A Revry original, Unconventional is a really well-liked queer dramedy that feels totally different from the usual stuff. The heart of the story is about two pretty eccentric queer siblings and their partners trying to build a family that doesn't follow the traditional rules. It takes a super raw and unfiltered look at queer life, diving deep into things like mental health, addiction, and how complicated identity and relationships can get. It’s not afraid to get messy or show people at their most vulnerable, and it really pushes boundaries while showing a lot of different queer experiences. The first season has nine episodes, and each one is about a half-hour long. The story centers on Noah, a grad student who’s been struggling for years to wrap up his PhD. He’s been with his husband, Dan, for nine years, and they’ve recently gotten married and moved to Palm Springs. While they're trying to figure out how to start a family and have a baby, they decide to shake things up by in...
Yo is a university student who is best friends with Noboru. The two of them hang out all the time and it's clear that Yo has a crush on Noboru. A gay bar Bb is the only place where Yo can be himself (gay) and has a friend working behind the counter with whom they share each other's personal lives. Noburu has starting to see a girl and Yo feels compelled to make up a story that he has a girlfriend too. A sudden incident where Yo's bar friend's mother dies before he could have come out to her, makes Yo realize that he needs to be true about himself to his friends and family, regardless of what happens. He first comes out to his sister who takes the news very positively. Next, after immense struggle he comes out to his best friend Noburu. In fact, he also tells him that he had a crush on him. But Noboru continues to be the best supportive friend as he was before. Eventually he comes out to his parents too, whose reactions are more to blame themselves for Yo being what he is but eventually they also come around. The film ends with Yo confiding to Noboru that its probably time to come out to their remaining group of friends too.
I like the fact that it's a simple story. No unnecessary drama. Even the parents reactions initially is something that you would expect, but thankfully they talk it out and Yo shares some books to help them understand him better. My favorite is Noboru's reactions. He is slightly happy to know that he was Yo's crush and still he continues to be the same friend as he always was. Very supportive. I was hoping to see that Yo and the friend working in the bar get together, because I feel there was a potential of some love story there. But I guess the idea was to show the coming out story and process. Thankfully, its all shown in a positive light. On a negative note, the film is way too slow. Some scenes just drag on for no reason whatsoever. Whatever the makers wanted to show could have easily been achieved in a 45 minute short film. At almost an hour and a half length, the film rally tests your patience before coming to the point.
Sometimes, as individuals we think we way too much, make up stories in our mind and mostly that people would react negative to coming out. But you will be surprised how most people understand it and eventually come around. I liked this positive message. I am not sure what Japanese culture and society is like when it comes to gay men, but this will come as a positive message to younger folks struggling to come out. (5/10)
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