Mates

I liked this movie Mates which was a very low budget film but done very well and the ending makes it enjoyable.

This movie has its flaws in storytelling but anyone in the LGBTQ world can relate to the longing and heartache of starting a possible relationship.

The bully Mark, one has to think is he indeed jealous of his open minded friend Nathan and did they ever fool around?

And is Connor in love with Nathan as he travels over and hour to jog with his friend ? What more lies behind their motivations if any.

Adam is a very relaxed enjoyable open gay young man hiking with his father who accepts and loves him in whatever his life choices are a nice touch.

As a inde film producer myself ( Sister Mary ) I know how these reviews go because everyone with a PC thinks they are a critic and don't realize how hard it is to Produce a movie on a budget, that said I think this is a wonderful movie and I truly hope to see a sequel at some point. There is so much more to this story that can be explored. Cheer's James.

"Mates" (2023) is a heartwarming film that explores themes of sexuality and masculinity in a gentle and relatable manner. The movie showcases strong male characters, both gay and straight, set against the backdrop of a stunning hiking trail in England. Despite not being groundbreaking in the realm of LGBTQ+ cinema, "Mates" offers a sweet and nice-natured story with beautiful nature locations that highlight the UK's scenic beauty.

Reviewers have praised the film for its simplicity, character development, and cozy vibe, making it a pleasant watch for a laid-back afternoon. While some technical aspects may not be perfect, the unpredictability of the characters and their interactions keeps viewers engaged. Overall, "Mates" is a charming addition to gay films in 2023.

This film is a total snooze fest, don't know how I managed to stay awake for the entire film. Poor opening scene, watching someone walking up some stairs and then sitting on a bench waiting, how exciting. Although I quite enjoyed the Connor character and his quirkiness found the others characters uninteresting. Some of country side was nice to look at but was very disappointed with the ending, 1 hour and 20 minutes of my life I'll never get back. Would ask for a refund if that was an option. Has to be one of the worst films I've ever seen. So boring don't waste your time or money renting this.

I managed twenty minutes and, in a flash of anger at the time I was wasting, switched the whole unconvincing, sorry, amateurish mess off.

The first spoken dialogue during the jog in the park engendered the idea in me that this was going to be a talentless, poorly-acted, badly-scripted farago of tosh. Do those "actors" actually have Equity cards? If so, the union should swoop down and confiscate them so these utterly dire people never sully our screens again.

This was so bad that it was embarrassing; I actually felt sorry for the actors having to recite these lines and act out this nonsense despite their complete uselessness.

It's gone, deleted and good riddance.

Firstly, I think some of the reviews on here are very harsh. I can only imagine how Ok there are some parts (the first 15-20 mins) which are very slow and I did consider abandoning, but give it time. I think its definitely represented quite a few LGBTQ issues and it was really nice to see the story develop. I think the actor choices were perfect and each played their retrospective roles well. If you are afer a high action, edge of your seat style picture, then this is sadly not the one for you. A lovely litte hommage to the often complex interactions by the less out and proud. I really enjoyed it, and it certainly kept me engaged.