Be Mine

As I was watching this movie, I almost came here to write a review saying how bad it is. But by the time it ended I had gotten past all of its many flaws, the worst of which is that it is completely - and I do mean completely - unbelievable. But it's sweet, and it's innocent, so sweet and so innocent that it's like the daydream of the most romantic, nerdiest kid in the seventh grade who finds himself longing to kiss the star quarterback.

I much prefer gritty, gutsy, hand-held movies with bad sound, no stereotypes, and lots of rough edges, loose ends and unanswered questions - like Mala Noche (1985), Denied (2004), and Blue Citrus Hearts (2003); but the world needs gay tween dream movies like Be Mine too, and I'm very glad it was made and I stuck with it till the end.

Believe me, there are far worse movies in the gay canon. But this one is pretty bad. It's got good intentions--I think--but, sorry, that's not enough anymore.

The movie's structure is awkward, and for me, unclear. It's mostly a flashback. I think. The lack of clarity would be a real problem in a movie that was interesting, with interesting characters and truthful dialog. But this movie is populated with cardboard cutouts reciting greeting card dialog. So not exactly understanding the time line didn't really matter. I couldn't have cared less.

The acting is passable, with some notable exceptions. The "eccentric" obituary writer, for example. A good actress might have been able to make something of the forced, phony dialog, but this one just compounded the problem. Midway through it occurred to me that if they'd played the "comic" bits straight, they might actually have attained a little humor. But everything is forced and exaggerated to the extent that nothing rings true, nothing seems plausible.

Petty department: the lead's tweezered eyebrows really bothered me. In fact his whole face looks like it's been pushed and pulled and tweaked to give him leading man status. I got the distinct feeling that in his natural state, he's strictly character actor material. Yeah, I know. Way harsh. But the idea that this guy would snag the hunk that he does only added to the sense of unreality.

Trust me. Skip this one.

I don't understand why some users are so critic about 'Be Mine'. It's just what it proposes, a fairy tale, with the most delicious ending. The fact is we are so much used to bad endings, and the life as it is thing, that such a proposal seems superficial, when it is not: it's in the root of our never ending dream. But we must receive such good endings in a transvestite way, as if it isn't possible that a simple thing such as receiving a valentine card from someone we dreamed of can't be true. What a bad world is this one we live in. To me, I've taken this little tale as a gift, a way of passing a good day, of thinking that our wishes can come true, if we only let them be. Of course it won't always happen that way; but couldn't just for once this be true?

Its sweetness, mix of cliches and reasonable acting, the pure simplicity of story in which the last cake, friendship, the discover in library of presumed Prince Charming, a trouble after party and the first kiss are nice and good prize from a film about nothing in essence.

A modern fairy tale , fair in some measure, easy to ignore too well.

The cast and characters were generally likable and the story could have been an enjoyable escape, but the over-acting was overwhelming.

In just the first few minutes the actor playing Eric attempted to be adorably quirky but just came across as hyperactive and annoying. The actress playing Robyn was apparently meant to be the female confidante who dispensed words of wisdom and encouragement to the stereotypically clueless gay guy. Unfortunately she came across as a chirpy nursery school teacher trying to get a socially challenged child to play with others. Having some hetero character play the adult to the childish gay character(s) has become a bit tedious.

I know some people enjoy amateurish productions because of all their rough edges and the struggling actors trying to outdo each other, but it's a bit like sitting through a local high school stage production. You appreciate the effort but just wish it would end soon.