Back Soon (movie)

Title: Back Soon
Writer/Director: Rob Williams
Starring: Matthew Montgomery, Windham Beacham
Distributers: TLA Releasing/Guest House Films

Genre: Drama/Paranormal/Romance
Country of Origin/Language: USA/English
Rating: R/Unrated
Released: 2007
Length: 83 minutes
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars

Summary: Two “straight” men who seemingly have nothing in common meet and are drawn to each other…as they start to fall in love, what are the forces bringing them together and could those same forces tear them apart?

A guest review by Lasha

BLURB

Back Soon is a story of love, loss, identity and hope. It follows the relationship between aspiring actor Logan Foster (Windham Beacham) and reformed drug dealer Gil Ramirez (Matthew Montgomery), two men who find themselves inexplicably drawn together despite their disparate backgrounds, and the fact that they both regarded themselves as straight. However, their bond is soon threatened by Gil’s mysterious past and a startling revelation about the true nature of their connection. Neither man is prepared for this, nor the impact it will have on their lives.

–Source: IMDB

THE REVIEW

Back Soon is the second Matthew Montgomery movie I have reviewed for the site. I am a big fan of his work. In this film, Matthew plays Gil, a reformed gang-banger/drug dealer whose near-death experience has changed his life. He got out of the drug dealing business, and is in the process of buying his dream house. Which is where he meets Logan, a struggling actor who lost his wife to a drunk driver the year previously. He is the home owner of Gil’s dream house, but is selling it because it carries too many memories of his deceased wife. As the two men become friends, they also discover an attraction to each other. But since neither man considers himself gay, they wonder why out of the blue they are so drawn to each other. It seems fate, a dead wife and forces beyond the grave have brought them together. But once they figure that out, can the new-found love they have survive the truth?

When you ask people who have seen this film their reactions, you will get mixed reviews. I think you either love it or hate it. I am in the former camp. Yes, sometimes the acting is painful, bordering on “get thee to an acting class,” but for some reason I watch this movie over and over again and enjoy it. Personally, I think it is because Windham and Matthew have such a cute, understated chemistry that makes me smile. (They also played lovers in another Guest House film called ). Plus, I love a good paranormal twist in my romances movies.

So, the pros of Back Soon:

–The leads characters are sweet and hot together. I really understood their confusion about being attracted to each other.

–If you love a GFY plot, this has it in double doses.

–Gil’s best friend, Jamie. He’s a delight: funny, honest and loves Gil. (See former porn star Bret Wolfe shine in this movie).

–The plot has a supernatural twist, which made the GFY trope more believable.

–The wife while only in a few scenes has chemistry with everyone. She’s pivotal to the plot and it’s great to see a female character in a gay film that isn’t a bitch or the best friend. (For those thinking there are m/f scenes in the movie, there is really only one, just a kiss between Logan and the wife to give their back-story. However, the movie centers on Logan and Gil.)

The cons:

–Logan’s former best friend, Spencer, played by Artie O’Daly. His acting is just sub-par in this movie which is a shame as he was the perfect comedic relief in Long-Term Relationship.

–The medical plot in the movie was laughable especially the end scene. They really needed a medical consultant to make me believe Gil had been injured.

–You figure out the supernatural twist pretty quickly in, but I found it interesting none-the-less.

–The drug dealer stereotypes and the ‘bad guy’ comes out of nowhere. Utterly ridiculous.

However, despite these flaws, or maybe in spite of them, I really like this film. While it is not my favorite Matthew Montgomery movie (Gone, But Not Forgotten is), but it makes for an enjoyable 83 minutes.

OVERALL

While this film does have it’s detractors, the romance at the core of the film is wonderful and unique. If you are in the mood for a feel-good supernatural (gay) romance, this independent film is for you.

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