This could have been so much better. The message was well setup but the plot waa pedestrian, the script amateur at best.

It comes across like a college drama class attempt at a movie.

The cinematography is good but the chemistry and the dialogue is severely short of the mark and doesn't drive the film forward.

A disappointing unfulfilled destination. Cut off with no resolution, thus following the standard trope of gay fim endings.

Sadness, loss, missed chances and a general downer.

I thought we had moved on with gay movies by now and stopped being locked into the victim and outsider narrative.

The most realistic part was the bully who actually delivered a good performance that felt natural.

The protagonist character was so isolated that it made no sense that he would have even embarked on the journey. This wasn't so much about gay guilt, shyness or subconscious homophobia but more about depression, self confidence and mental health.

You can feel sorry for someone only so far. But when they don't try to engage and accept friendship their fate become a self fulfilling prophecy.

Connor, the protagonist as such became irritating, selfish and a general tantrum driven bore. I would have had far less patience with someone who doesn't even try to embrace their own existence.

In general, the standard of independent gay films has greatly improved in recent years. So much so that it's surprising that something as cheap, clumsy and amateurish as Mates can still earn a release. Mates is poorly scripted, the characters are wafer thin and if it weren't for the English countryside the film would have no production values at all. None of the actors is strong enough to rise above the weak material, and they're not helped by pedestrian direction and editing. Technical aspects aside, the central character, Connor, is unappealing. His would-be seducer, Adam, is entirely unbelievable - pursuing Connor in front of his apparently very straight mates, and after Connor has said he's not gay and not interested. And the mates are clumsy straight stereotypes, albeit with an equally clumsy attempt and questioning just how straight one of them might be. At what might seem a mercifully short 80 minutes, Maters is still 60 minutes longer than it needed to be.

Seen it three times now. It gets better each time. The dialogue is crisp and natural. Nothing is spelled out so you need to observe and think.

This movie is not for everyone. But I loved it. The acting is exceptional.

Sam Law is a special standout, however. He has blazing star potential if he can just get in the right project.

Also the direction is exceptional, keeping track of not only the group dynamics but also the various one on one relationships while giving everyone a concrete character arc cannot be an easy task.

It follows four men on a camping trip, there is a mix of prior relationships and new relationships. As the four get to know each other (It's really a group of three with an outsider that keeps interrupting them) the dynamic changes slowly but steadily until we are at a vastly different situation than which we started. I really don't want to say any more because there are so many rewarding small surprises tucked into this film that one only discovers upon repeat viewings.

Hopefully this movie will find an audience. It deserves it in spades.

"Mates" (2023) is a heartwarming film that explores themes of sexuality and masculinity in a gentle and relatable manner. The movie showcases strong male characters, both gay and straight, set against the backdrop of a stunning hiking trail in England. Despite not being groundbreaking in the realm of LGBTQ+ cinema, "Mates" offers a sweet and nice-natured story with beautiful nature locations that highlight the UK's scenic beauty.

Reviewers have praised the film for its simplicity, character development, and cozy vibe, making it a pleasant watch for a laid-back afternoon. While some technical aspects may not be perfect, the unpredictability of the characters and their interactions keeps viewers engaged. Overall, "Mates" is a charming addition to gay films in 2023.

This film is a total snooze fest, don't know how I managed to stay awake for the entire film. Poor opening scene, watching someone walking up some stairs and then sitting on a bench waiting, how exciting. Although I quite enjoyed the Connor character and his quirkiness found the others characters uninteresting. Some of country side was nice to look at but was very disappointed with the ending, 1 hour and 20 minutes of my life I'll never get back. Would ask for a refund if that was an option. Has to be one of the worst films I've ever seen. So boring don't waste your time or money renting this.

It's all bad, but I think honestly the biggest problem with this movie is it's marketing. It's being sold as a straight guy being seduced when that's not what happens at all. A gay-played guy accepts his sexuality and gets preyed on by a creep instead.

The first scene where they meet is honestly so creepy, and although it gets better that never rubs off. Their relationship starts such on the wrong foot that it can't get better.

The score is also a problem. It feels like it's trying to remind us of Brokeback Mountain, but it does so only superficially. Unfortunately the movie can't hope to reach that level. But dear God does it try so often. That same overwrought theme is played repeatedly.

But at no point in the film do we see any real basis for a relationship between the main character and his stalker.

I liked this movie Mates which was a very low budget film but done very well and the ending makes it enjoyable.

This movie has its flaws in storytelling but anyone in the LGBTQ world can relate to the longing and heartache of starting a possible relationship.

The bully Mark, one has to think is he indeed jealous of his open minded friend Nathan and did they ever fool around?

And is Connor in love with Nathan as he travels over and hour to jog with his friend ? What more lies behind their motivations if any.

Adam is a very relaxed enjoyable open gay young man hiking with his father who accepts and loves him in whatever his life choices are a nice touch.

As a inde film producer myself ( Sister Mary ) I know how these reviews go because everyone with a PC thinks they are a critic and don't realize how hard it is to Produce a movie on a budget, that said I think this is a wonderful movie and I truly hope to see a sequel at some point. There is so much more to this story that can be explored. Cheer's James.

I managed twenty minutes and, in a flash of anger at the time I was wasting, switched the whole unconvincing, sorry, amateurish mess off.

The first spoken dialogue during the jog in the park engendered the idea in me that this was going to be a talentless, poorly-acted, badly-scripted farago of tosh. Do those "actors" actually have Equity cards? If so, the union should swoop down and confiscate them so these utterly dire people never sully our screens again.

This was so bad that it was embarrassing; I actually felt sorry for the actors having to recite these lines and act out this nonsense despite their complete uselessness.

It's gone, deleted and good riddance.