a film by Dave Padilla additional scenes directed by Steven Vasquez 2009 | 67 mins | US ›› Be Mine dreaming of your one true love; first kiss style. Adapted Synopsis:- Mayson; a gay man about to be married thinks back to the days when he was a kissing virgin, waiting for the right man to caress his lips. Dave Says:- In his directorial debut, Dave Padilla backed by the work of Steven Vasquez of Sideline Secrets credit, opts to tell the story of an openly gay man who dreams of finding his one true love; first kiss style. Yet as sweet as the screenplay by Jeremy (Unsolved Suburbia) Huntington is, it lacks any form of realism, not only on the side of the romantic reality of life, but by having the love to be of Mayson's life, seemingly turn gay overnight. Added to which there's problematic lighting, uneven acting, one too many narrative clichés and well, the list of negatives could go on. On the plus side however, some of the players' true potential is all but evident, with Kendra Thomas as Mayson's best friend Robyn beautifully natural throughout, leaving Eric Taylor as the drama queen determined to get the party started, whilst Jared Welch is reminiscent of Brad Rowe's character Gabriel in the Sean (pre Will & Grace) Hayes feature Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, namely the questionable straight man of the piece. For it is the scene in which the couple to be spend together, "getting to know you" fashion, that stands out here. Yet their home alone time is all too limited, being almost incessantly interrupted by a series of oddball styled characters, meant for comic effect, but who end up getting in the way of the proceedings. That said and working within the confines, let alone the budget of its video remit, Padilla has crafted a pleasing enough film, even if it's decidedly lightweight and in more ways, than one. Only with the main character living within reach of the vibrant man bars of Long Beach, Dan Selon's "still to be kissed" persona takes sexual innocence, to a whole new level, in an undemanding flashback driven work, that's frankly told too much in times past. Need more be said? Gay Visibility - overt.  Nudity - bare-arsed cheek.  Overall - file under ... 2 stars.  ›› Available to buy from Amazon.co.uk. available on DVD as part of the TLA Releasing UK catalogue: 24.September.2012 / UK. principal players: Dan Selon / Mayson, Kendra Thomas / Robyn, Jared Welch / Reiley, Eric Taylor / Eric, Jessica Ream / Irene, Tristan Scott / Chris, Ryan Bauer / Jet, Amanda Cantrell / the Cashier and Becky "Buckwild" Johnston as Jesse. featuring music by The Un-Fun Slide. Copyright 2012 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com. archive reference #526 ›› previous page | back to top | print me ‹‹