Kezia Cole
Soft Lad is a (very) low-budget indie movie that dreams big and sadly falls short, mostly due to an over-reliance on melodrama and an unwillingness to let its characters breathe and grow.The story follows David (Jonny Labey), a young man about to start a promising career in dance, and the fallout of his doomed affair with Jules, his sister's husband (Daniel Brocklebank), culminating in news that will devastate an entire family.Labey gives a committed performance as the naive David, but there just isn't a lot of depth to it, and the often atrociously weak and clunky script limits things still further, displaying writer/director/producer Leon Lopez's tendency to restrict his characters to very well worn territory. The backstory of David's two-year "drunken mistake" with his brother-in-law is revealed via a massive and rather unbelievable info dump delivered to Stacey the Convenient Friend (Laura Ainsworth), whose friendship with David - strained by unresolved feelings - is a small glimpse of a more multi-faceted story, but still ends up as a predictable and tired detail. The other characters fare little better, with Daniel Brocklebank's Jules coming across more as a smarmy classist caricature than a villain anyone could sympathise with or truly care about, and the movie jangles with missed opportunities. There are moments where it almost seems like it will turn into a neat psychological drama, but be prepared to wave at those moments as they pass by, because sadly the story never embraces its dark side, neither fully exploring Jules' capacity for callousness or manipulation, or the selfishness that can motivate people in the name of love. There is a brave performance from Suzanne Collins as Jane, David's sister, though again she's let down by a poor script and very little support in the movie's climactic scenes, which descend into awkward melodrama. Craig Stein as Sam, David's new boyfriend, also makes a valiant effort, and choreographed the one dance scene we get to see: another symptom of the movie's disconnection with itself. Dance is presented as David's dream, but there's a massive missed opportunity in actually using it to convey the enormity of his struggle, or anything of his passion and individuality. The supposedly positive ending (pun totally intended) feels like a tacked on afterthought, and the whole movie feels unbalanced in the time devoted to aspects of different characters' struggles. Structurally and technically, Soft Lad is trying to be an indie movie punching above its weight, but its reliance on two dimensional characters and tired "gay issue" themes - closeted married men, HIV, poppers and hookups - that feel neither fresh nor original just results in a dull, clichéd experience... and I say that as someone who will generally overlook poor direction, writing, performances, or camera work in a low budget movie that honestly has something to say. Probably what I dislike most about this movie, though, is its erasure of bisexuality. Jules is presented as a married MSM, and for a few moments it almost looks like the movie will dedicate a little time to exploring his emotional conflict over his sexuality and identity (he claims to develop feelings for David; the first time he's fallen for a man), perhaps showing something of the delicate balance - and differences - between sexual and emotional attraction. Unfortunately, the only labels that ever get mentioned by any character are "gay" and "straight", and I was left with the feeling that, if the word "bi" had been whispered at all, it would have been in yet another cliché about predatory promiscuity. It's sad to see yet another opportunity wasted in this film, but it appears to be part of a pattern, and that's disappointing. Bottom line: if you're a soap fan who enjoys emotional drama and can overlook technical limitations, this might be up your street. It's certainly nice to see more British drama from the North that doesn't focus on a fetishistic view of "northern-ness", and a lot was certainly made of the tiny budget. Ultimately, though, there are so many more gay dramas out there that are just better in every way.
wayne2652
"might have spoilers inside"It is really touching but heartbreaking movie I have ever seen. The acting of those characters is spot on and shape the character vividly. The struggle between David & Jules and Jules & Jane are nicely illustrated in the movie. Compared to the struggle, the affection among those characters seems a little less. Therefore, I can feel stressed and struggled more from the plot itself rather than owing to the feeling of breaking the bond between them. Also, I would like to see more about Jules' part after Sam and David left the house and more David's dance at the beginning. That might give the audience a complete emotion roller coaster. Overall, it is a worth watching movie definitely!!! And it is the some of the movies that picking HIV issue and presenting the reaction about the situation.
chrismarshall-50682
Wooden acting, terrible scouse accent, it looked like a film by a bunch of high school students who wrote the script that morning. I lasted four minutes and had to turn it off.Such a shame, when the description sounds like an interesting dynamic between central character and his sister's husband. And when there's clearly some good people involved, judging by the credits. But ruined by terrible acting, cringe-worthy accents, low production values and general awfulness.Definitely a film to avoid.Don't waste your money on it.
Tom Dooley
**May contain plot spoilers** The term 'soft lad' is a term of affection in Liverpool meaning nice and harmless, and here this references David who is an aspiring dancer who is in love with an older man and that man is married to someone very close to him.The relationship though is stalling as it seems to be base on need and desire and so David has to make some changes – the problem is things have already been set in motion that are going to dictate how everyone behaves and will have lasting and damaging repercussions for all involved.This is a rather good film, Daniel Brocklebank is as ever very reliable in his role of the duplicitous husband, but show stealer for me is Suzanne Collins who is a joy to watch. Once again another example of a very well made and acted British Independent film.
