Boyfriends

Although this film DID remind me of something else (NOT "The Big Chill" either), I found it to be refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable. The ensemble cast was particularly talented, the writing was appropriately intricate with a few surprises, and there was even a fun Dinah Washington song ("I Wish I Knew the Name of the Boy in My Dreams")to spruce it up a bit. As with most British films, I had a bit of a difficult time with the accents at first, but I think I got most of it. There's just something INTELLIGENT about the SOUND of the language in British films! At any rate, once I figured out the relationships (and lack of them), I had a good time watching the country weekend for the "lads" unfold. Perhaps the film didn't especially break any new ground, but I don't think a film HAS to do that to be worthwhile. Does every STRAIGHT movie that's fun break new ground? I don't think so. It's about time that a gay movie can be kind of ordinary (no drugs, no AIDS, no suicides) and still be good entertainment. I think the British are much better than we Americans at making gay films, and this is just another example. By the way, the film that reminds me of this one is "Love! Valour! Compassion!"--but this one came first.

This decent production of an excellent script will please gay men looking for a funny and thought-provoking exploration of the problems with maintaining relationships. No drag queens or coming-out stories in sight! (Well, maybe one coming out story.) Even if you can't make out all the British-accented dialog (especially the Cockney lad who doesn't know there are "not just one, but two TTs in settee")enough humor comes through for many out-loud laughs. Best of all is the story of three long-time friends checking in on each other's love lives, ranging from smothering clinger, smoldering cruiser, to aspiring sugar daddy. After you see it, the word "pig" will never sound the same -- and not for a reason you'd expect. This is the kind of gay cinema we need a lot more of!

After 10 years, Boyfriends still stands out as one of the finest movies yet about gay relationships. I've seen it maybe half a dozen times, and never find it anything but fascinating and compelling and often very funny. The characters and story lines are complex and the performances believable. I recall reading that this film was based on conversations with the actors, all of who whom were openly gay (another reason this film remains accurate and unique among gay cinema). I would guess that almost every gay viewer will find himself or his relationship represented in this film. Unfortunately, most of the cast (with the exception of James Dreyfus and Andrew Ableson) have pretty much disappeared since Boyfriends. The filmmakers returned quite a few years later with the very different, higher budgeted, and equally fascinating The Lawless Heart. I hope we'll see more from their work in the future.

Having recently dredged Boyfriends up on video i thought i might give it another chance.

I was surprised to find it wasn't as horrendous as a I remember from the first time round.

The wonderful mismatch of the slovenly Paul (James "let's play camp characters for the rest of my career" Dreyfus) and the wonderful Ben (Mark Sands) does shine through.

The other characters have no depth. It's as if the writers scribbled the script in one night, sorry Neil and Tom.

The only shining scene is the "pig" scene, wonderfully performed by Mark Sands.

Not anywhere near the class of "Get Real" and "Like It Is", yet worth a watch if it ever comes on television, which i doubt.

I think i may put the video on my bookshelf, and not in a cardboard box in the attic like last time.

This is definitely a low budget film and having seen the other review posted on the web site expected to be extremely disappointed.

I am very pleased to say the opposite is true. I think the low budget, made the film more believable. At first I was extremely annoyed at the character Paul as being truly obnoxious and overbearing. With the appearance and interaction with the other weekend guests, some insight as to his problems as well as those of other characters began to surface.

I enjoyed the film because I could identify the behavior with friends I've known. At times I think the resolutions were a little simplistic. But that's Ok. It gives the romantic in us some hope, not only harsh reality.