Pit Stop (2013)

I was kinda disappointed with this movie because I thought it concentrated too much on the other characters, like Gabes ex wife with this other fella who looks like that beardy guy from The Hangover movies. I mean they should just concentrate more on Gabe and Ernesto but no one else. Actually, they should've just got rid of the other characters because it just doesn't match the story here. It would be best if it was just the two of them in the movie, full stop. I had to skip to the end as the scenes dragged on and when I get to see the two boys finally making out, it was only 10 minutes. Seriously I wouldn't call this a proper gay romantic movie. I've seen better movies in which had sex scenes longer, not shorter like this one. Thank god I didn't watch the whole hour of the movie but, I certainly wasted a bit of my time looking at it. It's honestly not the best I've seen, I give this a 2/10. Awful....

This film is an excellent example of great storytelling. It's a simple film that relies on subtly to tell a deeply human tale, instead of gratuitous sex, massive explosions or over the top violence. In short, if you enjoy films that explore real life, then this film is for you. Pit Stop succeeds in delivering a very authentic depiction of a part of American life that doesn't get a lot of unbiased coverage. Another aspect of this film which is refreshing when compared with other LGBT films is that it has what I would consider to be an overall positive message. That does not mean it is devoid of angst and conflict; however, this film does a better than average job of balancing the very real challenges many gay men face with a thread of hope and an emphasis on personal fulfillment.Speaking as a straight woman, I also found this film to be one which has value that extends beyond the LGBT community. Put another way, it really is a film for everyone. It does not depict gay people as living in a bubble, nor does it use straight people as mere props. The straight characters have depth and are portrayed sympathetically, which are things I find many LGBT themed films lack. I highly recommend Pit Stop to anyone who enjoys movies about everyday people and think it would be an especially worthwhile movie to watch for anyone with a gay family member or friend.

I was kind of generous giving this movie 6 out of 10, but I at least admire it for never having a false moment. The actors and the director made everything believable, but it was such a set of dreary characters in undramatic scenes, that the movie was actually painful to watch. I think I mostly blame the script which failed to find a way to really make us care.The ending seemed to be about some kind of redemption and finding love, but all it really was was a successful hookup. "Hey, call me," says Gabe. "Anytime," and they head off smiling, in the hope of another session of manly frottage. But given all the heartbreak and disappointment, there is nothing here that points to a great future.Compare this to the date episode in the first season of the TV show, "Looking." Nothing but two guys almost just about to fall in love, spending the day together talking about their lives, their fears, their histories, sex. And it was totally engaging because there was a tentative fragility and joy to the whole thing. "Pit Stop" (why is it called this?) never found such lightness.

Pit Stop is a wonderful new film from director Yen Tan. It is the story of two mid-thirtyish gay men, Gabe and Ernesto, living separate but not totally dissimilar low key working class lives in the same Texan small town. Separately each man is yearning for love and emotional fulfillment while respectively struggling with his daily life and relationships. The focus is on Gabe and Ernesto but everyone in the film is a real person with a story to tell. All are portrayed in a thoughtful and empathetic way with no one casually discarded for the sake of storytelling expediency. This is a true character study of people finding their way in life and love and one cares about what will happen to them.Gabe is divorced but trying to sustain his family for the sake of his young daughter. He has recently been rejected by a male lover who is married and now moved away. Ernesto is trying to end a two year relationship that has fallen apart and has no future. At the same time he is dutifully visiting a previous lover who lies comatose in a convalescent home following a car accident. Both men want more but their personal situations and the small town environment constrain them from being who they are and achieving the love and intimacy they long for and deserve. Both men still want to be wanted.The film is beautifully made and the ensemble cast, led by Bill Heck as Gabe and Marcus DeAnda as Ernesto, is top notch. Pit Stop is a moving film that deserves a wide audience. Fans of Tan's earlier film, Ciao, will particularly like Pit Stop.