johan1408
Flat characters, cheap use of music to get a nostalgic effect, clichés all over, no plausible developments, no tension building up. It's all decor and superficial. And incoherent to that. The list goes on and on. It's a redo of intelligent and successful European flicks put in American surroundings. But all plastic and jaded. Bad and flat acting. Do not watch this. There are much better coming of age movies. BEAUTIFUL THING might be a romance it's actually more realistic and has much more depth of character and intensity and coherence in the story. Societal stuff is also better and more comprehensibly (sometimes symbolic) interwoven in the story of BT. Although I didn't like GET REAL much for its preaching, I think even that movie is better than Edge of Seventeen; and better to understand (language) for American audiences than BT.
moonspinner55
Sexually confused young man is comfortable with frequenting a gay bar, having gay friends and being sexual with other boys--but when his concerned mother wants to know "what's going on", he realizes he's stuck in the closet. Lots of great '80s alternative music on the soundtrack gives this low-budget opus a little pep, no matter how extraneous, but the high school lead seems to have open access to bars, cars, girls and boys that hardly seems convincing (never mind that the actor looks too old to be still be living out of a locker). We get no insight into his school life except that he's admired by girls, and the mother character is a bland cliché (she waits up all night for her son to get home sitting straight-back in a living room chair--and later, when there's confronting to be done, she plays the piano). Movies like this are well-intentioned, but are usually (and, in this case, painfully) hetero-friendly, as if nobody involved did any more research than take a quick trip down to the local Manhole. *1/2 from ****
roomsonfire
This is my favorite gay themed film of all time. Set it 1984(with an awesome authentic 1980's soundtrack), Eric is enjoying the summer before his senior year in high school(played with perfection by the gorgeous Chris Stafford). His best friend, Maggie, is in love with him, but Eric is changing. He is discovering his desire for guys. This beautifully directed and scripted coming-out film boasts a fabulous cast(including a tender performance by Lea DeLarla), beauitiful acting, and startling reality. Chris Stafford is so amazing and cute and I hope to see him in many more films.
grimbletooth
I found this to a fair film of growing up in a traditional household, with certain parental expectations differing from personal ones. There is a common theme with other movies of this genre but each is different. Finding out who you are and who your real friends are is very important regardless of your sexuality. And that is the real value of this film. I only wished there was more family involvement and exploration of the pesonalities of the characters.
AD
