Daddy

No spoilers - this movie probably won't be for everyone with that twist reveal, but taken for what it is, it's a well-acted independent movie. Gerald McCullouch is a dream daddy! He's a commanding presence and definitely swoon-worthy. The movie also plays a bit on the "non-sexual life partner bit" in that the lead character's (Colin) relationship with his longtime best friend (Stewart) has taken on a marriage-like quality, complete with jealousy and all the emotional ticks therein. When Colin starts dating a much younger man, things get a little heated and it's interesting to see how that plays out. Check it out and see what you think.

Gerald McCullouch directed and stars as Colin, an older professional gay man who hangs out with a platonic buddy named Stew, instigating an intimate relationship with a much-younger man, an intern at his office. This proves to be a sticking point in his close relationship with Stew, his neighbor and best friend since college, with jealousy rearing its head based on the simplistic notion that Stew isn't as attractive as Colin, can't get a date of his own and has deep-rooted feelings for his long-time pal. McCullouch toys with the clichés and stereotypes inherent in this scenario (the gays namedrop Madonna, go to the gym regularly, and hit the bars not for a thrilling night out but with the intent on finding sexual partners); however, having a gay protagonist who also likes sports isn't exactly groundbreaking, while the scenes of gay intimacy are merely hinted at. Gay love has been shown to better advantage as subplots in heterosexual-dominated films, which makes one wonder why McCulloch didn't (or wasn't allowed to) go all the way with his narrative. Playing it safe won't expand the boundaries of gay cinema--it never has. * from ****

I thought this film was great; a pleasant surprise! The acting and writing were great, the directing was excellent, and I was definitely shocked (in a good way) where the story goes. I was very pleased to see a film that positively portrays a older/younger gay relationship with real depth and heart. But then I was even more pleased with the how the complicated the relationship becomes, it made the story/relationship more real and grounded. I was a fan of Mr. McCullouch from the Bear City movies and his acting is pretty great in each of these films. But I really hope he will be doing more directing in the future. It was some pretty impressive work for his first feature length movie. Dan Via also displays some great acting work for only having a handful of acting credits to his name. Very impressive! I wish I caught the stage version. Looking forward to seeing more from Dan as well. Bravo and congrats to the cast and crew!

I really enjoyed watching it. Some gay films have a pretty easy to guess storyline, but I have to say I got really surprised! I felt it was very emotional and it brought me to tears.

I first saw Gerald McCullouch in a play in NYC (sorry, I never got into CSI) and from then on, watched him in everything that I could. There is such an honesty in his acting and he has transferred that same sincerity into his feature film directorial debut. Many may think Daddy to be the standard gay-themed sex comedy (due to the title), but they would be sorely mistaken. Dan Via has adapted his complex stage play for the film and does double duty by wonderfully playing the best friend. At the core of this story, it's all about relationships and families that we create. I found myself very moved by this film and recommend for those looking for something different from the usual Hollywood gay fare.