Amber

If you are as tired as I am of depressing LGBT movies, where every time all you can see is eternal suffering, that's the movie you should definitely watch! I loved the plot, I loved the actors, I loved everything. It's not cheep, the picture is beautifully made, it's light and full of hope. A bit thank you to the authors, I've got enough on my plate in real life, so it's nice to distract myself with a movie like that.

Well shot and well acted, particularly by Petticrew and O 'Shea in the leads, this sweet and often funny Irish film tells a familiar story in a refreshing way. Though I don't recall the year ever being mentioned in the film, setting the story in the mid 90s has the advantage of avoiding the often obnoxious trap of present day set teen stories that fixate on smart phones and social media. Without that, Dating Amber is able to depict a friendship based on human contact, conversation and shared experiences.

An underdeveloped B story regarding Eddie's parents being on the cusp of divorce that has no real impact on the A story is a minor issue, overshadowed by the sheer charm of it all and the authenticity of the two leads.

I did enjoy this movie for the most part but some things in it just didn't sit with me for some reason.

The script was a bit here there and everywhere. Some characters were just caricature mainly the students in the school but I'm not entirely sure if that was the fault of the acting or the script or both.

Before I talk about the male lead I do want to say he really impressed me because I thought he was really lifeless at time but then I realised it was a choice because in one scene where the characters relaxes and feels safe he really comes alive and it's a really nuanced choice and found it great.

The life of the male lead is very very unclear, I found the dynamics of the people he interacts with very peculiar. He has conversations with people like he is their friend but then they relentlessly bully him and I don't even think it's like "haha lads being lads joking" straight macho banter, it is bullying. Then he will once again be talking to them like they are best friend. I think this is really strange and bugged me throughout the whole film.

The female lead is wrote so much better and her wants and traits are much clearer. I think this hinders the male lead once again because it makes him tiresome compared to the female lead.

Some scenes are really impactful and done really great. You can almost feel what the characters are feeling and I think that is so good, however some of theses sense get muddy with strange choice and behaviour from characters. It takes you back a bit. I think this issue is this movie likes to make sure you understand everything.

So the lead males room is decorated with overtly masculine men in army uniforms because he wants to join the army. I thought that was great set dressing and kinda funny like yeah he might like to have things like that on his wall. But then the movie has to point it out like "HAHA isn't that funny that he is gay and has these posters on his wall audience". I wish it would let people come to it on their own. This isn't the only instance it happens in different scene too in different ways.

The characters are also kinda selfish too which makes it hard to connect with them and I totally get it, with some things in their situation they need to be selfish to protect them selfs but then some actions I am left wondering why they would do that.

The ending was nice and kinda sweet and I want to really like this movie. It seemed really cute and I guess I did like it I just had some issue. It is totally watchable so give it a watch.

A wonderful movie and apt scenario how most conservative 90s people treated the LGBT community and the fear of coming out in public. It beautifully portrays what true friendship is! The plot is great and the acting is just superb. A must watch!

A great little movie about the very scary coming of age experience and process of finding oneself. It has everything from the awkward educational sex video at school, the inevitable crush on a teacher, as well as inappropriate hand jobs in a movie theatre. But at the heart of the story is the initially platonic relationship between two confused teenagers, that turns into a mutually supportive friendship, making sure that emotional uncertainties about sexual orientation are resolved rather than become an inhibition.