Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Akron is a gay romance about two college boys who fall in love without knowing about the tragic past their families share.
The film opens with a mother and her young son food shopping. She purchases her groceries, then loads them in the car. While leaving the store, she accidentally hits a young boy and is devastated.
Years later, Benny (Matthew Frias), a local college student playing football with some friends, meets Christopher (Edmund Donovan) and the two exchange phone numbers and start dating. While getting to know each other, Christopher mentions that he grew up in Akron, but moved after his parents were divorced.
Chrisopher invites Benny to stay with him and his mother in Florida for Spring Break. Before leaving, Christopher discovers that Benny had a younger brother who died after being hit by a car. This brings back memories of the car accident his mother had, when she hit a boy in a parking lot. Realizing the boy his mother mistakenly killed was Benny’s brother, Christopher isn’t sure what to do. And with that, the drama to this romance begins.
Some Thoughts:
Akron has an interesting story that would benefit from better acting and a more thoughtful script. For a budding relationship to make it past such a tragic discovery, the romance would have to be solid. But instead of taking its time building up Benny and Chistopher’s relationship, the film rushes the boys into romance. We see them going out with friends and spending time together, but never actually connecting.
It also doesn’t help that there’s no chemistry between Frias and Donavan, which makes the whirlwind romance a bit of a stretch.
Events happen with little to no friction. Benny is visibly upset when he discovers the truth about his brother’s death, but Frias isn’t a good enough actor to deliver any depth of emotion. The same is true for Christopher’s mother, Carol (Amy da Luz). And the scenes where Christopher is with Benny’s family should be filled with awkwardly tense moments, but none of the actors are good enough to bring it home.
While I don’t mind a standard romance, the story behind Akron deserves something more. There are no high or low moments, and the lack of tension makes the film feel dull. This is the type of story that you either make an over-the-top soapy melodrama or a serious, thoughtful piece of cinema. Akron is neither.
The Final Verdict:
Akron is a cookie cutter romance that lacks tension and emotional impact. While the plot sounds interesting, the execution is flawed.
