Big Boys

Wow! This film was a very pleasant surprise. Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything at all from this film, but this brilliant coming of age film of a 14 year old teenager is honest, unique, very real and delicate (keeping n mind the age and the lead character that the makers have chosen, as is evident by the film title). It is a film that will make you smile and, thanks to the inherent awkwardness of teenagers, cringe in equal measure.

14 year old Jamie is a "big boy".  Alongwith his brother and his favorite cousin Allie they are supposed to head out for a camping trip. Just before the trip he finds out that Allie's boyfriend Dan will also be joining them, which he doesn't like the idea of. Thankfully Dan is kind and friendly guy and soon enough Jamie starts liking him. Also because Dan turns out to be a fine specimen of. Beefy guy himself, not unlike the gay neighbors Jamie eyes through his bedroom window. They bond over food discussion and become a good team for games at night. In fact, Dan christens their team as the "Big Boys". But in Dan, Jamie starts questioning his own sexuality. As he starts to develop feelings for Dan (as is apparently a common phenomenon in teenagers), Jamie, for the first time also fantasizes about being with another man. He dreams he is grown up and living a happy life with Dan. You can see Jamie is like an excited nervous little guy around Dan and wants to do anything together his attention. They all go on a hiking trip in which Dan and Jamie get lost and this is one moment that Jamie is getting too close to his crush. Of course, doe to the age gap, Jamie's love will never b reciprocated, but in the finale scene, he gets the courage to talk about his feelings for Jamie openly to him.

This little gem of a film is less about romance but more about Jammie's scary yet very exciting feelings and sensations that he is going through. Because of social expectations, Jamie probably is under pressure to act less queer, but him having arousal feelings around Dan confuses him. Because around the same time, his brother is trying to hook him up with a girl and it is so visually apparent that Jamie doesn't know what's hitting him. The film is on firmer footing when it captures the warmth Dan shows Jamie and the teen’s hunger for it, babbling nervously and constantly finding excuses to hover around his cousin’s boyfriend. The star of the film is undoubtedly the child actor playing Jamie. He is a deeply kind character with an amusing maturity. The actor adds depth to his character, subtly morphing from initial nervousness into growing confidence, as he grows to understand and embrace his sexuality. There are many scenes where you can see his expressions and face change from excitement to fear to worry. The director is rightly the captain of the ship here. The film maker catches amusingly awkward interaction as Jamie navigates a slightly more grown-up world and confusing feelings. The director has avoided every hint of melodrama. The focus is on Jamie, exploring his struggle with self-image with larger size accompanied by his sexuality. I really appreciate how the boy has courage to speak his mind. He apologizes to his cousin when he knows he had been rude. And with same courage, he musters up the courage to finally speak his truth with Dan, head on and I was too happy to see how maturely Dan handles the situation. 

This is a story about a boy realizing that it's time for him to come out to those closest to him. And taking that first step is terrifying. Having said that it is also a lesson for us, the audiences of all ages and orientations, encouraging each of us to speak our truth and find strength in being honest with ourselves and those we care about. (8/10)