This was a generally engaging film with a greater degree of social setting and context as an important dramatic element than nis osmetimes the case in these sort of movies - but it did not make the mistake of focusing too emphatically on this at the expense of the characters. I was emotionally involved with the characters and the social/political context was a present element but I did not feel as if I was being lectured or given a lesson in social/sexual history so kudos to the makers for managing to strike this effective balance.
The pacing was generally good althuogh I still have some doubts about the final section of the film (of which more later). The burgeoning of the relationship between the two boys and their mutual difficulty in self and other acceptance was powerfully and effectively done and the very slow, long lingering glances that were a feature of the film (and films of this type/genre perhaps) were effectively done without ever becoming a tired or irritating cliche. At times of extreme emotion there was a rather melodramtically cheesy tone that kept into the proceedings with an element of melodramatic eye-rolling and excessively clenched and contorted faces but this was only minorr, thankfully.
The story, in one way, ended about 39 minutes before the film did as the protagonists parted - in scenes that were very pwoerful and sad - althuogh prior to that there was a satisfyingly sexy scene on the beach and the final break-up call with reference to the movie title and song was very powerful indeed.
In the last 3o0 minutes we saw the two characters meet up 20 or so years later, in Canada, (and very emphatically too which seemed rahter heavy-handed - the visit to the Niagra Falls was completely unnecessary in the central story arc and focus) at a school reunion and remembering of a crucial closeted gay mentor at the school -a person who though did, in the last section of his life, find peace and sexual and emotional happiness. But what had happened to the central character in the meantime was left untold which was a pity as we did find out about the post-school life of his ‘other half’.
A pretty decent film and an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday night though.