Whirlwind

The first part of the movie was meant to ensure that we knew the five main characters were great friends, so we get to listen to them exchanging supposedly intimate jibes and charming repartee. We also get a little insight into flaws in their personalities & relationships as well as some potential issues, all of which suggest their shared intimacy and charm are somewhat fragile.

Handled well, all of this insight would have served a useful purpose in developing the plot. Unfortunately neither the acting nor the script really rose to the occasion. It was pretty heavy-handed & obvious and I don't think many viewers could be expected to feel any emotional connection to any of the characters or any concern for what would happen next. It all was pretty predictable and no surprises lay in store.

When the "bad guy" appeared he was not wearing a black hat, but there was still little doubt that his mission in life was to sow the seeds of discord amongst the happy band of brothers and that he would, theoretically, be a force to be reckoned with. I doubt anyone in the audience could fail to see what he was up to, although the characters in the movie were utterly oblivious & helpless and he was able to work his evil magic on them without setting off any alarms … or creating much interest.

Thrown into the mix is a couple who are nearing their 25th anniversary together and who, we are told, everyone just loves to death. They were two-dimensional cardboard cut-out unemotional characters and the supposed great love for them felt by everyone else was never convincing. Nonetheless, planning the party to celebrate their anniversary is meant to be the glue that eventually holds everyone together.

Had the plot been well written and had the actors been a bit more appealing & convincing in presenting their characters to the audience, it would have been a mediocre and trite work. Unfortunately it never quite reached that level.

The actors who played Bobby and Sean were sufficiently attractive and charming to engender some sympathy for their characters and to hold one reluctantly in his seat to see how things panned out for them, but they weren't really enough to save the production.

There are certainly many worse movies out there, but it's hard to think of any good reason why anyone should bother watching this rather poorly crafted soap-opera … although watching Bryan West might just have made it more tolerable.

Most films in the LGBT genre are not good. 'Whirlwind' is no exception. Full of shallow characters & clichés. The script is very superficial & pretentious. It could have worked if they had focused on one storyline or one idea, but it is so full of characters & story lines, you can never truly invest yourself to anyone or anything. The acting is very stiff & seems melodramatic, forced, and amateur. Overall, the film fails on all levels. Even the sex scenes are not believable.

I would love to say I enjoy more movies like this, but most are awful! I wish the GLBT community would demand better entertainment, but it seems like naked bodies & sex are all we are ever given (and too bad most of us are appeased by that).

If you're looking for a "gay" movie with substance, see 'Save Me', also from 2008.

Well it deservedly didn't win an Oscar but it's not the worst gay movie out there.

Yep, it's a bit predictable. Yep, some if the acting is quite wooden. But some of the actors actually have a flicker of talent. The script is a bit cliché, but a lot of the problems are with the direction. Rehearsal and tightening up of the dialog would have helped. Witty repartee comes fast and furious, not after a pause for someone to realize that that was their cue. Some instances could have been helped with editing.

Bryan West has been in other things, but only lists this one title. Maybe he changed his name. He is by far the most natural of the cast. And the hottest.

And don't believe the claims of hot sex. There's some foreplay but it's hardly hot.

Kind of a Week in the life of a gay couple and their friends, Whirlwind was written, produced, and edited by Jason Brown. At least he didn't make the mistake of also directing and starring in it, like many writers do. Bobby (Alexis Suarez) and Sean (Bryan West) decide to give an anniversary party for an uncle, who has been in a gay relationship for 25 years. Bobby and Sean are also considering buying an apartment together, but when sexy bad-boy "Drake" (David Rudd) shows up on the scene, it appears they have different priorities. Rudd is the hot, sexy, single, dark soul,who is determined to mess with happy couples he encounters. It's kind of a "Big Chill" week, as the gang plans this party. Each person here represents a stereo-type who is stuck in a rut, and must overcome their fear of change. Mick is the talented, broody, sad guy. JD is the big drunk who doesn't know what he wants out of life, but who does, really?? No big surprises here, but no plot-holes either. The tag line on the front of the DVD cover says "Banter is witty, and the sex is hot!" ... not sure if I agree with either part of that 100%, but they do capture a lot of gay culture into 100 minutes. Cute cast. Interesting mix of actors -- some are brand new to the acting scene, and some have a longer resume. Directed by Richard LeMay, who wrote and directed "200 American".

The characters were so one-dimensional, they just never seem to come to life - not until the final act, at least. The actors were also not very convincing and the plot was very straight forward and thin. The film was more annoying than entertaining and quite honestly a negative viewing experience. I found it dull with a bittersweet ending.