Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Dating Amber is a coming-of-age film set in Ireland in the 1990s. It’s about two closeted teens, male and female, who decide to date each other to keep from being harassed at school.
Tired of dealing with homophobic insults by her schoolmates, Amber (Lola Petticrew) decides to make friends with Eddie (Fionn O’Shea), another student who is going through a similar treatment. In order to save both of them from further harassment, Amber decides that she and Eddie need to pretend to date each other. The problem is that although Amber has accepted that she’s a lesbian, Eddie is having a hard time coming to terms with his sexuality. And it doesn’t help that his father is in the military and wants him to follow in his footsteps.
Eager to stay in the closet, Eddie agrees to Amber’s plan. It doesn’t take long for them to get to know each other and become friends. But their friendship also forces Eddie to face the fact that he’s gay, which brings up fears of discovery.
Some Thoughts:
Dating Amber is a movie where everything comes together to form an engrossing and enjoyable film. It’s about everyday people doing the best with what they have. Teenage life isn’t sugar coated, and the humor is deadpan.
O’Shea and Petticrew work well together, playing kids at odds with society. They’re opposite sides of the story, with Amber accepting her homosexuality and Eddie fighting it. And although the fake boyfriend aspect is nothing but a plot device, it feels natural because of the fine acting and a well thought out script.
Although the movie doesn’t have a clear-cut bad guy, there’s enough family tension and teenage angst to make up for it. And Eddie’s fears of coming out of the closet is an emotional push and pull that will sadly ring true for many viewers.
The Final Verdict:
Dating Amber is a well-conceived film about sexual identity and acceptance. The characters are highly relatable, as are the situations.