Good Enough: A Modern Musical

This was pretty good! It's one of those films that you could really get cozy with. I think that's because there's a relatable element to it. The moms truly carried the film for me. Moms ROCK! My favorite moment was when Trevor was under the bed, my gosh, that part was so funny. Totally hated Trevor's dad! Why do people like this exist?! The song 99 Pills is the crown jewel of this entire film. I enjoyed all the songs but 99 Pills sent chills through my body. I think the guy that's playing Nathan is actually singing it. I can go on and on, there were so many good pieces to this film. I highly recommend it!

I wasn't sure if I was supposed to laugh as much as I did watching this. Yes, there were some serious parts but a lot of it is pure comedy. From the beginning when Jamal's friend was trying to grab the microphone, that part is HILARIOUS! Then later when he says that K-Swiss is better than Nike, I laughed out loud literally. I enjoyed watching this but think they should reconsider the genre and make it a comedy. Even the "deep" moments have a comedic nuance to them. The table scene was another part that had me dying laughing, there's no way you can tell me this isn't a comedy. Trevor's father is funny as hell. He's like an Archie Bunker of today. Trevor's mom and that axe! Please re "genre" this film, I think people would see it differently if they knew if it was okay to laugh.

"Jamal" (Jay Towns) is the upcoming basketball player who arranges an hook up on the internet. He is surprised to find that it's college television anchorman "Trevor" (Trey Mendlik) who turns up. That doesn't put them off, and indeed they meet more than once as the latter man begins to fall in love and the former has to come to terms with his own identity. Can they make a go of it? Well jeopardy wasn't high on the writer's list of priorities with this predictably turbulent tale of finding your feet, but it's a little more engaging than your run of the mill gay drama. That's maybe because the supporting characters are a bit stronger. France Jean-Baptiste and Beka both work quite well as the mothers as does Pete Berwick as the layabout and rather odious father of "Trevor" who manages to mix his racism and homophobia in quite a toxically entertaining fashion. It's peppered with some decent enough songs that help it showcase some of the issues faced by young people coming out, and by those dealing with unhappy marriages, drugs, yes all that usual melodrama stuff - but again, it sort of works better than you might expect. It's essentially a project for the stage, though, I think. Cinema doesn't really do it any favours as the audio mix is pretty dire as is the voice dubbing for the songs. In many ways it's no worse than the over-hyped "Theatre Camp" (2023) and won't scare you away. It's aptly named.

I really liked this musical, which won thanks to creator Mike Spears at three festivals in LA, as well as in Florence and Palm Springs, and I will keep coming back to it. The choice of both main protagonists was absolutely brilliant. Not only excellent acting, but also singing. One song after another was a delight not only to my ears, but to the point where I wondered why there weren't more of them. Gradually, the story unfolded and I became more aware of the completely professional approach of Jay Towns and Trey Mendlik. Both mothers showed up a lot in the second half as well as some other characters and I was sad at the end that everything ends and I also enjoyed the end credits, which you must not turn off. I definitely recommend it especially to open-minded viewers who like this kind of film art. And I'm going to the musical again...

Approaching this with skepticism due to unfamiliar faces, I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. The engaging and authentic storylines captivated me, though I wished for more exploration of Nathan's character, potentially making it the focal point with the love story as a subplot. Nathan's song "99 Pills" was a standout, sending shivers down my spine-an undeniable highlight. The acting, while decent, aligns with many smaller budget films, and there's a sense of commitment across the board. I'm giving it 7 stars, I acknowledge its potential for growth and look forward to see what else is produced by the writer Mike Spears in the future.