This film is an attempt at a gay version of Richard Linklater's "Before" films, that follow two protagonists as they interact in real time. It has a lot going for it, including great production values, good actors, and dialogue that deftly engages the audience throughout. The problem, though, is that neither character is particularly likable, making it difficult to care about them. The primary character, Dean, lives a bourgeois life, facing obstacles ranging from having to transition to progressive lenses to deciding whether to fill the pool at his beautiful second home with fresh or salt water. He's a bit of a whiner, complaining that his graphic design clients set parameters and don't allow him to follow his "artistic" whims. He claims to be a Democratic Socialist, but his only apparent effort toward social justice is that he used to listen to NPR. He's a bit narcissistic and seems oblivious to his privilege. The secondary character, Alex, remains somewhat a cipher. We learn that he "has money" but not much more other than as it relates back to Dean. He's mostly a foil for Dean's angst, discussing things like whether Dean should trade his vacation desert home up for a better one at the top of the hill. In all, a good try, but I just couldn't care about these characters.
