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Amos Lassen wrote on 10/10/2011:

I just watched J.C. Calciano’s second feature “eCupid” which is on the festival circuit right now. It is a film about relationships and that period when the grass looks greener somewhere else.

Marshall (Houston Rhines) figured by now he would have everything he wanted but as he nears his thirtieth birthday, he is still working at the same job which did not give him the jump-start he had hoped for. He also feels the he and his boyfriend, Gabe (Noah Shuffman), have arrived at the “seven year itch” and Gabe has stopped sexual activity. Marshall goes to the internet for release where he finds something called “eCupid” an app that promises him true love. Soon Marshall understands that “eCupid” has taken over his life and seems to know everything about him. It even has the ability to text him with new of men and even texts Gabe to tell him that Marshall wants to date other people. Marshall is then forced to confront Gabe with the truth and what follows is a comedy that has all kinds of men throwing themselves at Marshall which only makes him see that the only man he really wants is about to leave.

This is a film filled with gayness and gay characters and portrays that sad aspect of gay life when we feel that what we have is not “good enough” but in reality is the best thing going. Aside from the new main characters (who are all excellent),we have John Callahan as Marshall’s boss but the real surprise is Morgan Fairchild as a waitress who is both mysterious and wise. Marshall learns that fantasy men are nowhere as good as the real thing.

This is one of the new romantic comedies that we have been getting lately but don’t think this is like the rest of the simplistic movies that tell us nothing new. While the plot is simple, the execution will pull you into this endearing budget film (and the good looking cast also helps). Turning 30 for some can be a wakeup call and a time for introspection. A new life sounds good before we enter a retirement home and the internet provides unlimited opportunities for romance (those of you who spend time surfing the net and visiting gay chat rooms are well aware of the “honesty” we find there). Marshall finds his life turned upside down by the plethora of romantic possibilities found there J. Most of us do not want to admit how much time we waste there and Marshall realizes what most of us realize after having had a succession of men who “want him”.

The dialogue is clever; there are plenty of laughs and we soon realize that we are really laughing at ourselves. Sometimes it takes something like this to make us see that what we have is the best of all worlds. The director told me that the entire film was shot in just 12 days but you would never know that or that this is a low budget film.

Sometimes we place too much on big budget, slick “Hollywood” films when we have seen lately that some of the most accomplished and enjoyable films are small independent productions that deal with the lives we lead. Calciano should be very proud of this film. Be on the look-out or it and I have heard that it will be released on DVD for Valentine’s Day, 2012. What a great way to spend a romantic date with someone you care about or hope to care about.

Dave wrote on 06/17/2011:

Hi gang, I just checked out the trailer for eCupid on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxfU9qvAk-U and it looks like a great movie, I can't wait for it to be available on DVD after its run around the Film Festivals.
Cheers