Good Enough: A Modern Musical

Approaching this with skepticism due to unfamiliar faces, I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. The engaging and authentic storylines captivated me, though I wished for more exploration of Nathan's character, potentially making it the focal point with the love story as a subplot. Nathan's song "99 Pills" was a standout, sending shivers down my spine-an undeniable highlight. The acting, while decent, aligns with many smaller budget films, and there's a sense of commitment across the board. I'm giving it 7 stars, I acknowledge its potential for growth and look forward to see what else is produced by the writer Mike Spears in the future.

I'm actually from the place where this takes place, Kankakee Illinois. It's super cool how they showed different places in the area in this film. Though Kankakee Illinois University (KIU) is not real, it was cool to see. Am I the only person that felt like the coach was creepy from the start. There was something about his vibe that just rubbed me the wrong way when we first meet him. With all the things that's coming out about celebrities these days, I can believe that these types of things happen for real. Over all this was a pretty descent movie, I'd watch it again for sure. I wonder if there would be a part two to this?

Good Enough: A Modern Musical is ranked among my top favorites as of now. The music, an infectious blend that implanted each melody in my mind, showcased a level of artistry that resonated deeply. The characters, brimming with relatability, etched themselves into the narrative, creating a lasting impact. What truly enhanced my appreciation was the revelation that the writer and director were one and the same, a testament to the exceptional talent encapsulated in a single individual. It stands as a testament to the boundless possibilities when creative brilliance converges in the hands of a singular, multifaceted visionary.

"Jamal" (Jay Towns) is the upcoming basketball player who arranges an hook up on the internet. He is surprised to find that it's college television anchorman "Trevor" (Trey Mendlik) who turns up. That doesn't put them off, and indeed they meet more than once as the latter man begins to fall in love and the former has to come to terms with his own identity. Can they make a go of it? Well jeopardy wasn't high on the writer's list of priorities with this predictably turbulent tale of finding your feet, but it's a little more engaging than your run of the mill gay drama. That's maybe because the supporting characters are a bit stronger. France Jean-Baptiste and Beka both work quite well as the mothers as does Pete Berwick as the layabout and rather odious father of "Trevor" who manages to mix his racism and homophobia in quite a toxically entertaining fashion. It's peppered with some decent enough songs that help it showcase some of the issues faced by young people coming out, and by those dealing with unhappy marriages, drugs, yes all that usual melodrama stuff - but again, it sort of works better than you might expect. It's essentially a project for the stage, though, I think. Cinema doesn't really do it any favours as the audio mix is pretty dire as is the voice dubbing for the songs. In many ways it's no worse than the over-hyped "Theatre Camp" (2023) and won't scare you away. It's aptly named.

I wasn't sure if I was supposed to laugh as much as I did watching this. Yes, there were some serious parts but a lot of it is pure comedy. From the beginning when Jamal's friend was trying to grab the microphone, that part is HILARIOUS! Then later when he says that K-Swiss is better than Nike, I laughed out loud literally. I enjoyed watching this but think they should reconsider the genre and make it a comedy. Even the "deep" moments have a comedic nuance to them. The table scene was another part that had me dying laughing, there's no way you can tell me this isn't a comedy. Trevor's father is funny as hell. He's like an Archie Bunker of today. Trevor's mom and that axe! Please re "genre" this film, I think people would see it differently if they knew if it was okay to laugh.