User Reviews

This film could have been the usual hackneyed, gritty, kitchen sink drama with a moral running through it. Instead, this is a well acted (by non-professionals), competently directed comedy short with a subject matter that will resonate with most people as we've all been there.

I saw this film on the Cinema 16 compilation and I feel it stands up well against the other shorts (from such directors as Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Mike Leigh and John Smith).

Well worth watching.

Two young Scots boys walk to school and talk about things relating to, well, y'know…things 'down there'! When they get to school they find that one is offered on by a girl. Despite his nerves his older friend teaches him how to kiss and develops his confidence – but has he really got hold of all the issues that come with this difficult age?

I will hold my hands up and say that I got it wrong. Until recently a different review was on this page from when I had watched this short film back in February of 2002 and I had said that it was 'interesting' and 'funny' but that it failed to deliver anything of any significance. I watched it again today and I loved it and, more importantly, 'I got it'. I can only assume I was distracted the first time I saw this because it is a very good and clever look at 'the change' and it captures perfectly how most of us learn things and who, just when we think we've got it sussed, something else points out to us that we really don't. The discussion the two boys have is well written and the ending (which I wrongly took as some sort of punchline) perfectly shows us that this teenager is not at the end of his journey as he thinks!

Of course it is not perfect and many of my points are still valid from my earlier review, but lets be fair – this is a short film and the requirements on plot and character are not as onerous as in a feature. No, all this wants to deliver is a story about puberty and do it in a clever and funny way. The fact that this was made for £3000 just makes it more impressive - although I am surprised that it has won as many awards as it did.

The two performances are great from both Ross Wright and Tarek Hamad as John and Andy. Each have their little quirks, the elder singing to Kylie tunes while the younger is yet to 'develop' and is taught kissing in a mirror by his storm trooper attired friend. They are friends and family of the director rather than being 'real' actors but they come across very natural and relaxed and they convinced me that they were having a real conversation.

Overall this is not perfect and maybe it is flawed but I think it is well written and (for £3000) very well delivered. McDowall handled it well and I think it is better than many reviews here (including my old one) give it credit for. So if you, like me, just didn't think a great deal of this I suggest you leave it for a while and then rewatch it – you'll find a sharp script well delivered on a budget and a final scene that is not a poor punchline but rather an effective comment in relation to the story that had gone before.

Considering its obvious budget, this first time short film is a decent attempt. The performances were adequate for what the film was probably intended for. Most of all it was fairly amusing, although it did meander in the middle. Top marks for a first attempt. 7/10