Hold Your Peace

.....at least a Couple of Feet...when I watch a Gay Romance movie.

Sorry to say...this film moved me barely an Inch. Even after a couple of watchings. And here are just a few reasons WHY (I exclude any comment on the storyline, which "itsvivek4u" has already done a good job of providing here on these pages):

• None of the (shared) 4-Leads struck me as being anything other than average actors (tho Blair Dickens, as Forrest, would get my vote for "Stand-Out" in this particular group---and not just because of his above average tallness).

• Lead characters' LIKABLENESS was pretty much Nil for me: dour acting...close-mouthed...whiny...taciturn-looking are just a few of the negative personal traits given these characters by writers and actors (tho, again, Dicken's role was written as more upbeat, more understanding).

• Storyline is stale....having been done 100s of times in heterosexual wedding movies, throughout the history of film.

• Ah, yes...lest I forget The Girls. Since most Gay Romances must give us the B(Girl)FF / Adviser, I'd have to grant that Melissa McCurley, as Samantha, does an OK job. She only butts in, obtrusively, a couple of times (wait...maybe that's supposed to happen---Ugh). The other 3 females on board help stretch out the action...but are not there for much more than that.

• The last minute of the film is a Whirlwind...and I will, again, cede to "itsvivek4u's" (see above) take on that.

Two of the 4-STARs awarded above were added only due to decent cinematography and the acting of Blair / McCurley

I will NOT be keeping this film in my Gay DVD Library.

****

While most gay films try to incorporate some sort of shock value (i.e. sex, drugs, party lifestyle, etc) "Hold Your Peace" gives the "middle America" view of gay culture. Now, whether it actually exists or not is another story, but it was good enough for this light-hearted film. The story centers on the protagonist, played by Chad Ford, who not only finds out his former boyfriend is getting married, but is also invited to be the "best man". Not wanting to show up alone, he invites his sister's "gay best friend" to pose as his boyfriend, and love triangles and hilarity ensue! Well, not really hilarity...I never so much as cracked a smile throughout the film as the dialogue was very stale, poorly delivered and badly written. While there were a couple of good (but typecast) performances (namely Scott Higgins and Aleisha Force), the biggest problem was the fact that Chad Ford is not compelling, charismatic nor a very strong actor to carry of the lead role to this film. Good for a "safe" first gay date.

The movie had a potential at first. A typical Rom-Com of boyfriends breaking up then years later meet up and realizing they are still in love but couldn't because both are already with someone else.

I just couldn't believe what happened at the end. There should have been a scene that prepared us of what will happen at the ending but there was none. I was made to believe that there is no hope left. But then boom, happy ending right away.I was like "WHAT?!!!!"

About the acting of all actors (except Janice), what's up with that? I thought I liked the movie during the first 3 quarters. The ending killed it.

I wasn't sure during movie, the first half or so, what was bad, what was good. (From the beginning, the music was terrible and didn't fit) But near the end and by the end and what happens at the end, this movie was dreadful, bad, stupid, lacking any talent. As another reviewer here on IMDb about this movie, the one big ending was SOO AWFUL and BAD and done in a flash. Geeez it was so bad! And even the little closing after that was edited just as bad. Bad directing, awful script, bad acting, terrible editing, etc. DON'T WASTER YOUR TIME AND MONEY if you haven't yet. Whew!! It stinks!

,.

It took a little while to get into this, but after about 24 minutes the plot really starts to get gripping. The ending was a little bit unexpected. I liked it. Classy. Recommended.