Best movie of this year hands down!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

With just a few deletions, this predictable non-erotic movie could play on the Hallmark Hall of Fame or the Disney Channel. Both the title and the box-cover photo of our bare-chested hero convey the unmistakable message that we'll at least enjoy some beefcake and maybe other naughty business in this independent effort. Alas, you finish watching this snooze-fest and realize that you never saw or experienced anything sensual. I'm not saying that this should have been a Falcon Studio sexcapade. But when you see major male movie stars like Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, James Franco, etc. showing complete nudity, then you would think an independent movie--free of a big studio censorship--would at least give us a brief glimpse of our hero. Turn on True Blood and Sons of Anarchy on cable and male nudity is the norm. And this is why I keep harping on the lack of eroticism that killed this movie for me. Our storyline finds the hero moving to L.A. to start a new life. He finally wounds up as the number one gay porno idol in the world, on the magazine covers and box covers of his X-rated career. Yet, you're never given any reason to think this. For instance, when he auditions for a porno role, we see him in bathing trunks. Just when he begins to slip them off, the scene cuts to another one of him fully clothed. When he's filming his first porno scene in a shower, we see him filmed from the chest up. And that's it. So much more could have made this movie exciting, arousing, hot, charming, but instead we're treated to a vanilla opus that might appeal to viewers who don't want to have a hard-on.

When I first stumbled across this film, the poster left me thinking it would be light on substance. It was an assumption I am glad did not deter me from watching. And now, having watched the film, the poster makes a lot more sense.The cast is strong and the storyline a great tale of celebrity and how despite all the trappings of success, stripped away we just all want to be loved.The characters are engaging and believable. Even the minor castings are strong - an example of how every detail was given a thorough once-over before the final cut.There's humour and a touching love story of courage and being true to yourself.In fact, the ending when Adam and John decide to go public with their relationship, despite the threat to John's television career, just lifted my spirits and it is a feeling that is staying with me. There's much to be said for being true to ourselves and embracing love.The only negative I can find after much trawling is the film felt a little slow in the beginning, although it quickly started to build momentum. This momentum was subsequently never lost, leading to a very poignant conclusion. It may have felt predictable, but what love story isn't? Candy is a great central character. She is shallow in some ways and career driven to the point where her obsession with celebrity is unhealthy. However, beneath this veneer is a good heart as she genuinely cares for Adam and his welfare. The hospital scene after Adam's wayward encounter with prescription drugs reinforces this.A lot of films with gay themes can focus heavily on stereotypes to try and generate humour. This film is better than that - more clever. The humour is genuinely funny and well-written.Overall, I am giving the movie a resounding nine stars because it's refreshing to see a diverse representation of gay people and a positive portrayal of gay relationships.In a world still besieged by negative connotations when it comes to homosexuality, a movie like this makes a bold statement and sends an uplifting message to gay youth.I started watching with some doubts and finished watching feeling impressed and uplifted by a truly well-told story.Definitely worth watching.

I liked the movie for being mostly light-hearted, but still posing some serious issues (coming out, entourage, drugs).The film has its share of gay stereotypes, all in good fun. You have the fag hag, the gossipers at the bar, and the not-so-common hag-of-the-other- fag (more or less) which obviously starts on the wrong foot with the protagonist.Still, the movie is not entirely predictable and the acting, while slightly over the top at times, makes it worthwhile. It's not ground-breaking, yet not cheesy. A really good movie to watch at home on that day when you feel tired and need something to lift up your spirits.

I'll say this first: this movie, despite all it's qualities may not make it outside of the queer festival circuit. That said, any Gay and Lesbian festival that gets this Going Down in La-La Land will be doing it's audience a huge favour. I'll let others review the plot and socio-significance of the characters and such, what I will tell you is how well it's made and how successful it is in telling a story - even if it is just a fairy tale. What you need to know before you choose this American made movie over the growing stable of gay themed titles, is that this film will not give you nausea or make you regret not renting porn instead. It's Hollywood quality filmmaking with some great characters in a story that moves at a nice click. One of my favourite things about this movie is Candy, played by Allison Lane, who plays our hero's struggling-actor-best-friend-mentor. She holds her own despite the fierce competition by the lead's porn actor good looks - and the rest of the cast. Rare are female roles in gay male dominated films that don't fall sharply into soapoperatics. So watch this and see what you think and how it makes you feel... this move is safe.