Latter Days

Reviewed by: Ian & David

Copyright © 2007 ? All Rights Reserved

Studio : TLA Releasing

DVD $16.99 (extras with DVD)

Book $5.99

Soundtrack $16.99

Starring : Steve Sandvoss, Wes Ramsey, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rebekah Jordan, Amber Benson, Khary Payton, Jim Ortlieb, Erik Palladino, Mary Kay Place, Jacqueline Bisset

This Non Porn film is one that frankly, I was rather pleased with. It was an entertaining film that really had some very good acting in it, along with a rather interesting plot line. There were even a few sub plots, and you know, was a nice change from the crappy porn flicks we have been watching lately. This is a movie that didn’t have a lot of cocks showing, a few nice tushies but not stiffies.

Still, it was rather a nice escape for a couple of hours, or less really. The young actors in the movie were damn good, and very, very, believable in their roles. The young Mormon missionary was perhaps a little less believable than the shallow slut was (Wesley Ramsey), but overall, it was well acted. The plot was perhaps predictable in some spots, yet even then it was still exciting, as there was always that lingering doubt.

I enjoyed the subtle little innuendo’s as well, and frankly I would have missed some of them if our guest hadn’t tipped me off to watch closely. It is a movie you do need to watch closely, specially when you think a scene is just filler, because in reality, none of the scenes were fillers. They all were neatly tied together to make this a pleasing experience.

There were some surprises as well, which actually were. I mean, you know how in some plots, you can sort of guess at the upcoming surprises, or that one is due? Well not in this flick, though there are some random happenings that you forget about, until wham, you are hit by them.

While the ending is your typical ending, how they get to that stage is what makes this a good film. It hits you on a few levels if you let it. There is the simple boy meets boy, boy falls for boy, plot and then there is the more intense plot. Reason being, it isn’t so simple as boy falls for boy, specially when one is a Mormon Missionary.

While it didn’t delve into that whole Mormon thing, it does make one think a bit about religion, and about how far a field some religions have gotten, from the days of Christ and the belief that God was one of Unconditional Love.

It also, with this being an election year, make one think a little more about some of the candidates for office, such as Mitt Romney who happens to be a rather highly placed Mormon himself. It kind of helps one understand how anal he has become about Gays, though it sure doesn’t explain his past when he courted the Gay Vote during his Senate run.

Now I know, a film is supposed to relax you, to not raise the blood pressure, and this is one of those that does both actually. On the one level, you do get rather pissed at how much suffering there is, due to religious orders, but then there is the ending, and you get that feel good vibe. It doesn’t have to be a downer, and this movie certainly isn’t.

It is afterwards, when the video has long been returned to the local video store, the television is off, that some might tend to think more about what was left untold. While the video showed a side of the Mormon Church that isn’t exactly pretty, or nice, it doesn’t hit you over the head with it either. It lets you come to that on your own, and just from what you see, it can be chilling when you mull it over.

Then there is the way the Pretty Boy becomes something more than just a cock chasing slut. His growth is interesting, well told and best of all, well shown by the actor who portrays him. It is a very interesting journey we get to go on with him, and while I’d have loved to see more, I think what was shown was perhaps just enough.

The supporting cast was excellent as well. They fit their roles, and yet as you think back on the movie, you realize there was a whole lot more to each one, that you only caught a glimpse of. It certainly is a movie I would buy, or rent again too. In fact, as the wife is off on some business, I think we will indeed rent it again, when he returns.

I might even check out the Book version because, well the movie was that good. I am of the opinion that books tell a lot more of a story than a 90 minute or 120 minute movie could ever do. There is more room for development, character growth and so it might be an idea to check out the book as well. Though it appears that the book version came after the video release, so who knows, it could just be a rehash of the video itself.

Bottom line is, this is a good gay film. It isn’t porn, and the sex is very limited, though there is one damn hot scene in it. Still, its not about sex, but about romance, about growing as a person. It is also maybe about Hope. Hope that things can change, that the upcoming generation, no matter how cloistered, how programmed, can break out of the cycle of hate, that seems to exist.

Supposedly the DVD comes with some bonus features, including interviews with some of the actors, including Wesley Ramsey who plays the slut. What is also interesting, is the actors in this film are straight. You could have fooled me, given how well the two stars played their parts, but according to the movie blurb, they are.