Like It Is Reviews

Its heart may be in the right place, but nothing else is: This romance set in the demimonde of London's club scene is pretty awful. Craig (Steve Bell), a young gay man from Blackpool, finds a way out of his closeted life and dangerous career as a fighter on the illegal no-holds-barred kick-boxing circuit when he meets Matt (Ian Rose), a London club promoter and music producer. Craig moves into Matt's Soho flat and the two become lovers, but it's no bed of roses: Matt's druggy, openly gay club life makes Craig uncomfortable, while Craig's temper and lack of flash embarrasses Matt. Fanning the flames are Matt's roommate Paula (Dani Behr), a jealous, aspiring pop star who wants Matt all to herself, and Kelvin (a very sleazy Roger Daltrey), Matt's lascivious boss, who seems intent on keeping Matt and his "bit of rough" apart. Oremland tries hard for frankness, but his quick and dirty tour of gay life -- lots of happy, hugging lesbians; talk of HIV status and AIDS deaths; badly shot sex scenes -- feels forced, uncomfortable and strangely removed. The characterizations are skin-deep and amazingly uninsightful, and the only time the screenplay avoids cliche is when it lapses into illogicality. Crucially, Bell fails to bring much charm or sympathy to his role, and it's hard to see what got Craig all aquiver. Nice shots of Blackpool, though.