Something Like Summer

I have read all of the books in Jay Bell's "Seasons" series. Because of this, I was really looking forward to this movie. In full disclosure, this is probably why I was so disappointed. A few things: First, Something Like Summer the book was absolutely amazing. However, the film left out so much and I can't help but think that, in part, this was because so much time was spent on the musical aspect of the film. The music was trite, boring, and awkward. It also seemed like it just showed up out of nowhere (e.g., "gee, I don't know how to end this scene, so let's throw in a poorly written and performed song about gay teenage angst).

Second, the characters, costumes and scenery all seemed fake. The whole ambiance of the film seemed like a white upper-middle-class version of gayness rooted in stereotypes.

Finally, I was not pleased with the character of Ben. You know how when you read a book you create an image of the character in your head? Well, whoever played Ben was not it. Of course, the fact that Ben kept breaking into song didn't help anything.

Though not pleased with Ben, the depiction of Tim was spot on :)

I will end with this: if you are a fan of the book, watch the film. However, be prepared for less emotional attachment, excitement, and satisfaction.

I'm always in for a nice gay-themed movie. But this one is unfortunately of questionable quality. It's basically a romcom, but of the most sentimental kind, never exceeding the level of simple soap-opera. As a curious extra the cast, at several, mostly odd and awkward moments, out-of the blue starts singing, by way of some sort of musical comment on the goings-on. It simply doesn't fit the story, the music itself is hardly appealing and Grant Davis is rather unimpressive as a singer.

But the story is the weakest link in this movie. Main character Ben goes over the years through a series of repeating romances with the same two lovers, every hick-up is blown into huge emotional proportions (with according epic background music) and when at last there is all of a sudden a really dramatic life-event, it's almost brushed aside within 5 minutes to give the movie it's apparently needed happy end, that by the way to me made a rather cynical impression.

I liked Davi Santos and Ben Baur, both acted fairly well, but I had some trouble with Grant Davis as main character Ben. It was a mystery to me how these two great guys - the one exotically handsome, the other sweet and loyal - apparently were fighting over this sulky and grumpy guy who slouched depressively through most of the movie and wasn't in any way attractive or even sympathetic.

All this, along with an overlong duration of almost 2 hours, made watching this movie a long and rather tedious experience.

I have read all of the something like books and was naturally excited to see the movie was coming out and waited what seemed to be an eternity to see it. Sadly to say I shouldn't have waited. This movie failed to incorporate any kind of value from the book. I felt disconnected and had i not read the book, would have been totally lost as nothing is connected coherently. The movie reminds me of some kid show with a bunch of preppy guys out a catalog and no clear purpose. The movie also failed to display any kind of intimacy or emotionality expected in this work. And what is with all the singing?? I literally skipped through it as it was long drawn out and irrelevant. Overall I would have to rate this movie as a failure. Giving 4 for effort.

David Santos, call me.

First, let me say like most people who have reviewed this movie, the book is 1000 times better. I have no idea why someone read Jay Bell's book Something Like Summer and decided 'oh this would be a great musical". It's not. They could have delved more into the actual story and plot of the book and done without all of the songs, which take up so much unnecessary time rather than developing the love between the two main characters. The first time I saw this was at the gay film festival in Atlanta and there was a Q&A with the Director and the cast afterwards. I never got a chance to ask why in the hell they ruined such a great book by making this movie a musical adaptation. For anyone unfamiliar I would watch this and then go read the book. Otherwise you're going to be extremely disappointed.

An attractive, likable cast made it all bearable and, at times, enjoyable, but most of the twists and turns in the story were predictable, derivative and tedious.

There also seemed to be numerous, awkward moments when, out of nowhere, a musical number was inserted in a startling, cringe worthy way. Rather than enhancing the story line, most of them were intrusive, barely relevant and uncomfortable.

While the whole movie was creeping over the line into soap opera territory, the final twist & turn removed all doubt.

It is probably still worth watching, but by the end you may be asking yourself, "what the hell just happened."