Daddy

So I have been following this film from the gofundme phase of its production and brought it once available on DVD. Now I will say this film is not Oscar winning but I think it's worthy of awards for the film. Actor gerald McCullouch gives a performance that feels very authentic for a middle aged gay male character that we all have seen from time to time but with a heart. The other characters match this well and add to the film in simple crafted moments. The ending is a little out there but is very possible in this day and age. I gave this film 8 stars because with the calibre of low budget gay films out there this one seems very polished and complete but also very well made and acted.

Looking forward to seeing some other great work from gerald. It's worth seeing

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 ****

The concept of this film could have actually been interesting and even profound on a couple of levels. As is, it was poorly acted, scripted and cast (with the ONE notable exception of Jaime Cepero, who was the one actor who actually brought a deeper humanity and meaning to his role). The main character of "Collin" simply comes off as a gay white, self-entitled Alpha male who no one cares to sympathize with. He gets what he wants regardless of consequence. And even when bad things happen, he blames those around him for it. The "gay friend" was even worse than the typical stereotype and more whiny. The fact that he felt he needed to give the "big reveal" either shows he is an incurable drama-queen or just vicious to the point that one wonders just why the lead has him as a friend to begin with. Messy, sloppy and bad...not worth watching.

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.

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!