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Tim Brough wrote on 02/01/2012:

Denis is having a rotten week. He just lost his job of 11 years. His relationship is gone stale, and rocky. His Mother, a sweet and overbearing woman, is seriously ill. With all the turmoil going on around him, what does Mom suggest? "Get a dog." But when Dennis goes to the pound and can't decide which dog he wants, the one he finally chooses is gone when he goes back. When he finds out why, Dennis decides exactly what his modern mid-life crisis needs.

He makes his "Abrupt Decision" (the fifth feature from filmmaker Paul Bright) when he realizes that his creative collapse mirrors that of the dogs' dangerous lives. With some inspiration from his Mom (Cynthia Schiebel) and the reluctant support of his partner, Milosz (David LaDuca), Denis (Steve Callahan) decides that saving the lives of animals and educating people on their care is his way into a meaningful second act. You know how the saying goes, if you don't want to be upstaged in a movie, stay away from children and dogs? Despite the superb job by Steve and David, the pups are "Abrupt Decision's" scene stealers. But beware. Even with the cute pooches running amuck, this is a very emotionally striking movie.

In the new economy, where men like Denis can find their lives upended and discover that your expertise vaporized after 50, there are many among us who will relate to the impact of "Abrupt Decision's" story. As Denis struggles to find the right decisions in matters of utmost importance, you may put down the doggy treats and reach for the hankies. I'll certainly say that the film is a must-see for pet-lovers, but it also carries an intimate, personal life story.

Amos Lassen wrote on 01/13/2012:

Paul Bright’s new film once again proves that he is one the front line of the new gay cinema. He manages to handle major issues of gay life in a way that what otherwise might be problematic instead is just part of being who we are. “Abrupt Decision” deals with two lovers who face the fact that what once drew them together is no longer there but the film skirts the issue somewhat and this becomes a subplot as we watch our hero, Denis (Steve Callahan), come to terms with who he is. When Denis arrived a few minutes late to the place where he was working for the last 20 years, he was greeted with the news that he was no longer needed. Denis stands before midlife crisis and this was really bad news for him. His partner is a stay at home blogger and Denis is the provider for the two. We see what the result of a bad economy can do and this is certainly relevant to today.

Denis’s midlife crisis really did not deal with him getting older but with his own self image and what he would do now that he was no longer employed. Denis know that there was more to life than working and supporting his partner, Milosz, (David Laduca) and as we get to know him, we see him as a man with a heart of gold and oddly enough it was a stray dog in the park that made him realize that there was still a world out there and a life to be lived. Denis did not look back and try to recapture the youth that he lost Rather he looked ahead and wondered if he really had done anything with his life and what was his next move going to be.

So many of us are held captive by personal struggles and the loss of a job also means limited financial resources. Bright handles the entire situation in a comedic way and what I found so interesting is that I found myself laughing at myself as I laughed at Denis. Denis came across, to me; at least, as an “everyman” and in him, I saw much of myself. He is a good man who is floundering in the world probably because he had no idea of what he was going to do and also because his relationship seems have lost the fire it once had. (To make matters worse, his partner cheats on him and we are not sure who knows this). Denis begins to lose his grasp on everything, His job loss made him realize that there was something missing with his relationship and with his lover. Then his mother becomes ill and he must decide whether to pull the plugs on the machine that is keeping her alive. Denis seems to be paralyzed with being unable to make a decision and when the crisis becomes acute, he shows his compassion by adopting dogs. He takes those who are about to be put down and his saving of the dogs is a parallel to the people he cannot save and he, himself, being one of those people. We struggle with him and watch him accept himself.