Boyfriends

1996 "Who Needs Them?"
Boyfriends
5.8| 1h21m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 13 November 1996 Released
Producted By: Essex Features
Country:
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Paul, Matt, and Will (in their 30s) have been friends for years. They converge at the seaside for the weekend, each with a boyfriend in tow. Paul is with Ben, his companion of five years: their relationship is on the rocks after months of Paul's moodiness since his brother Mark died. Matt brings Owen, whom he's dated for three months and wants to live with; to everyone else, they seem singularly.

... View More
Stream Online

The movie is currently not available onine

Director

Producted By

Essex Features

Trailers & Images

Reviews

nyghtweaver 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.
mjmarkic 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.
garethhardy Having recently dredged Boyfriends up on video i thought i might give it another chance.I was surprised to find it wasn't as horrendous as a I remember from the first time round.The wonderful mismatch of the slovenly Paul (James "let's play camp characters for the rest of my career" Dreyfus) and the wonderful Ben (Mark Sands) does shine through.The other characters have no depth. It's as if the writers scribbled the script in one night, sorry Neil and Tom.The only shining scene is the "pig" scene, wonderfully performed by Mark Sands.Not anywhere near the class of "Get Real" and "Like It Is", yet worth a watch if it ever comes on television, which i doubt.I think i may put the video on my bookshelf, and not in a cardboard box in the attic like last time.
Gino-11 Although this film DID remind me of something else (NOT "The Big Chill" either), I found it to be refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable. The ensemble cast was particularly talented, the writing was appropriately intricate with a few surprises, and there was even a fun Dinah Washington song ("I Wish I Knew the Name of the Boy in My Dreams")to spruce it up a bit. As with most British films, I had a bit of a difficult time with the accents at first, but I think I got most of it. There's just something INTELLIGENT about the SOUND of the language in British films! At any rate, once I figured out the relationships (and lack of them), I had a good time watching the country weekend for the "lads" unfold. Perhaps the film didn't especially break any new ground, but I don't think a film HAS to do that to be worthwhile. Does every STRAIGHT movie that's fun break new ground? I don't think so. It's about time that a gay movie can be kind of ordinary (no drugs, no AIDS, no suicides) and still be good entertainment. I think the British are much better than we Americans at making gay films, and this is just another example. By the way, the film that reminds me of this one is "Love! Valour! Compassion!"--but this one came first.