tlashop.com

bigbearphx wrote on 10/05/2008:

20 year old Angel is "The Good Boy" (2005), devoted to his single
mother, working at a dead-end job as a mover, and chasing his dream
for fame and fortune as a professional boxer. Problem is that the
dream seems further and further away each day, while his girlfriend
keeps hinting he should be doing more with his life, and threats of
foreclosure worry his mother. Just in time comes Vidall, a
persuasive older man who knew Angel's deceased father and also had a past with his mother, who offers the boy a new career path ... as an apprentice bank robber.

This impressive film is essentially a coming-of-age drama, showing
Angel's inner struggles between continuing his boxing career and
taking the seemingly easier path to quick riches. It's also a story
about loyalty, to family, mentors and friends, whom Angel values
above anything else in his own life. The direction and photography
are brilliant on this Spanish film (original title "Segundo asalto"),
and the acting first rate, especially the adorable newcomer Álex
González as Angel, as well as veteran actor Darío Grandinetti in the
role of Vidall.

Was promoted widely on gay video websites, although THERE IS NO GAY CONTENT WHATSOEVER (but a fair amount of homoerotic scenes involving Angel/Alex.) The liner notes on the DVD seemed to also have been worded to imply that there might be something going on between Angel and Vidall besides a business proposition, which is not the case.Not rated, but would be an NC-17 due to graphic (alas, heterosexual) sex scenes. Film is in Spanish with English subtitles. DVD has actor interviews (dubbed in English), photo gallery and brief behind-the-scenes short. Zero stars to PictureThisVideo for manipulating its gay customers, but the film itself does actually deserve a full four stars.