In from the Side
Genres Drama ,Romance ,Sport
Directors Matt Carter
Writer Matt Carter
Country United Kingdom
Votes 8199
Rating 6.7
IMDBID tt7947604
Runtime 134
Languages English
Release 16 Sep, 2022
Cast Alexander Lincoln ,Alexander King ,Peter McPherson ,Christopher Sherwood ,Ivan Comisso
When an injured player from the A-team is selected to play with the Bs as part of his recovery, tensions are already high. Initial suspicion turns to physical lust for two of the team members and personal loyalties are stretched as they try to conceal the affair, not only from their own partners but also their teammates. Alexander Lincoln and Alexander King give magnetic performances as the lovers, alongside an excellent ensemble cast. Hard drinking and macho antics are par for the course amongst the team, but these bulky athletes soon reveal their vulnerabilities. Even if you've never played rugby, or even had a taste for it, you'll be drawn into the drama of these young men. Prepare yourself for a muddy, sweat-drenched emotional thrill ride.
CinemaSerf
Alexander Lincoln does quite well here as "Mark", a man in a long-term relationship with his frequently absent partner "Richard" (Alex Hammond). He plays rugby for a gay team and after one night on the beer finds himself waking up (yep, of course he has managed to put his Calvin's back on in the middle of their night of passion!) next to "Warren" (Alexander King). The former has an open arrangement - just never the same person twice - but the latter man has secrets to keep and the two decide to leave it as a fun one night stand. Of course, it isn't that simple. Circumstances conspire and, well you can guess the rather messy rest of the plot. It's far too long, and for me anyway, just reinforced too many stereotypes surrounding hormonal guys who just can't keep their pants on. Loyalty to their rugby team seems disproportionately significant to both men - far more than any integrity with their seemingly faithful boyfriends and I found as this rather plodding affair lumbered on for all but 2ΒΌ hours that though very easy on the eye, the characterisations became increasingly flat and uninteresting. Sure, it's great that the acting talent and the subject matter are dramatising homosexuality in a fashion that is not designed just for a gay audience, but the shallowness of their personas - especially the rather odious "Gareth" (a decent effort, too, from Carl Loughlin) just reinforced too many join-the-dot gay attitudes that I found rather underwhelming and just a little disappointing.
posts by : CinemaSerf