Dare

The plot between Johnny and Alexa seemed quite average but when things became heated between Ben and Alexa he seemed to become quite childish in the fact of he wanted his best friend returned to him so he tried to take away her new toy type of deal. Although he was discovering himself I found it quite wrong in the way of getting Alexa back. Johnny's self discovery is understandable yet slightly twisted(not negatively plot wise) Alexa's feelings toward Johnny were easier to follow. And in the end Alexa seemed to truly be sorry to Johnny although the ending was more of a non-ending there wasn't much closure. I didn't like Ben's storyline because he seemed too manipulative and quite cold. I found the character of Courtney really interesting.

A pop-art animation shows a pair of hands, wrapped around an iPhone. On the screen, the thumbs tap out the opening credits. Occasionally, the hands reject incoming calls from Mom. They also accidentally type out things like "props!" and "OMG". It is a rather embarrassing attempt to seem down with the kids (or is that kidz?) but thankfully, it is also misleading. The film itself has an entirely different tone. 'Dare' is not another typical teen-rom-rom about puberty and trying to get laid.

Alexa (Emmy Rossum) is an innocent, hard-working drama student. After failing to impress a big theatre star (Alan Cumming), she is advised to experience new things in order to improve her acting. She decides to seduce her drama partner, Johnny (Zach Gilford), who acts tough to hide his sensitivity. Ben (Ashley Springer), Alexa's gay best friend, is jealous of their relationship and decides to have a go at Johnny too. Their relationships soon become an uncomfortable and confusing love-triangle.

The film is divided into three parts, each one following a different main character. The more focused characterisation allows for a more effective display of all the awkwardness and insecurity associated with adolescence. Each of the main characters is given their own screen-time to grow and develop, and as a result there is much more substance.

'Dare' is at its strongest when the audience gets to see the characters go about their own lives, without the hassle of narrative development. On their own, the three individual segments of the film could have easily been short, John Hughes-esque films about different teenagers and their approaches to the issues of growing up.

The character of Alexa goes from innocent, uptight bookworm to sexy party girl too quickly, but Rossum plays both 'versions' just fine. Springer does a good job portraying Ben's struggle to deal with his homosexuality, and it is touching to see him find confidence in himself. Gilford gives the most convincing and layered performance of all as Johnny. He channels Marlon Brando and James Dean in his sensitive tough-guy act and it is effective, especially when it becomes apparent that he has severe rejection issues.

The problem with this kind of narrative structure is that there's too much characterisation for the love-triangle storyline. There is too much attention on each individual personality and not enough on mixing those personalities together. The characters end up changing too quickly, and it is clear that this is merely for the sake of pushing the love story along.

The film's attempt to be a coming-of-age drama and a love story at the same time backfires. It is too much of a character piece for the love-triangle story not to seem forced. By the time the abrupt ending comes around, one can't help but feel cheated, or disappointed by the wasted potential.

As a character study 'Dare' certainly excels, but as a narrative it is never compelling enough to be remembered. This film is likely to resonate with anybody who has ever been a teenager, but just because it resonates does not guarantee that it will be memorable. For his first feature-length effort, Adam Salky has done a decent job. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with in the future.

I would recommend this film for anyone who finds themselves interested in sexuality in general or especially teen sexual awakenings. The plot itself is not extremely gripping but the actors bring a certain raw, candid look at "graduating" adolescence and embarking upon the lifelong trip of finding one's identity.

Those who wish a typical Hollywood or status quo film experience should stay away from this one as it's quite creative and caters to those seeking intellectual or romantic pondering. So while this film is indeed interesting the average movie-watcher may find it lacking for entertainment value.

'Dare' is pretty much what you'd expect from a low-budget indie film: Lazy direction and pretentious storytelling. The standards for indie films are pretty low and this movie is one of those movies that does nothing to change that.

Every character pits him or herself into the perfect mold of dramatic archetypes (minor roles included). The female lead, Alexa, played by a modest Emmy Rossum, is your typical high school overachiever who breaks out of her shell after a moment of foreseeable clarity. Playing a character that's easy to hate, Emmy works well with the distasteful card she was dealt. Ashley Springer's character Ben, however, doesn't get the benefit of the doubt. The unyielding character is completely unlikable throughout the whole movie and he falls victim to being portrayed by an inconsistent actor. Johnny Drake, the biggest cliché of film history, is the only likable character. Zach Gilford shows range in his acting abilities by breaking away from his awkward roles to play the "bad boy" with a heart of gold.

Everything about this movie reeks of presumptuous "raw" perspectives of teen life and sexuality. Unfortunately, the unapologetic principle that drives the plot forward isn't enough to save it from the dull progression, simple dialogue and contradictory character development. The writer, David Brind, gives me the impression that he wrote this script overnight with help from a 13 year old companion of his.

The film is directed by Adam Salky, who's lack of any relevant experience is evident. The atmosphere of the film is nonexistent. The characters had might as well been in subspace. Salky does absolutely nothing to build an environment for the viewers. Mid-shots are as close as we get to a setting. The worst part is that the movie tries to feed off that false feeling of genuine temperance with its weary direction. It didn't work.

I do, however, applaud Brind for having the courage to portray sexuality in ways that mainstream writers are scared to (even in today's more open-minded society). Unfortunately, all applauds come to an abrupt pause as the credits roll. The ending is yet another "profound" attempt at open-endings. Don't get me wrong. I don't always need everything wrapped together with a pretty little bow but there's only so many gaps that a viewer should fill on his own, don't ya think?

I only give this film a 6 because, having seen the short-form original on the BOYS LIFE 5 DVD compilation, I generally prefer it over this feature film. The only point in this film's favor is that it develops the character of Johnny Drake, who was virtually raised in an emotional vacuum. The creators totally blow the ending of this film, by not having Johnny develop a relationship with either Alexa or Ben that satisfies his desire to be loved. The short-form film never touches on this theme, and I believe is better because of it. That film at least leaves the viewer wondering what might happen in the future with Ben, but neither film leaves the viewer with a satisfactory resolution. Believe me, the version of the story told in 20 minutes works better from a cinematic perspective that this drawn-out version of the same story.