Purely Joyful Movie!

It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

I'm not big into writing reviews, but in all honesty, this has been one of the Best gay themed films I have ever watched, no sex, just a dude coming to terms with his feelings, and his commitments to family and learning how to deal with it all. The casting was excellent, and the whole theme was dealt with very sensitively, an Awesome script, and the setting was really beautiful. I really Loved it, hope you do too!! 10 out of 10.

Well, yes, Actors from the USA are deplorably bad kissers in gay movies (we do forgive Jack and Heath, but REALLY! What are you afraid of????) I've seen dozens of gay films made with "straight" actors on every continent but NA, and THEY are not afraid of real open mouthed, tongue involved, passionate kissing playing gay men, but actors of the USA are deplorably bad at expressing passion and deflate the film no-end.That aside, this is one of the truly GREAT GAY LOVE STORIES on film. This now from the perspective of a battle well fought and won. I've seen ad nauseum so many films of gay lust, desire, obsession - well, all fine until we got our rights. Now they seem rather trite and immature. The great gay love films, about true love and affection and devotion, are rare and this is one of them.I'll add RED DIRT, LILIES, LILTING and THE NORMAL HEART to that short list of great gay love films.Brad Rowe is just the most down to earth, decent, loving, patient man in love and Trevor Wright gives an Oscar-nom worthy performance as the confused artist, coming to grips with practically everything in his life all at once.Kudos to the director, to both actors and gratitude to you all. I have shown this film to friends and family and it has literally changed their thoughts and beliefs, so bravo to the film-makers, you have WON!

The dreadful thumbnail picture on the cover of this movie does it no favours. It's like the covers on trashy gay novels. It would be better served with something deeper and more thoughtful as this is a gem of a gay movie. True, it hasn't got much competition in that genre as most gay movies are dreadful, but even put against straight movies this would hold its own. Trevor Wright is the stand out star of this film. He's authentic, can act his socks off, and really nails the lead part. The film is about more than gay identity, which is probably why it's so watchable. I've seen this film a number of times and will probably return to it many times more. It's well acted and has a great storyline. Given some of the gay horrors I've watched, that makes this a ten without hesitation.

Although this is called a surfer movie, the surfing here was treated as an incidental. I think one of the surfing scenes, maybe the first one, should have been longer and shown the two leads riding the same wave. But aside from such artistic flaws here and there, the situation and plot grab you and carry you along to a memorable finale. It was so refreshing to have a gay-themed movie set in an ordinary town and with an ordinary blue-collar family, with not a single nightclub scene. It was also enjoyable to see gay characters allowed to interact with a young boy and play the Best Uncle role that so many of us carry in real life. The female roles were murkier, and it was hard to fathom what was going through their minds. But the guy/guy romance of the film was stunning. I particularly enjoyed the early scenes when Brad is mystified by the male attraction he's starting to feel. With a cipher of a father, it's obvious Brad needed and found an older brother figure in Shaun. Both guys are good-looking but not Hollywood perfect, which also made the film more credible. If we examined the plot with brutal realism, we might say it would be far-fetched for Brad to be admitted to art school a second time with a full scholarship, or that Shaun would be ready to take on both a partner and a toddler. But I think gay people are entitled to an escapist happy ending once in a while, and Shelter fills the bill quite nicely.