Boyfriends (1996)

This movie has a very slow pace. But if you allow yourself to fall into the characters, you come to know and care for all of them. It is, even 12 years later, a very accurate portrayal of the gay relationship dynamic. There are plenty of chances to be ticked off at some of the characters, and yet despite that you find yourself rooting for the main couple. It shows a variety of personas and problems that all couples, gay or straight, have to face at some point or another. For that reason alone, to watch something that might make you feel a parallel with your own life, this movie is worth watching. I'd rate it a 7.5 if they allowed halves, because sometimes you just need a half. If you are a patient person, give it a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

After 10 years, Boyfriends still stands out as one of the finest movies yet about gay relationships. I've seen it maybe half a dozen times, and never find it anything but fascinating and compelling and often very funny. The characters and story lines are complex and the performances believable. I recall reading that this film was based on conversations with the actors, all of who whom were openly gay (another reason this film remains accurate and unique among gay cinema). I would guess that almost every gay viewer will find himself or his relationship represented in this film. Unfortunately, most of the cast (with the exception of James Dreyfus and Andrew Ableson) have pretty much disappeared since Boyfriends. The filmmakers returned quite a few years later with the very different, higher budgeted, and equally fascinating The Lawless Heart. I hope we'll see more from their work in the future.

This is definitely a low budget film and having seen the other review posted on the web site expected to be extremely disappointed.I am very pleased to say the opposite is true. I think the low budget, made the film more believable. At first I was extremely annoyed at the character Paul as being truly obnoxious and overbearing. With the appearance and interaction with the other weekend guests, some insight as to his problems as well as those of other characters began to surface.I enjoyed the film because I could identify the behavior with friends I've known. At times I think the resolutions were a little simplistic. But that's Ok. It gives the romantic in us some hope, not only harsh reality.

This decent production of an excellent script will please gay men looking for a funny and thought-provoking exploration of the problems with maintaining relationships. No drag queens or coming-out stories in sight! (Well, maybe one coming out story.) Even if you can't make out all the British-accented dialog (especially the Cockney lad who doesn't know there are "not just one, but two TTs in settee")enough humor comes through for many out-loud laughs. Best of all is the story of three long-time friends checking in on each other's love lives, ranging from smothering clinger, smoldering cruiser, to aspiring sugar daddy. After you see it, the word "pig" will never sound the same -- and not for a reason you'd expect. This is the kind of gay cinema we need a lot more of!