M/M Movie Review: "Shelter"

I watched "Shelter" last night on DVD. It's an m/m movie about a guy Zach (adorable- played by Trevor Wright) who doesn't know he's gay, but knows things aren't working with long time girlfriend/best friend. Zach's mother is dead, his father is ill and his sister is a judgemental self-centered slut with a young son that she barely acknowledges. She puts all her responsibilities on her brother Zach and has turned him into her full time babysitter so she can go out drinking and sleeping with assorted men, while Zach takes on raising her son. I hated her from beginning to end - a lot at the end. If you don't want to know details, stop reading my review now.

Zach gave up the chance to go to art school and pursue his dream of becoming an artist because of his family and his amazing feeling of responsibility to his nephew. His sister takes full advantage of him so that she can go off and party and sleep with assorted men - that she brings home to the small house she shares with Zach, her young son and her ailing father. She's beyond worthless in my view.

While Zach's friends go off to college and do their own thing Zach is stuck home caring for his nephew and working as a cook at a diner in a job that will go no where- but Zach NEVER complains. He has a heart of gold. He also has some pretty great friends including a girlfriend who is patient for a long time and suspects something might be going on with Zach. She doesn't judge him, but she is getting tired of the on again off again relationship they've had for years. She just wants Zach to make up his mind about what he wants for himself. Are they girlfriend/boyfriend or just best friends?

Speaking of friends, Zach's best bud is Gabe and Gabe is gone to college but stops home occasionally and meets up with Zach to go surfing or to a party. While Gabe is gone, Zach goes to his house to get one of his surf boards and finds Gabe's older - gay brother - Shaun back at the family home. Gabe just ended a relationship and is home until his new place is ready for him to move in. He's also working on his next book - the first book was about him coming out. A book that Zach admits he read and enjoyed. The two decide to go surfing together and find out they really enjoy each others company so they spend several more days together surfing, hanging out and meeting up with some of Zach's friends at a beach party. Zach's friends and sister begin to question his time spent with a gay man, but Zach brushes them off with the "It's Gabe's brother, we've known him for years!" excuse.

One night Zach and Shaun get to drinking and goofing around when Shaun gently caresses Zach then moves in for a kiss. Zach doesn't push away, he stays still and allows Shaun to kiss him. Nothing goes further and they both pass out. The next morning Zach is regretting the kiss and begins acting all weird. He won't talk to Shaun and is clearly fighting his feelings and the reality that he is in fact homosexual. This freaks him out and sends him into all sorts of turmoil. He knows what he wants, but he doesn't know if he can do it. If he can take that step or not. Here is one of my favorite scenes from the movie where you see Zach struggling to make his choice after weeks of ignoring Shaun and being an ass.

Now that Zach has made his decision things don't get easier because his relationship with Shaun is not "out", but a big secret and Zach is being torn apart trying to act like his old self, while he's fallen in love with a man. And not just any man, but his best friends older brother!

Zach's fear turns him into an ass again, and he pushes Shaun away and calls it all off. Shaun is clearly disappointed and has feelings for Zach but he doesn't push him.

Here's what I truly loved in the movie. His friends. Both his ex-girlfriend and his best friend Gabe (Shaun's brother) tell Zach they don't care if he's gay. They love him and it doesn't change anything - except his ex-girlfriend says she won't have sex with him anymore and he cracks up and hugs her. So cute, I loved it. And his best friend Gabe, tells him he loves him too and that he's happy for Zach and Shaun because it's his best friend and his brother both whom he loves. This totally had me crying. Then just as fast I was ticked off. The worthless sister drops even further on my respect scale when she tries to force Zach to raise her son so she can go off with her latest bed-buddy. She is repulsed by the thought of Zach being gay and thinks Shaun will somehow contaminate her young son, while she sees nothing wrong with the drunken losers she brings home, speaking to and treating her son like something to scrape off your shoes.

Zach has a lot of decisions to make all at once. Does he try to make a life with Shaun, out as a gay couple? Does he stay and raise his nephew? Does he take his second chance at art school? Does he have to chose or can he have it all? I had mixed emotions at the end. I was angry, happy and sad all at once. I was happy for Zach and Shaun, angry at the sister and both happy and sad for the nephew who will be better off, but what a sad excuse for a mother that poor kid had!

All in all, I really enjoyed this movie. I give it 4 stars! If you've dived into m/m romance books but haven't tried it on film, RENT THIS MOVIE. And even if you don't read m/m, this is a sweet romance movie with two great guys.