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KAC wrote on 04/13/2009:

A film that will be of long-term interest

Although Long-Term Relationship is billed as a romantic comedy, it seems to me to be better described as a light-hearted romantic drama. Some of its comedy falters, and some scenes in the movie are so serious and sullen, and some characters in the movie express such bitterness or sadness, that the comedic effect of the film is significantly diluted. Writer/producer Rob Williams should have decided early on whether to make the film a true comedy or a real drama interspersed with some comedy. I think the halfway nature of this film lessens its overall impact. Nevertheless, I did end up enjoying the movie for the humor present in its better scenes, its take on the progression of, and the perils involved in, a long-term gay relationship, and, yes, admittedly, its nudity. Indeed, the movie will be a special delight for fans of Matthew Montgomery (and who isn’t?) who have always longed to see more of his body exposed in a film. The movie seems to represent in many respects a celebration of Montgomery’s beautiful male physique. From the opening striptease to the closing bedroom scene, Montgomery’s character is in and out of his clothes numerous times throughout the movie. There are even some brief frontal scenes. This, perhaps, doesn’t always contribute to the artistic merits of the film, but it does make watching the movie a heart-pounding experience.
The movie’s dominant storyline is very simple. Glenn, played by Montgomery, decides to respond to a personals ad placed by Adam, played by Windham Beacham, who is seeking another for a committed relationship. The two meet and discover that they share many things in common. As their relationship develops, though, differences between the two emerge and cause problems for the relationship. The two very nearly split up, but, in the end, Glenn figures out the source of their difficulties and fully commits himself to Adam. Glenn is clearly the main character in this movie, and the story unfolds primarily from his perspective. Just why Glenn chooses to abandon his promiscuous single lifestyle, which has been so much a part of who he is, is never explained, although there is a hint in the movie that what prompts Glenn is his feeling that he is getting old (which is hardly believable). Also baffling is why Glenn stays in the relationship, despite the serious troubles, and exactly how he comes to his conclusion about what the problem is. Furthermore, I could never figure out completely what was the relationship between Glenn and his roommate, Vincent. The two once were, but are no longer, a couple, in spite of the fact that they are still living together and, surprisingly, still have amorous feelings for each other. Vincent becomes extremely resentful of Glenn’s relationship with Adam as it develops and initially tries to derail it but then, near the end of the movie, suddenly changes face and encourages Glenn not to let Adam go. Of course, people doing strange things that we cannot always account for is undoubtedly acceptable in a comedy when it contributes to the humor, but in this case it does not. There are, in addition, several subordinate storylines that run parallel to the main storyline but, unfortunately, never quite intersect it. Among Glenn’s friends is a married couple who are disappointed in that they haven’t yet had a child, and Glenn is made very happy when the wife tells him that she is finally pregnant. Another friend of Glenn has trouble keeping a steady job. Just why these things are happening we don’t know, and, moreover, how precisely they fit into the overall story is unclear. These subplots involving Glenn’s friends appear overall to be extraneous diversions from the main storyline and seem to go nowhere in terms of clearly advancing or enhancing the main plot.
Long-Term Relationship is a movie that is carried along in large measure by the acting abilities of Montgomery and Beacham, although some scenes involving people playing Glenn’s friends are effective if only for their drama and not their humor. However, much of the dialogue in the conversations among Glenn’s friends appears too rehearsed and contrived to sound natural, and some scenes involving only the minor characters appear fake. There is one scene, for instance, where two characters are supposed to be gardening; it is quite obvious that they are not really gardening but are only pretending to be gardening. Indeed, several of the people who portray Glenn’s friends seem to be acting at times as if they are on stage instead of on film. The level of pretense apparent in some of these extraneous scenes could be accepted on stage, but not in a movie. I suspect that the intent of these lesser scenes was to provide for some Seinfeld-like humor, but, unfortunately, for the most part it doesn’t work. The comedy that does work is provided mainly by the interaction between Glenn and Adam and the interaction between the two and Adam’s parents. It is too bad that the film did not focus more attention on these interactions and the humor resulting from them. I would like to have seen the ups and downs of Glenn and Adam’s blossoming and faltering relationship developed more fully in the movie. In the process, the film could have poked fun at more of the myths surrounding gay relationships, myths that are often accepted as fact by both gay and straight people. For instance, is it really true that those in a gay relationship celebrate their anniversary every month and a golden anniversary after five years?
The quality of the picture and sound on DVD is superb, although the background music is not something I noticed very much until the closing scenes of the movie. The DVD has special features that include audio commentary and alternative endings. Long-Term Relationship is a quaint film that will be of some interest for some time to come, but I don’t believe that it will emerge as a classic.

-KAC

gengidash wrote on 07/29/2008:

This was a great movie. Given so many indie gay movies put the OFF in AWFUL, this one had great lead actors and a good storyline. Hated the best friend character; he was a jerk and he got on my nerves, but he was balanced by the femmy character, who got funnier as the movie went on.

Best friend: I don't want you to turn into me.
FC: Oh honey, nobody wants that.

Just an excellent movie. I highly recommend it.

Conner wrote on 05/16/2008:

Being a "BIG" Matthew Montgomery fan. I bought this movie, and like any other movie he has been in, it was "GREAT"!!

I loved how it ended, and I won't give the ending away. All I will say is, either rent it, or purchase the movie. You won't be sorry, if you do.

I rate this flick "4 - STARS" Than again, I'll throw in an extra star, that's "5 STARS"!!!

Janorm wrote on 02/27/2008:

This is the most definitive love story of gay life to come out. This film has all the ethos, angst, and pathos necessary for a superb story line. Truly, an enjoyable picture to see with the one you love!!

Peterp88 wrote on 12/28/2007:

I purchased this title to see Matthew Montgomery again. I adored him in 'Gone, But Not Forgotten'. We get to see his beautiful body in the nude and not clouded in red light. Windham Beacham is beautiful. Too bad we see him only from the waist up. Still beautiful! I found the story line very believable and empathised with the lead characters. I will not present spoilers with the exception that it had a happy ending as in 'Latter Days.' Buy it. You will like it.