Best Day Ever

Fifteen minutes into director Jeff London's Best Day Ever, I knew this was the gay movie I have been waiting a long time to see . It has indie budget stamped all over it, and a lot of people are going to say it is boring. It is--but only if you think real life is boring. The actors are ordinary looking and they have ordinary lives, but one of them has just turned 50. A lot of millennials reading this will wonder what's the big deal? Unless you have been there you just can't understand what a powerful event this is.At this time in life everyone is forced to ask a lot of questions. Is this all there is? Progress in career, attractiveness, the possibility for real happiness, Have I made the right choices?--all these issues become enormous. It's why they call it mid-life crisis. Best Day Ever looks at all this in a forthright, real-life way, and contains a lot of good advice for whatever age you may be. A lot of it seems a little worn, but only because it is so universally true. The most interesting thing about this movie is the interaction of three generations of gay men, each with a different perspective. Every character in it is spot on great, even the muscle-bound boy friend who plays an almost apologetic, total jerk. What makes this movie look so real is that it is. The story is based on the life of co-directors and life partners Jeff London and James Steven Handshoe. This movie doesn't promise "happy-ever after," but it does show that there are second chances if you take them.Best Day Ever is the first movie I have ever seen that I feel I could just walk into and be a part of. And want to.

I had heard so much hype about this movie from various websites & blogs, that I decided to buy it & see it for myself. All I can say is, the movie lived up to all the hype (which is rare these days for ANY movie). Whether you're straight, gay, bi, asexual, or indifferent, this movie will hit you where you live. I'm turning 50 soon myself, and call it a "mid-life crisis" if you must, but everything that 'David' feels in this movie, hit home with me. Thinking that you have lived more years than you have left, & wondering about the choices you've made & wondering if you made the right ones, & questioning what you will do with the rest of your life, is scary enough! But falling in love with someone who is younger than you, & that person teaching you that age is only a number, well... it left me wondering if these people had access to my personal journals. After watching this movie, it left me feeling pretty good about my future & made me lose the regrets of past decisions. Because of this movie, I'm now a big fan of Mel England, Tom Saporito, & Jeff London!

Some, perhaps many viewers may find the pace of this film slow. I think that may have been a deliberate directorial and editing choice due to the story; and it is a subtle reminder that in this sound-bite society of ours, some stories require real conversation and characters with deep life choices to be made, thus a little time is needed to do so. Especially, individuals of certain age. Our protagonist is upfront in letting everyone know he's turning 50, and not very excited about it. For some the life crisis comes at 40. You know, the age or time at which individuals begin to consider their mortality and most importantly, their legacy. Yet for some gay persons, perhaps many, because there is sometimes no husband, wife and kids, the crisis comes later. Aging alone, is not a welcome prospect for many. In some gay communities, aging is acute because some do not achieve a certain balance between the practical and the pleasurable throughout their lives. One day you wake up and you are 50, with a career you may love, but not much else. Such is the dilemma of our protagonist in this film. Fortunately, this fellow in the film has some good friends and some good looks. To say more would spoil the story. This is not an exciting film, but certainly a provocative one.

If you can get beyond the low budget of this movie, you will discover an excellent movie for its kind.David is turning 50, and he's not as happy as he thought he would be at that age. His film making career isn,t doing well, and his boyfriend Greg is full of himself. So much so that, whenever he speaks (even about David), he brings it back to his person. Fortunately, David will meet his best friend's cousin, a very shy guy in his mid 30s.The story in this movie is very relatable if you are/have been in a relationship. Greg, the archetype of the narrow-minded gay whose life is centered on the gym, is nicely interepreted. David, who's having an existential crisis, is also relatable: should one choose a career and live or choose "your path" despite the uncertainties? And Shane, the shy guy, goes to show that physical appearance isn't everything when it comes to love.The only down side to this movie is how cheaply it was made (or at least, looks like). The transition between scenes looks like it was done in the 80s, and conversations between large groups of people (like Shane's first supper) are too dry.If that part had been made better, this would be a five-star movie for its kind. It shows very real situations that many gays can relate to. And it's good to see a love story that doesn't rely too heavily on sex.

I judge drama/romantic movies by how well they connect me to either my own emotions and experiences or those of others. This did both. Turning 50 was very challenging for me, and I can appreciate the truth of the movie's plot. The unfolding relationships moved me as well. The theme of age being a number reflects both the changing attitudes in our society and the general health of us older folks. We can start over again, or just add a new chapter, at any age. Personally, I liked the plot and found the actors believable. And I was especially touched by the bonus feature interview with Ace Lundon. So, Jeff, I'm taking you at your word and posting a good review that I hope makes your day. You deserve it for having made my day even better.

This story of a man turning fifty and discovering a soul mate in the process is brought to the screen with the usual Jeff London style and humanity. His real life boyfriend and c0-writer (James Steven Handshoe) brings to the script real insights and warmth.