"Best Day Ever" (2014) Starting the new year out on a sappy note, because.....well sometimes life NEEDS to be sappier! :D Based on the true story of filmmaker Jeff London and how after being single for 48 years, his life changed when he met the love of his life and found his true purpose. This film explores the issues of aging in the gay community, especially in the light of being single/not having found love -- as well as the challenges of entering into a relationship with a "significant" age gap. David is turning 50 (without much sincere support from his friends) and questioning his life's path...wondering why things didn't turn out the way he had planned. Into his life walks Shane, the 35-year old cousin of his best friend...visiting from Indiana. The two awkwardly hit it off and end up falling in love. Mel England does a great job of portraying all of the mixed emotions David is feeling. And Tom Saporito adorably brings Shane's shy/introverted/video gaming geekness to life! The biggest flaw of this work is that is has a bit of an identity crisis. It is too long to be a true Short Film.....yet it doesn't delve into the back stories of the characters deep enough to be a full fledged feature film (Running time is 1 hour and 17 minutes). I would have preferred the film to have veered in one direction or the other, but still have to say it was an enjoyable watch.

Charming, sweet and realistic...a delightful film about love and fate...and never giving up! Great performances and chemistry between the leads...Mel England is a gem! Whether your gay or straight, you will be able to relate to the frustration, insecurities, and doubts the characters are dealing with. This is life...all human beings face the ups and downs of relationships...it is unavoidable. Another wonderful touch is the way "age differences don't matter"...is dealt with...including the very real depiction of a much older friend revealing his relationship experiences in a positive, "go for it" manner. This film deserves to be seen and it's a great date night movie. Available on DVD and Blu-ray...be prepared for a touching experience! I was sorry to see it end...i wanted more!

There are no spoilers in this review mainly because I just couldn't take watching past the first half hour. First off I should say I love films. I love gay films. I am gay and love to watch movies that I can also relate to as a gay man. I watch many films and love all types of films though. Now let me get back to this flop...The opening scene with the main character in bed was good. He is in bed and the audience hears his voice discussing about growing to be fifty years old and the questions one who is turning fifty might ask themselves. Great.Then the next scene is where is just goes bad. The main aging character is talking with his boyfriend about what they will do for his birthday. Its at that point that I just couldn't take it... the fifty year old whines and makes an argument about anything and everything. Great performance? No! Bad writing. A script that just plays into the stereotypes of relationships going sour. I felt like I was watching a bad 60's slasher film with the lines that were coming out of the actors mouths. Horrible. But I pulled through and waited. Next scene... The aging whiner is perhaps visiting his friend who's cousin is visiting but it seems like these two are actually on a date. That was just weird but then the conversation of awkwardness begins. At first it's amusing, even cute but the fifty year old becomes just a annoying egocentric prick and you're dying for the cousin to just tell him to leave. I stopped the film there. Worst writing ever. Worst night ever spent watching a film.

This movie is filled with so many different kinds of emotions...love, confusion, desires, dreams, bitterness, and hope. Thanks to the wonderful cast, great writing and directing this movie is so well produced that it could appeal to all people regardless of sexual orientation, class, etc. It opened my eyes that we all deserve the love we want. Mel England's performance rings so true...you felt his pain in finding his way through life with his career at a standstill and his love life questionable. It was an adventure that went so many different directions as he struggled to find happiness. Ace Lundon's epilogue was so touching. Thank you for making such a wonderful and memorable movie.