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Chained To My Bully Stepbrother (AI Vertical BL Drama)

This is the second vertical AI BL drama I've sat through, and honestly I went in knowing better. I had it on while I was doing cardio at the gym, and what struck me was just how much the plot echoed the last one I watched. Same step brother romance angle, same mystery girlfriend showing up near the end, same extra guy pining after one of the leads. Genuinely the only thing going for it was the runtime, the whole thing wrapped up in forty five minutes flat.  The setup kicks off with Finn moving schools because his mom just married into money. He finds out his new step brother Aiden goes to the same place, and he's warned to keep his distance from him. Their first run in at school is rocky, just like you'd expect, but there's this odd pull between them neither can shake off. Finn keeps telling himself not to read into it because Aiden's straight and openly homophobic. Things shift when some kids start bullying Finn and the student council president, Ryan, steps in to ...

Pretty Handsome

Sometimes just a stellar cast is not enough to make a good film. This film tries to be political, without really taking a side or giving out a message. There are way too many subplots which take away from the most important subject that should have been handled: the whole idea of trans people and their struggles and maybe an acceptance.

A very successful married doctor is struggling with his feelings. Of late, more and more he wants to wear female undergarments and even dreams of makeup and dresses. Bt given his profession(gynecologist) and him having two kids don't make things easy. His eldest son, almost 18, is dealing with a pregnant girlfriend unknown to his parents, younger 10 year old son is seeking sexual experiences online, and his wife is frustrated for having had sex and her son's friend openly flirts with her and make advances. When a trans male visits his office for medical checkup, it surprises the doctor because  of his boldness but also because it is probably the first time he is interacting with such a patient. Initially hesitant, he agrees to be his doctor, but never has the courage to admit to his own feelings. Thankfully halloween is fast approaching and he decides to dress up as a nurse. The reactions he gets from his colleagues and neighbors etc including his ids and parents is not what he expects. The film ends at an open note where the family has come together but there is really no conclusion to the doctors inner turmoil. 

The film feels like an after thought to be honest. It is trying to deal too many issues at the same time. A much better scenario and story would have been how the doctor would have taken courage in a small town to come out and be who he really is. I know its easier said than done, but it feels the idea and the main issue was just brushed upon. It ass never really discussed or viewpoints addressed. I wasn't expecting a conclusion when the moment I realized that this film is going to be all over the place. Which is such a shame because this film had some really fine casting and very well known actors. To use such great names and do injustice to both script and overall theme is sad. Trans is a complex topic and treating it so trivially is gross injustice. Watching this film, would eve no education or opinion to anyone since the film doesn't even take side to right or wrong. It just shows people's prejudices as they are. The only good thing was the trans couple who we meet as the doctor's patients and who are trying their best to live a life of honesty with every adversity coming their way. There are many much better films dealing with trans stories. This one can be avoided easily. (3/10)

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