SpunkySelfTwitter
It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.
CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Ogosmith
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Myron Clemons
A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.
ofumalow
Though pretty poorly crafted (it looks like it cost $1.50 to film, and that includes craft services), this romance struck me as rather sweet--but then like the main character, I'm a romantic rather than a sex-driven pragmatist. Calling it a "comedy" is a huge stretch, since it's pretty much entirely a drama with relatively little humor. The performances were decent and while some people here clearly can't relate to the protagonist, I do. The biggest false note (SPOILER) is a strange, abrupt ending in which the hero suddenly seems to accept his lover's promiscuity without any actual working-through-this preparation on screen. It's one of those endings so arbitrary that it makes you think "Did they run out of money to finish the film properly, and this was the best they could do?"
thesar-2
With a hilarious opening and promise, unfortunately Shut Up & Kiss Me went south fast
in regards to quality.My guess was $10,000 budget, and I thought was being generous. In reality, I was thinking $5,000. It turns out it was $15,000 and it shows in the After-School sets, exterior shots and fake-café/gym scenes. I'm putting that all aside – as, kudos to them to making an independent movie. Let's see if the heart was there.Yeah, for the most part. These aren't professional actors. Obviously. Did they give it their all? Absolutely. They believed in the product. And the lead (and writer) Ronnie Kerr, who plays Ben, was actually not only good, but at times, sweet and funny. Does he have a while to go to go beyond porn-star-status? (More later
on the porn part, that is.) I hope.Ben's looking for love. He tries video dating
internet dating
and friend setting him up dating. Only stalking will help him come out of his shell. End justifies the means
take it for what it's worth, but he meets jogger Grey (Gabelein) and they strike it off. Only, Grey states up front: he's not a one-man man.Get used to him reminding everyone, especially the audience, that he said that up front
Anyways, he proves it, at least twice and you'll wonder if this will damper the relationship. Well, watch the incredibly short 78-minute feature to find out.Despite the extreme low production value, I liked the feature. Kerr had me rolling in scenes, as did other characters, namely his best-straight/stereotyped-buddy and business partner, Vinnie (Russo). And believe it, the opening was a great shot. Original, funny and looked like it was set to take this feature to the stars. Unfortunately, it didn't, but the rest was worth a shot. Even if you don't agree with the end "message."On a side note: there is gratuitous full-frontal male nudity, for roughly twenty seconds during a sex scene. Kerr seems to be some kind of body-builder, and the first reaction when I "saw him" was: "Well, I guess he doesn't use steroids."Side Note II: I can't believe how much I had in common with the character of Ben. It was uncanny. Now, before you judge
I wouldn't agree AT ALL with his final decision and before you think I'm a "stalker"
fail to interest me, and you have nothing to worry about. :-)
stevenw-1
I love that the notion of a non-monogamist man and a fully monogamist man decide to make it work. They do love each other and, I trust, they continue to set boundaries and grow from this. There are very complicated and "gray" feelings that can come up between people. Often, I have seen first-hand such a couple go through life completely fooling themselves. In this film, the writer bravely shows us a couple who recognize infidelity and decide to trudge ahead. That is very honest. I've seen reviews here where some feel our main character is copping-out in some way. I think he's really willing to accept his man without any false hopes that he'll change in the future. One can go through life waiting for Mr. Right who can do No Wrong. One can wait an eternity and never meet anyone in that process. Life is short, love who you love and accept who they are. Our main character should be confident enough to realize that, although his partner may have quick sex with someone else at any point, it's ultimately meaningless. He may also change since this could be his first truly meaningful love. Most people get really selfish in relationships and refuse to share...but it often happens without them knowing it. It happens to many people gay and straight. This couple is fully up front with that from the start and I find that very brave. It may not be one persons idea of a true, loving relationship but it will be for someone else. A couple ultimately decides what is allowed in their relationship and there is no set template in society that should decide that for them. What is considered wrong for some people and what is considered right is really nobody else's business but the two men involved in this relationship. I found the acting by the two lead men very credible. Ronnie Kerr has long been a favorite of mine and Scott Gabelein (resembling a young Dennis Quaid) is very good as well. I was quite surprised at the main character took the route he did, but I don't blame him one bit. I'm glad he chose to experience this situation at least once. It may work or it may not - but at least they both are trying.
amberbaer
Thank God I got to watch this for free as part of my online Netflix account, because if I had paid money for this, I would have been asking for it all back.Knowing that it was going to be bad, I didn't know just how bad, and within the first 30 minutes of this thankfully short movie, I wanted to turn away.The acting is beyond wooden, no emotional range outside of sad puppy dog face is seen on the lead actor. The secondary actor gets the chance to repeat the same tired old lines from every "you can't love me I'm H.I.V" story that's been done in the last 20 years. I'm a man whore looking for love with the one that will love me and let me play around because that's who I am, like it, love it, love me or leave.....Oh God, I just gave away the plot.There are 2 good points to this whole movie: Dylan Vox is hysterical as a trick gone wrong....funny stuff, but then he's always funny in these roles. And the other part, sudden nudity....we cut from fighting in the kitchen to "sword" fighting in the bedroom with barely any transition, at least the actors are decent size, otherwise I would had to laugh at that part of the movie too....and the "shut up and kiss me" line was over-used....just like the tired and trite dialog throughout the whole movie...writers should not be permitted to act out the lines that they're written...and this movie drives that point home like putting a steak in the heart of a vampire....kill it now before it makes more! Now that was funny....this movie is just a**