Review by Raymond Murray
By: Raymond Murray
In-House Review - Jan 12 2012
How can a drama about two handsome, but straight guys be called a gay film? Well, you'll need to watch this enjoyably subversive Argentinean version of Dangerous Liaisons to find out! One of the most acclaimed Latin American films of the year, Plan B...
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How can a drama about two handsome, but straight guys be called a gay film? Well, you'll need to watch this enjoyably subversive Argentinean version of Dangerous Liaisons to find out! One of the most acclaimed Latin American films of the year, Plan B is a witty, involving tale of revenge, deception and pent-up desire. Tall, confident wild-haired Bruno is pissed that he's been dumped by his girlfriend and upset that she's seeing another guy, Pablo, a sweet metrosexual charmer. Determined to get even and get back his girl, Bruno devises a plan that involves befriending Pablo, making him fall in love with him, and then dumping him in the hopes that his ex will run into his arms again. But something strange happens as the scheme develops. The two guys actually like each other and as they get closer, a strange sexual tension builds ? a tension neither one expected. A warm, funny independent sexual comedy that explores two men's man's sexuality in a totally refreshing and original way and while a great watch for gay men, should be required viewing for every straight man. (Spanish with English subtitles)
Review by gbelly
By: gbelly
Offbeat and enjoyable.
Review by Spongey
By: Spongey
I have to admit to enjoying this movie more than other reviewers. The pacing is rather slow, and sometimes we wait for something to happen and it never does! The close ups should lend itself to intimacy but the results are kind of amateurish. The pl...
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I have to admit to enjoying this movie more than other reviewers. The pacing is rather slow, and sometimes we wait for something to happen and it never does! The close ups should lend itself to intimacy but the results are kind of amateurish. The plot makes very little sense but most gay indie flicks don't, so I didn't hold that against it. And even though I had figured how the movie would end before the half-way point. I still enjoyed the awkward stumbling and realizations they were meant for each other. And while you need lots of patience, I still recommend this movie.
Review by Romantic at heart
By: Romantic at heart
I had no great expectations when watching the film but was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it. Yes it gets a bit slow in parts but who does'nt need to slow down every once in a while. I found that once I got into the pace of the film those moments...
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I had no great expectations when watching the film but was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it. Yes it gets a bit slow in parts but who does'nt need to slow down every once in a while. I found that once I got into the pace of the film those moments did not bother me as much. It was also nice to see the mixed community of people portrayed in the film. to me(self proclaimed romantic) the end was well worth the wait.
Review by chromo.man
By: chromo.man
This film has a fairly engaging story, which seems to lose steam due to the director's penchant for slow interludes which I suppose are meant to convey some thoughtful reflection (the characters'? the viewer's?) There is a bit of dramatic tension (...
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This film has a fairly engaging story, which seems to lose steam due to the director's penchant for slow interludes which I suppose are meant to convey some thoughtful reflection (the characters'? the viewer's?) There is a bit of dramatic tension (will he? won't he?) which slowly builds to a too-sudden resolve. Still, I think you'll be glad that you went along for the ride.
Review by latin boy
By: latin boy
The movie had a great idea but the execution was terrible.The movie was tooo slow for my taste. Also they really need a good film editor. Besides that the movie was not that bad.
Review by just a reviewer
By: just a reviewer
......backfire? What with seemingly "Heavy Heteros" as our 2 leads, it's a valid one. And you should know at the start that most critical to viewing this film is lots of patience is required. Hey, IF good things are going to happen, normally time ...
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......backfire? What with seemingly "Heavy Heteros" as our 2 leads, it's a valid one. And you should know at the start that most critical to viewing this film is lots of patience is required. Hey, IF good things are going to happen, normally time is needed. Time for us to realize who and what we really are, time to tell if there's a fit that'll work for us. So, don't rush this, Viewers; your Director intended for you to be as patient through the process as are his 2 leads (which is not to say there will be no confusion along the way---that state of mind usually goes hand-in-hand with discovery).
Yo.....let me get something out of the way right up front. If you don't think the ending 4 minute scene makes your viewing time more than worth it, then I'll eat my ticket stub, AND tell you that you're not the gay romantic you'd like to think you are.
Yes, there are things wrong with this film, but most of them have to do with a lack of resources to produce anywhere near a top-grade production. This young and talented (cute, too) writer/director likely did the best he could with what he had. A lack of inviting surroundings in which to shoot---particularly an important, waterfront "getting to know one another" scene which takes place in an abandoned industrial area of crumbling cement, rusting metal and weed growth is one example. And, sadly, it undermines the relationship development such a scene is aiming for. Still, it does remind us that our 2 lead characters are not of the upscale, penthouse-swinging type---and their living quarters reflect that.
Speaking of leads (Manuel Vignau and Lucas Ferraro).....if you begin thinking these 2 are mere eye candy, they'll have you right where they want you---squirming for "It" to happen. What's "It" you ask? Well, c'mon, be honest; you went into this thing thinking, "Oooh, 2 straights falling for each other." Sure ya did....but you know, seeing good things happen often takes patience---and our leads and director are quite good at making us wonder "if" as well as "when" "It" might occur. Yeah, and during all the hanging on you'll be doing, you may just start to notice that these guys play off each other wonderfully---which is no small thing if a film is to be memorable. (This being a low budget Indy, the DVD Special Features interviews of both actors, perhaps surprisingly, show them to be quite well-spoken and certainly well aware of what they needed to do to get the point of this story across to us).
Moving to the end here, let me say you'll just have to stick around to see how the big "Plan B" of this film's title works out (clue: "Retard," I gave you an earlier hint in this review). (And see, right there's yet another clue---from a line in the film, itself). As a closing comment on the overall production, I'll just say: maybe not the most original concept and polished execution....but on the whole, Satisfying.
PS--Yes, there is a moral to this tale. It's easy....If you're gonna fall, expect to fall hard!
Review by Amos Lassen
By: Amos Lassen
"Plan B"
Contrived
Amos Lassen
Those of you who read my reviews know that I rarely pan anything. I always look for the good so that I can give encouragement to those who write and make movies for us. Sometimes I really have to stretch....
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"Plan B"
Contrived
Amos Lassen
Those of you who read my reviews know that I rarely pan anything. I always look for the good so that I can give encouragement to those who write and make movies for us. Sometimes I really have to stretch. This time that is not going to happen.
I struggled to care about "Plan B" from the start, but after an hour I decided to give it up. The setup is contrived and silly-? jilted Bruno (Manuel Vilna) plans to end his ex-girlfriend's new relationship by seducing her new man, Pablo (Lucas Ferraro). Exploiting potential to make this into a farce would have required a great deal more wit, timing and daring than writer/director Marco Berger seems capable of, however. Bruno's is poorly developed as a character as is his plan. (Laura was s with him behind Pablo's back anyway, which seemed to lower the stakes somewhat). There isn't enough chemistry between the two male leads to make their awkward scenes together work. Aside from that, the film is crippled by director Berger's sluggish pacing, and by the time Pablo had discovered the true nature of his new friend's intentions, I had already decided that waiting to see how the next 45 minutes would pan out would not be a productive use of my time when I had so many other things to do. I walked but I felt bad so I went back and watched it another time.
Bruno is dumped by his girlfriend yet he maintains a calm, indifferent expression while in his mind he plans cold, sweet vengeance. Laura seeing him once in a while, but she has another boyfriend, Pablo. Bruno becomes Pablo's friend, with the idea of pulling the couple apart and maybe introducing Pablo to another woman. But, along the way, the possibility of a plan B arises; a more effective plan, but a plan which will put his own sexuality into question.
"Plan B"is a strange project of the young Argentine Mark Berger, who armed with his digital camera, plans to show the birth of a homosexual love as simply and as true as possible. With many flaws, he succeeds.
This is a light comedy written by the director himself with all the limitations and the onset of semi-amateurism, but also with a will and a way of telling it in its own original way.
The Argentine sports scene is as hilarious, clever and irreverent in the first half as the second half is tedious and empty. The concept of three characters in confined spaces sets the pace with irony. It is here that the director works best on the characters, taking the reins and gradually tangling them. However, Berger soon loses his way and the viewer is left with no reaction as the characters stare out into space. There is potential here, but it is lost in this mess of a movie.