Edge of Seventeen

One of the better "coming of age" films about gay youth. Especially effective in this movie is Tina Holmes, who plays Maggie, Eric's best friend/girlfriend. She brings a true sense of innocence to the film, and when she discovers the truth about Eric, her pain is real. This is a young woman to watch! The film doesn't flinch in its look at the wonder, confusion, and deception associated with the coming out process, and despite some awkward direction, Edge of Seventeen succeeds at opening the eyes of its audience, both gay and straight.

EDGE OF SEVENTEEN is by far the more realistic and enjoyable "coming of age/coming out" films to hit cinemas in a while. On a thematic par with the Brit import GET REAL, this film touches on the reality of coming of age in 1984 mid-America, though I suspect it is pretty much the same in any American suburb. The competition must discount Britain's BEAUTIFUL THING which is really an out and out romance. But it beats the cardboard contrivances of DEFYING GRAVITY, a collegiate scenario of similar ilk.

The awkward flirty moments building up to the first boy/boy coupling have an air of sexy familiarity. Film's presumption that "all some guys want is sex" is (unfortunately) dead on real. Chris Stafford plays the leading teen with immense charm. We'll see more from Stafford, surely. His studly co-star is suitably entrancing and is fine to look from the back during their love scenes. We certainly understand why our hero falls for this college-age cad.

Naturally there's a gal pal, too, who here is underplayed nicely but a little too Winona-like for comfort. Broadway uber-dyke Lea DeLaria is onboard for yuks but is just a little too odd and urban to blend in a Sandusky supermarket. Gay men will get teary as Stafford fesses up to Mom that he's queer. Film's only flaw is some obviously clipped editing. At least two scenes are confusing in continuity leading us to wonder whahappened???

But EDGE OF SEVENTEEN is a winner. Gay or straight, first love and coming of age are themes that hit home.

This is definitely one of the best gay "coming-of-age" films that I've ever seen. Screenwriter Todd Stephens' choice of era (80's) to showcase his story can not be any more appropriate, drawing a parallel between the struggle of a young gay man in coming to terms with his sexuality and a nation in realizing "all that glitters is not gold." Both required the courage to honestly looked at the truth, and this is ultimately what "Edge of Seventeen" managed to accomplish. Quite often in the world of celluloid, being gay is reduced to being comical, sacchrined, or "romantically" bleak. Director David Moreton knew better. He chose to give us a multi-faceted depiction of gay experience instead. There's a bit of tears, some heartaches, a tinge of angst, a sense of loss, and a healthy dose of laughter; Kudos to the entire cast for their wonderful performances. The lead character could not have been played better by Chris Stafford, who has the incredible ability to convey such wide range of emotions/reactions, from being speechlessly moved with a sense of implicit pressured in realizing how hard his parents have to work to send him to college, to being awkwardly "pleasured" during a post-clubbing front-seat rimming session. Tina Holmes also delivered an outstanding performance as the "girlfriend" of the lead. Instead of playing it like a stereotypical witty and I've-got-ten-thousand-comeback-line faghag, Holmes' Maggie is every bit as complex as the young man in the spotlight. At times, she reminded me of a young Meryl Streep, with her dead-on display of subtle emotional shifts.

I've seen just about every gay movie out there, and 'edge of seventeen' is by far one of my favorites. The one word that best describes it is 'honest'....but it's also nostalgic, funny, wonderfully simple, yet beautifully complex. The viewer can start off enjoying how accurately it captures the mid 80's, especially the excitement and uncertainty that Eric, the main character, is experiencing. Then, as the story unfolds, each new development that Eric deals with as he comes to terms with being gay is so well done, so honest and nontheatrical, that it feels almost like a documentary. The movie's got a huge heart. Don't miss it!!!

I honestly did not think I would like this movie. Something about the fact that it was based in the eighties made me a little edgy about seeing it. But I was actually pleasantly surprised.

Chris Stafford, who I would very much like to see in bigger roles, presented an incredible portrayal of a young man struggling with his sexuality in a very bias environment. Not only did I enjoy the way his character gradually came out of his shell and embraced this part about him that he had tried so hard to deny for so long but I was just so entranced and surprised by his performance throughout the film.

Anderson Gabrych as Rod was equally amazing. I was a little put off by him at first and I was extremely wary of that stereotypical gay he seemed to be at first introduction but I really enjoyed his performance, as well. And Tina Holmes was wonderful as Eric's best friend and her difficulty with the fact that the man she was in love with didn't love her that way was incredibly believable.

I enjoyed each actor's portrayal of their character and the flawless acting and the sexy (but tasteful) love scenes and just about everything about the film. The only thing I did not enjoy was the end. It felt awkward and cut short and if the director was aiming for a cliffhanger, he certainly succeeded - but a little too much was left unsaid for a completely successful closing.

Overall, the movie was one that I will watch many, many more times. It's an emotional, realistic insight into the struggles of coming out and embracing one's sexuality. Definitely worth the watch.